1988. Choose a distinguished novel or play in which some of the most significant events are mental or psychological; for example, awakenings, discoveries, changes in consciousness. In a well-organized essay, describe how the author manages to give these internal events the sense of excitement, suspense, and climax usually associated with external action. Do not merely summarize the plot.

     In the novel Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen creates an engaging plot revolving around the social and love affairs of young women of the upper-middle class. The majority of the action isn't actually "action" in the sense of many novels- it all happens with the dialogue, thoughts, and relations between characters. Austen manages to make these as exciting as gunfights or car chases by making the characters relatable and exaggerating the action past what you would see in real life to make it seem more dramatic. 

     The way Austen makes characters more relatable is a key element in making the action exciting. Talking about two people who are suffering from heartbreak is somewhat boring, but feeling like you yourself are suffering makes you want to know how the pain will resolve and so you are more engaged in the action. Austen makes this possible by giving the characters traits that you can see in yourself (idealism, emotion, romantic vision, extreme judgement, a shoulder to lean on), and then gives each character a love interest that you may sympathize with or despise, giving you a reason to root for one or the other to succeed or fail in their courtships. 

     Another way Austen makes readers involved in the internal conflicts of the story is by making said conflicts somewhat dramatic. For example, there is the tale of Colonel Brandon, the 35 year old military man who falls in love with Marianne, the younger of the two sisters in the story. At first, you see his attentions to the 16 year old somewhat odd, but as his story unravels, you start to feel for him. It is filled with dramatic twists, the promising of his childhood love to his older brother, who then abused her and left her penniless with an illegitamate child, and as she died of tuberculosis in the slums, he promised to take care of her child and forever bear the heartbreak. As you find all these things out, you want to know what happens because the situation is so emotional but odd.

     Jane Austen successfully makes internal conflicts as interesting as external ones by making the characters relatable and the events dramatic. These techniques make the reader get involved with the characters and get them curious about the events, even though they all are just simple dialogues and relationships. 

(note: I do feel that this essay is somewhat short and my details could be more clear...also my conclusion sucks.)