The sentences that best help describe each of the main characters in Sense and Sensibility are as follows:
“I’d like to help my sisters.” - John Dashwood Â
This sentence describes that John is weak minded as he doesn’t do as he thinks. Instead of helping his sisters the money-hungry heir to the Norland estate listens to his wife Fanny's suggestions. He leaves his mother and sisters with very little money and is unconcerned for their welfare. Â
“No, not money. First, help them to find a new home. And then later send them some fruit, or fish, or meat. Why do they need money? They can live very cheaply.” - Fanny Â
This sentence describes the selfish, snobbish, and manipulative ways of Fanny, John Dashwood’s wife. Â
“Elinor and Edward will get married! Elinor will be so happy!” - Mrs. Dashwood. Â
This sentence helps is catch a glimpse of the kind and loving mother of Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret. She inherited no fortune of her own but wants the best for her daughters. Â
“Perhaps I shall never see you again! And oh, you beautiful trees! When shall I walk under your leaves again?” -  Marianne Â
This sentence depicts the seventeen-year-old second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dashwood. It also demonstrates Marianne's spontaneity, excessive sensibility, and romantic idealism which lead her to fall in love with the deceitful John Willoughby. Â
“He loves her!” -  Mrs. Jennings Â
This sentence best exemplifies the gossipy but well-intentioned mother who invites the Dashwood sisters to stay with her in London and makes it her goal to marry them off as soon as possible. Â
“I can carry you” - Willoughby Â
This sentence helps us to see how the attractive but deceitful Willoughby wins Marianne Dashwood's heart through kindness even though he then abandons her. Â
“No, no – he has a relative here, an old lady. He has a very nice house not too far away, at Combe Magna in Somerset, and will be a good husband for somebody! Be careful Elinor - Marianne has Brandon already” - Sir John Â
This sentence shows how the jovial distant relative of the Dashwoods is willing to help whenever possible. Â
“but I must go to London immediately to finish some important business. We can’t go to Whitwell today. My friends are away, and the servants don’t know you - you won’t get in without me” - Colonel Brandon Â
This sentence gives us a glimpse of the retired officer and friend of Sir John Middleton who falls in love with Marianne. He acts kindly, honorably, and graciously towards the Dashwoods throughout the book. Â
“If something is nice, it can still be wrong.”  -  Elinor Â
This sentence helps us understand how the nineteen-year-old eldest daughter of Mrs. Dashwood and the heroine of Austen's novel thinks. She represents "sense" or "assertiveness" rather. Â
“Yes, but the roads at the bottom will get very dirty in winter” - Edward Ferrars Â
This sentence best describes the sensible and friendly Edward who develops a close relationship with Elinor while staying at Norland and ultimately marries her but not after he is finally freed from a four-year secret engagement to Lucy Steele. Â
Â
“What dine, clever children!” -  Lucy Steele Â
This sentence helps describe a deceitful, sly, selfish, and insecure young woman. She has been secretly engaged to Edward Ferrars for four years but she ultimately marries his brother, Robert, once Edward is disinherited.