On Oct. 16, Jane Austen’s debut novel Sense And Sensibility will once again return to the big screen with Daisy Edgar-Jones and Esme Creed-Miles at the helm. It marks the third adaptation of the period classic, coming to theaters 18 years after the second and over 30 since the first. The film boasts a star-studded cast to pair with Edgar-Jones and Creed-Miles, with actors George MacKay and Fiona Shaw to appear in the project, among others. With colder weather and changing leaves, fall feels like the perfect time to get into this romantic period drama.
Sense And Sensibility follows the story of Elinor (Edgar-Jones) and Marianne (Creed-Miles), two sisters who have been left at a significant financial disadvantage (among other things), alongside their mother and baby sister, following the death of their father. Although their father, Henry Dashwood, had urged his son John to provide for them, they’ve been left without much of anything. Given their circumstances, the Dashwood women are forced to move out into a countryside cottage. There, Elinor finds herself falling for Edward Ferrars (George MacKay), while Marianne’s heart is pulled between John Willoughby (Frank Dillane) and Colonel Brandon (Herbert Nordrum). Sense And Sensibility is a romantic and dramatic period piece through and through.
Although romance plays a central role in the novel and film, family feels equally important to the narrative. After all, it’s family drama that causes Elinor and Marianne to land in the countryside. It’s what sets the foundation for the entire story. Sometimes, though, family trees in period dramas can get a little convoluted. If you’re not completely clear on who’s related to who, the story becomes much more confusing and, therefore, less enjoyable. So, without further ado, let’s get into the Dashwood family tree.
The former head of the family was the late Mr. Henry Dashwood. From his first marriage (to the initial Mrs. Dashwood) came John Dashwood, the heir and new head of the family, and the reason why the Dashwood ladies are nearly penniless. John Dashwood is married to Fanny, whose maiden name is Ferrars. (Yep, Edward’s sister.) The couple shares one son, Harry. Early on, John and Fanny would bring Henry to visit John’s great uncle, who lived at Norland Park. When John’s great uncle died, he left his portion of the family’s fortune to John’s son, Harry. When his great uncle died and the late Mr. Henry Dashwood died, John inherited the majority of the family’s money, as Harry was still too young.
After the death of his first wife, the late Mr. Henry Dashwood decided to remarry. From Mrs. Dashwood (played by Caitriona Balfe) came the stars of the story, Elinor and Marianne, and their younger sister, Margaret. So, John is the half-brother to the Dashwood sisters. That last bit just might explain why he felt less inclined to split his inheritance with his sisters, in addition to the whisperings from his wife, Fanny.
Speaking of Fanny, she has two brothers — Edward and Robert Ferrars. When Fanny moves to Norland Park after John’s great uncle’s death, she invites Edward to stay with her. That’s where he meets Elinor, and the rest is history.
While the Dashwood family tree isn’t super complicated, understanding it now can help create a clearer picture of the narrative when you check out the film. (Or read the book!) The newest adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sense And Sensibility will be out in theaters on Friday, Oct. 16.