Sense and Sensibility 1981

Overview

Sense and Sensibility is a 1981 BBC television adaptation of Jane Austen's 1811 novel, dramatised by Alexander Baron and directed by Rodney Bennett. The seven-part series tells the story of two sisters attempting to find happiness in the tightly structured society of eighteenth-century England, featuring Elinor, who represents sense through being disciplined, restrained, and conscious of manners, and Marianne, who represents sensibility through being outspoken, impetuous, and emotional.

This television adaptation is notable for bringing Austen's work to the screen as a multi-part series, though it notably omits the character of Margaret Dashwood. Viewers exploring this version will find a dramatic portrayal of eighteenth-century societal structures and sisterly dynamics as adapted by the BBC.