Edward Ferrars’s Ring
Accessories
Edward’s ring is distinguished by the plait of hair at its center. Marrianne is the first to mention it, and though believing that her sister, Elinor, gave the ring to Edward as a token of love, she politely asks Edward if it is from his sister, Fanny. Not wanting to reveal that it is actually from Lucy, to whom he is secretly engaged, Edward claims that it is indeed from Fanny. Both Marrianne and Elinor privately believe it to be Elinor’s hair, though Elinor knows it must have been taken without her knowledge. When Lucy reveals to Elinor that she gave Edward a ring with a lock of her hair, Elinor’s memory of the ring proves to her that Lucy is telling the truth about her engagement to Edward. The revelation of the ring is a turning point in Elinor’s romantic hopes toward Edward.
Lucy (Steele) Ferrars
Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel
Fanny Dashwood’s Screens
Decorations
Elinor painted a set of screens for her sister-in-law, Fanny. Fanny had them put into frames and mounted in her drawing room to shield between a person and the fireplace. When John draws attention to the screens, the reactions of the group reveal their attitudes toward Elinor. John wants Colonel Brandon to admire them to convince him of Elinor’s suitability as a wife. Brandon admires them out of friendship. Fanny warns Mrs. Farrars that they are Elinor’s work so she dismisses them unkindly, illustrating her dislike of Elinor and her own bad manners. This leads to an outburst of emotion from Marrianne who feels Elinor’s pain as strongly as her own. The screens, which were a kind gift from Elinor to her sister-in-law, are used against her by Fanny and Fanny’s mother.
Elinor (Dashwood) Farrars
Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel
Lock of Marrianne’s Hair
Personal Memorabilia
During a trip to Barton Cottage, Willoughby cuts a long lock of Marrianne’s hair from her head and puts it into his pocket-book. Margaret spies this action and the Dashwood women consider it as further proof that Marrianne and Willoughby are secretly engaged. As this is not the case, the gift is an illustration of Marrianne’s impropriety in her affection for Willoughby. Such a token is only appropriate for an engaged couple. When Willoughby returns the hair to her, it signifies the end of his and Marrianne’s attachment.
Marrianne (Dashwood) Brandon
Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel
Marrianne Dashwood's Piano-Forte
Instruments
Marrianne brings her piano-forte from Norland to their new cottage. Fanny Dashwood is disappointed that such a fine instrument should go to a family with such inferior wealth, but Marrianne has a special connection to the instrument. At various times, she plays with great joy and sorrow, using music as another way of expressing her intense emotions and sensibilities. Those who truly appreciate her music, like Colonel Brandon, truly appreciate Marrianne’s spirit.
Unknown
Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel
Robert Ferrar’s Toothpick Case
Accessories
Robert Ferrars is first introduced to the Dashwood sisters while he is making an order for a custom toothpick case. While the Dashwoods wait in line, he takes over fifteen minutes to examine all of the toothpick cases in the shop before finally designing his own made of ivory, gold, and pearls. His obsessive attention toward the toothpick case, at the expense of politeness toward the Dashwoods, reveals his vanity and his superficial nature long before Lucy preys on it. It is a symbol for frivolity, contrasting with his brother’s good sense.
Gray’s in Sackville Street
Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel
Lydia Bennet’s Bonnet
Accessories
Lydia purchases her new bonnet while waiting for Jane and Elizabeth in Hartfordshire. Even though she, herself, does not like it and her wiser sisters insist it is ugly, she is happy to spend her money on it. She then needs to borrow money from her sisters for lunch. This is representative of Lydia’s carelessness toward finances, which she brings into her imprudent marriage to Mr. Wickham. It foreshadows her and Wickham’s lifelong dependence upon Elizabeth’s and Jane’s families for money because of their mismanagement.
Unknown
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel
The Bennet’s Carriage
Land Based Vehicles
The Bennets own a carriage, as befits the landed gentry, but the horses that pull it must also be used for field work, illustrating the family’s lack of wealth. Mrs. Bennet uses this to her advantage when she refuses to let Jane take the carriage to Netherfield because the horses are needed in the field. As she hoped, rain keeps Jane at Netherfield, allowing her and Elizabeth to get to know their future husbands.
Unknown
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel
Mr. Darcy’s Letter
Personal Memorabilia
Mr. Darcy’s letter of explanation to Elizabeth is a turning point in their love story. After Elizabeth rejects Mr. Darcy’s marriage proposal, he writes a letter that addresses two accusations she made against him – his treatment of Wickham and his separation of Jane and Mr. Bingly. After reading his account in the letter, she realizes that her impressions were entirely wrong in those two cases and many more. She lets go of her prejudices and begins to fall in love. He let go of his pride enough to explain himself to her.
Mr. Darcy
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel
Georgiana’s Piano-Forte
Instruments
Mr. Darcy gives his younger sister Georgiana a new piano-forte as a gift. This demonstrates his caring attentions as her guardian and Georgiana’s accomplishment. She practices much of the day and is regarded for her skill. Georgiana’s accomplishment is subtly compared to both Elizabeth’s and Jane’s accomplishment by Lady Catherine and Miss Bingly.
Unknown
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel
Amber Cross
Accessories
Fanny’s brother William gives her an amber cross as a gift, but she is distressed about wearing it to his ball because she has no chain to wear it on. William could not afford the gold chain to wear it with, illustrating the struggle for both siblings to fit in with their more fashionable and wealthy relations. They can come close, but they are dependent on others’ generosity. Both Edmund and Henry (though Mary) offer Fanny a chain or necklace to wear with the cross, marking them as the men most likely to provide for Fanny by marrying her. It is symbolic that Harry’s fancier chain does not fit while Edmund’s is picked more carefully to suit Fanny’s needs.
Unknown
Mansfield Park, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel