Sense and Sensibility Fanny Dashwood (née Ferrars) Quotes

"Your father thought only of them. And I must say this: that you owe no particular gratitude to him, nor attention to his wishes, for we very well know that if he could, he would have left almost everything in the world to them." (2.6)

Fanny's flagrant disregard for the wishes of John's father demonstrates a curious lack of respect for the dead – her vision of family obligation is clearly on that doesn't extend beyond this mortal coil. Her view of family is also limited to the immediate family, and therefore more self-interested than one might expect.