Edward Ferrars

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Edward Ferrars is a fictional character in Jane Austen's 1811 novel Sense and Sensibility. He is the eldest in his family and forms an attachment to Elinor Dashwood, one of the novel's main protagonists. Edward is first described in the novel as someone not immediately interesting or likable: reserved, a bit awkward, and not handsome. However, there is more to his character than initial impressions suggest: “When his natural shyness was overcome, his behavior gave every indication of an open, affectionate heart. His understanding was good, and education had given it solid improvement.” This first description of him also suggests that he lives under pressure from his family to become successful through some sort of vocation. His personality lacks the charm of Marianne Dashwood’s initial love interest, John Willoughby, but indicates more personal strength. He exemplifies great loyalty when he sacrifices his potential happiness with Elinor to honor the engagement he made to another woman, Lucy Steele, when he was younger. He is a model of an honorable character under an unimpressive exterior. However, he is still often seen as less complex than Pride and Prejudice's Fitzwilliam Darcy or Emma's Mr. Knightley. Out of honor, Edward refuses to break his engagement with Lucy Steele, and is disinherited by his mother as a result. However, Lucy abandons Edward for his brother, who becomes heir to the family property. This allows Edward and Elinor to marry.