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Allusion
Explanation and Analysis—Shakespeare:
Austen includes a few allusions to the works of William Shakespeare throughout the novel, most of which occur during the time of Marianne and Willoughby’s courtship, in order to communicate their shared love of romantic literature. The first reference comes when Willoughby buys Marianne a horse and names it “Queen Mab”:
“But, Marianne, the horse is still yours, though you cannot use it now. I shall keep it only till you can claim it. When you leave Barton to form your own establishment in a more lasting home, Queen Mab shall receive you.”
Queen Mab is a subtle reference to Romeo and Juliet—in the play, Romeo’s friend Mercutio has a well-known monologue in which he discusses the powers of Queen Mab, a beautiful fairy. Though it's not a direct comment on his feelings for Marianne, Willoughby is still alluding to a romantic story, and the innuendo comes across.
Austen also describes a quiet evening in the Dashwood home a few chapters later in which Hamlet comes up:
One evening, Mrs. Dashwood accidentally taking up a volume of Shakespeare, exclaimed, “We have never finished Hamlet, Marianne; our dear Willoughby went away before we could get through it. We will put it by, that when he comes again…
Here again, Willoughby is tied to Shakespeare—Mrs. Dashwood’s description makes it clear that he has been reading (and likely performing) Hamlet to the Dashwoods, underlining his playfulness and emotionality that (seemingly) made him well-suited for Marianne. Of course, in having Willoughby ultimately betray and abandon Marianne, Austen shows that romantic references and actions do not necessarily indicate that someone will make a good long-term partner.
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