What did John Dashwood promise his father?

He promised to take care of his stepmother and half-sisters. He then lets his wife talk him out of giving them any real help.

Is John Dashwood Elinor’s brother?

He is her half-brother. They share a father, but John’s mother was Mr. Dashwood’s first wife.

Why does John Dashwood inherit Norland?

The estate was left to him and then to his young son, so the sisters and their mother had no right to remain there.

From Sense and Sensibility

John Dashwood

Easily persuaded half-brother

The sisters’ grown half-brother, who inherits Norland Park. He means well, but he is easily talked out of being generous.

Who is John Dashwood?

John Dashwood is the grown half-brother of the Dashwood sisters, and Norland Park becomes his home. He promised their father he would help his sisters, but he is easily talked out of doing the right thing. He likes to brag about his fancy carriage and rich friends, and he rarely asks how his sisters are getting on.

John Dashwood is a character in Sense and Sensibility, the 1811 novel by Jane Austen, retold for ages 6–9 by Sean Lee.

What is John Dashwood like?

weak
selfish
boastful

John Dashwood’s story

John Dashwood is the son of Mr. Dashwood’s first marriage, and he inherits the house at Norland. His father, dying, asks him to look after his stepmother and three half-sisters. John means to, at first, and thinks about giving them three thousand pounds. He is not an ill-disposed man, but he is easily led.

Then his wife Fanny gets to work on him. She argues that the girls will be fine and that his own little boy needs the money, and bit by bit John’s generous promise shrinks until it is almost nothing. He decides that small gifts like fish and game will do. He is quick to boast about his house, his carriage and his rich connections.

Later John meets his sisters in London, and he wishes he could help find them rich husbands. When he learns Colonel Brandon is wealthy, he is suddenly very friendly. When Lucy’s secret comes out, he and Fanny are furious with Edward. By the end John changes his opinion of his sisters, seeing how well they have settled, and speaks of them with new respect.

“He was not an ill-disposed young man, unless to be rather cold hearted and rather selfish is to be ill-disposed”

Jane Austen, the narrator, describing John Dashwood. From the original 1811 novel by Jane Austen.

A moment to remember

After Fanny talks him out of his promise, John decides that an occasional basket of fish or game will be plenty to give his sisters.

Fanny Dashwood: his wife
Elinor Dashwood: his half-sister
Marianne Dashwood: his half-sister
Edward Ferrars: his brother-in-law
Mrs. Dashwood: his stepmother

Talk about it

John made a promise but didn’t keep it. Why is keeping a promise important, even when it’s hard?

Questions about John Dashwood

What did John Dashwood promise his father?: He promised to take care of his stepmother and half-sisters. He then lets his wife talk him out of giving them any real help.
Is John Dashwood Elinor’s brother?: He is her half-brother. They share a father, but John’s mother was Mr. Dashwood’s first wife.
Why does John Dashwood inherit Norland?: The estate was left to him and then to his young son, so the sisters and their mother had no right to remain there.