[continued from previous message]   
      
   word "sense" (meaning pertaining to the senses) to Marianne and   
   "sensibility" to Elinor. Apparently, however, the words as used in   
   Austen's time meant that the associations were reversed: Elinor   
   has the sense, and Marianne the sensibility (meaning relying on   
   her emotions, or perhaps "sensitivity").   
      
   For example, of the death of Henry Dashwood, Austen writes,   
   "Elinor saw, with concern, the excess of her sister’s sensibility;   
   but by Mrs. Dashwood it was valued and cherished. They encouraged   
   each other now in the violence of their affliction."   
      
   Marianne complains of Colonel Brandon, "But it would have broke   
   *my* heart, had I loved him, to hear him read with so little   
   sensibility."   
      
   Austen writes, "Elinor had not needed this to be assured of the   
   injustice to which her sister was often led in her opinion of   
   others, by the irritable refinement of her own mind, and the too   
   great importance placed by her on the delicacies of a strong   
   sensibility."   
      
   Clearly, Marianne is associated with sensibility, so sense must   
   refer to Elinor (as in having good sense).   
      
   And indeed, if one digs around, one finds that "sensibility" did   
   have this different meaning back then.   
    discusses   
   this; it is by no means the only place I have read this, but this   
   seems to explain it the best.   
      
   It's convenient, however, that with today's meanings the title   
   *still* makes sense [no pun intended!], though completely reversed   
   from its original intent.   
      
   At least the rest of Austen's titles have no ambiguities. [-ecl]   
      
   ===================================================================   
      
                                        Evelyn C. Leeper   
                                        evelynchimelisleeper@gmail.com   
      
      
              He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent   
              hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people,   
              and eat out their substance. ... He has kept among us,   
              in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent   
              of our legislatures. ... He has affected to render the   
              Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.   
              ... For protecting [armed troops] ... from punishment   
              for any Murders which they should commit on the   
              Inhabitants of these States: ... For cutting off our   
              Trade with all parts of the world: ... For imposing   
              Taxes on us without our Consent: For depriving us in   
              many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury: ... For   
              transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended   
              offences: ... He has excited domestic insurrections   
              amongst us ...   
                                              --Thomas Jefferson   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)