The story centers on the fundamental contrast between the two eldest sisters:

After the death of their father, the Dashwood women are left nearly penniless due to inheritance laws that favor the male line. They are forced to move from their grand estate to a modest cottage in Devonshire. The Romantic Trials:

As an outsider to British period drama, Lee focused on the "repressed" nature of the characters, using the lush English landscape to contrast with the rigid, uncomfortable social interactions within the drawing rooms.

A somber, older man whose quiet devotion to Marianne is initially ignored in favor of Willoughby’s flashy romance. He represents a "mature" love that bridges the gap between reason and feeling.