Definition of Tone
While Austen’s name has become synonymous with the earnest romance novel, the truth is that the tone of her novels—including Sense and Sensibility—is primarily an ironic and tongue-in-cheek one. For example, here Austen communicates Mrs. Dashwood’s experience of getting to know Edward while in the midst of grieving the loss of her husband:
Edward had been staying several weeks in the house before he engaged much of Mrs. Dashwood’s attention; for she was, at that time, in such affliction as rendered her careless of surrounding objects […] He did not disturb the wretchedness of her mind by ill-timed conversation.
While Austen’s name has become synonymous with the earnest romance novel, the truth is that the tone of her novels—including Sense and Sensibility—is primarily an ironic and tongue-in-cheek one. For example, here Austen communicates Mrs. Dashwood’s experience of getting to know Edward while in the midst of grieving the loss of her husband:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Edward had been staying several weeks in the house before he engaged much of Mrs. Dashwood’s attention; for she was, at that time, in such affliction as rendered her careless of surrounding objects […] He did not disturb the wretchedness of her mind by ill-timed conversation.