..than being with Willoughby “who didn’t know what he had when he had it.”
I had no other intention …than to pass my time pleasantly … Your sister’s lovely person and interesting manners could not but please me… at first I must confess, my vanity only was elevated by it. Careless of her happiness, thinking only of my own amusement, … I endeavoured, by every means in my power, to make myself pleasing to her, without any design of returning her affection.”
Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility C44
From the beginning of their acquaintance Willoughby sets out to please Marianne, to amuse himself. Any woman deserves better than this. It’s not till he loses her that he realises her value. He fools himself into thinking it didn’t mean anything but when Marianne contacts him upon reaching London –
…this note made me know myself better. I felt that she was infinitely dearer to me than any other woman in the world”
Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility C44
Marianne acknowledges, when she understands his past behaviour to Eliza Williams, she could have never been happy with him. She was deceived in his character. After, she focuses on her studies, her piano and her family, there is a struggle but she finds joy in every day life.
Elinor points out that even if Willoughby had been able to marry Marianne, he would likely have been unhappy and made her unhappy too.
..he regrets what he has done. …Because … It has not made him happy. .. he thinks only that he has married a woman of a less amiable temper than yourself. But does it follow that had he married you, he would have been happy?… He would have had a wife of whose temper he could make no complaint, but he would have been always … poor…”
Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility C47
Marianne does find a man who truly appreciates her and fulfils all her romantic ideals; he enjoys reading, is passionate and has a tragic backstory. But most importantly he’s a good man, bonus he’s also rich.
If you’d like to discuss Austen with me privately you can book a “Read With Me” session.
The same could be said of Fanny Price as regards Edmund Bertram…