Human nature undeniably has many facets, it's undeniable. However, whether or not certain character traits are superior to others is debatable. One such deliberation is whether sense invariably triumphs over sensibility. Through her characters Catherine Morland in “Northanger Abbey” and Marianne Dashwood in “Sense and Sensibility,” Jane Austen boldly attempts and succeeds to answer this question. Each heroine faces the extraordinary challenge of leaving the fantasy worlds of her childhood to develop as a rational adult and find "sensibility." Austen also designs characters who are purer paradigms of reason and rationality, exposing the innate flaws of both inclinations through opposing characters. The resulting frictions demonstrate that sense and sensitivity do not necessarily surpass each other. Rather, their true value comes from their mutual role in maturation. Thus, neither trait is significantly useful unless influenced by its counterpart. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Although Catherine Morland and Marianne Dashwood are both Austen's models of sensibility, neither girl bears many similarities to one another. Catherine is a naive country girl, with little guidance and no rational conception of human nature. Marianne, on the other hand, is not so flawless. His impropriety is the result of indulging his emotions in accordance with his personal moral code. Whatever their differences, both girls are invariably misled by the influence of romantic literature. Their ecstatic pleasure in prose and poetry leads them to believe that the real world can be superimposed on the model of a romance novel. The reader sees this in Catherine as she imagines she makes an exciting discovery while exploring Northanger Abbey. In Marianne's case, we are told that "all her opinions are romantic" (62) and that she relies on her instincts to alarm her from misbehavior. As she says: "...if there had been any real impropriety in what I did, I should have been aware of it at the time, because we always know when we are doing wrong, and with such a conviction, I could have had no pleasure” (72). As the novels progress, it becomes apparent that without the introduction of common sense, Catherine's understanding and Marianne's character will never be corrected. Likewise, a complete loss of sensitivity would make them heartless and devoid of compassion, much like the callous characters of Isabella Thorpe or Fanny Dashwood. Together, these ideas suggest that the maturation process is a continuous cycle of senses and sensibilities acting on each other. Thus, it is through Catherine and Marianne that Austen emphasizes the need for meaning. However, to project the value of moderate sensitivity, she uses Elinor Dashwood. Elinor is the embodiment of rationality, the exact opposite of her sister Marianne. Where Marianne is governed by her feelings, Elinor is controlled by reason and conviction. In many ways, Elinor has already acquired the wisdom and discernment of an esteemed elder. However, to the reader's surprise, even Elinor's fastidious opinions undergo an emotional shift. This long metamorphosis transforms her from an extraordinary woman into a sympathetic heroine. This change appears clearly, for example, when his judgment is wrong about the seriousness of Marianne's late illness, as well as when his esteem for Willoughby softens when he explains himself..