Embroidery and reading were amongst the few specialties the women were capable of. The whole family would gather around the one thought to be most capable and listen to the different pieces of writing they would read out. Such was the general environment of the society. Centrally focusing on the lives of females Austen does not reveal much information about a young man's life. Their upbringing is assumed to have occurred and no detail of any sort is deemed necessary. Thus in both the novels "Sense and Sensibility" and "Pride and Prejudice" this ambiance is seen consistent with the then prevailing times. Monotony of life to some extent existed for those not involved in any sort of love or matrimonial conflict.
There is a basic similarity between the characterization of both "Pride and Prejudice" and "Sense and Sensibility". Female protagonist is the main power character. She not only exerts immense power through her love but also facilitates the transformation of her hero. Male and female protagonists are separated by a wide social chasm, hero lying on the upper rung of the socio economic ladder and heroine on the lower. The tone and mood of her novels remain more or less tensed till the climax is reached. It is then a stream of pleasant events occur that make the story lighter. Ending on a happy note through various chaotic situations, the story is never without a moral lesson. Constant suffering of the female protagonist till her love is realized adds to the pathos. Selfish schemes devised by elder females highlight the prevailing situation. However certain figures who are just a medium of information throughout the novel add some comic element.
Austen makes fun of snobbery, hypocrisy and meddling imprudence of the ladies of title. Sense of expectation coupled with definite undertones makes her novels light to read."Sense and Sensibility" her earliest published work is seen as Elinor and Marianne personified respectively.