Marianne Dashwood wears her heart on her sleeve & when she falls in love with the dashing but unsuitable John Willoughby she ignores her sister Elinors warning that her impulsive behavior leaves her open to gossip & innuendo. Meanwhile Elinor always sensitive to social convention is struggling to conceal her own romantic disappointment even from those closest to her. Through their parallel experience of love
- & its threatened loss
- the sisters learn that sense must mix with sensibility if they are to find personal happiness in a society where status & money govern the rules of love.