Elinor & Marianne? Yes, that works for me. Well put, Jenn. I agree everything you say, and wish I could express myself as cogently!

I'd like to pick up your observation about the intricacy of the characters and take Tim's comment that none of the characters are expendable a little further:

Trying to work out how S&S is constructed, I noticed that with almost every action or situation in the novel, we can look around the world of S&S and find one or more variants to ponder.

For example, when Willoughby ignores an ultimatum and refuses to act with moral integrity, he is disinherited. When Edward ignores an ultimatum and insists on acting with moral integrity, he is disinherited.

But it is more complicated than simple dichotomies - look at the different ways that Elinor, Lucy and Marianne respond when each understands that she is are losing her man.