Sense of Emotion: Marianne

“Esteem him! Like him! Cold-hearted Elinor! Oh! worse than cold-hearted! Ashamed of being otherwise. Use those words again, and I will leave the room this moment.”  ―Marianne Dashwood, Sense and Sensibility

“Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,     and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.”  ―Proverbs 16:32 

Marianne is a young lady of passion and emotion. She feels deeply in response to relationships and situations. She thinks seriously about the world, but unlike Elinor, Marianne allows her heart to be known by all. In her first scene in Sense and Sensibility, Mariane coaches Edward Ferrars about the passion of reading Shakespeare’s Hamlet. He cannot simply say words, but he must feel the emotions that Hamlet is expressing.

Emotions are a significant aspect of being human. We were created in the image of God, and like God, we too have emotional expressions, including anger and joy. Throughout the Old Testament, God experiences anger, joy, and frustration with the nation of Israel. In the Gospels, as referenced last week, Jesus experienced emotions during His time on earth. Emotions mark humanity as a unique creature in God’s creation.

While emotions are an important human expression, our emotions are tainted by sin. Our anger can lead to violent lashing out or numbing withdrawal. The biblical book of Proverbs has much to say about the wise person keeping control of their emotions. In Proverbs 16:32, for example, self-control of emotion is called better than physical prowess. Certainly, human history demonstrates this proverb consistently, as seen in the adage: “The pen is mightier than the sword.” The second half of Proverbs 16:32 champions diplomacy over displays of might yet again.

As demonstrated last week, emotion and reason must go hand in hand and achieve a balance. To ignore or disregard either makes a person liable to danger. May we continue to seek our Lord with our emotions and our reason.