How do Elinor and Marianne Dashwoods' characterizations compare and contrast, especially with respect to their grief over their father's death and...

As the title suggests, the main difference between the
characterizations of Elinor and Marianne
Dashwood, is that Elinor is described as relying on sense
to govern her actions, while Marianne believes on governing
all things with her emotions, or
sensibilities. One good chapter to use to examine their
differences in characterization, especially in terms of how they handle their father's
death, is the very first chapter.

In the
first chapter, Austen uses some paragraphs of direct
characterizations to describe Elinor as being sensible, rational, calm,
cool, collected, and the one their mother relies on for advice. Marianne, on the other
hand, while recognized as "sensible and clever," is also characterized as being "eager
in everything: her sorrows, her joys, could have no moderation" (Ch. 1). In other words,
Marianne believes in being governed by unrestrained emotions. As a result of their
different beliefs concerning emotions, both Marianne and her mother believe in being
violent about their grief over their father, while Elinor believes in controlling her
grief so that she can carry on with what needs to be done. As Austen relays, "The agony
of [Marianne's and Mrs. Dashwood's] grief, which overpowered them at first, was
voluntarily renewed, was sought for, was created again and again" (Ch. 1). In contrast,
"Elinor, too, was deeply afflicted; but still she could struggle, she could exert
herself" (Ch. 1).

We see the same difference in the two
sisters' reaction to love. Both are equally brokenhearted.
But Elinor believes it's her duty not be selfish by indulging in her grief. She believes
that she must keep silent due to her promise to Lucy; but she also believes it is her
duty to protect Marianne and her mother from being hurt by the news. In contrast,
Marianne believes that giving way to her violent emotions is her way of showing how much
she loved Willoughby. She doesn't realize, but then later does, that giving way to her
emotions is actually being cruel to both herself and those who care for her that are
trying to console her.