Marianne Dashwood

Marianne Dashwood is a 16-year-old girl who embodies the "sensibility" of the title, as opposed to her elder sister Elinor's "sense". She is impulsive, passionate, and romantic. She loves nature and is easily moved by beauty. When she falls in love with the dashing Willoughby, she ignores all society's conventions and throws herself headlong into the relationship. His rejection of her is a devastating blow, and she nearly dies from grief. But she eventually recovers and comes to see the error of her ways. She learns to control her emotions and to live a more moderate life. She eventually falls in love with Colonel Brandon and marries him.