Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen

In Sense and Sensibility, a book by Jane Austen, the character John Willoughby is a major playor. Everywhere  he scampers, he leaves broken hearts in his midst.  His charming personality and handsome nostrils would draw women in, and he would evidently have no serious feelings for any of them.

Take Colonel Brandon's ward Eliza-- she is hooked right in, impregnated, and then left alone with no help. Willoughby is too cowardly to approach his own child (or children, as there could have been many more instances before the start of this book.) He gets everyone in love with him-- even sensible Elinor is rather fond of him\at a point. Marianne, however,  becomes infatuated with him. They see each other every day and give each other hair locks and she takes take part in some unladylike behavior for him. Then comes the wealthy Miss Grey. She is very rich-- Marianne is not any longer-- and he wants money. So he leaves Marianne on "business" to town (the business, of course, being courting Miss Grey.)

When Willoughby marries Miss Grey, at least he is settling down. He won't be running around breaking so many more hearts. But this idea of learning, and being less of a player I believe did not start with Miss Grey, but with Marianne. He was most likely in love with her, and certainly was exceedingly fond of her.Just having the experience of actually caring for someone can be very changing-- especially when you cannot have them.

Mr. Willoughby exits the book the villain, but a changed man. He cares for Marianne, but is to marry Miss Grey, due to his own actions. He has to live with himself and his guilt-- to acknowledge that he is the reason for his misery. He is not happy with Miss Grey, but after a while learns to become a decent husband. As he explains to Elinor at the end of the book, he knows that he would have been happy with Marianne, but what really would have made him happier-- a loving wife or a load of money?

Special Topics in Calamity Physics, by Marisha Pessl

     I am currently reading Special Topics in Calamity Physics, by Marisha Pessl. The book is brimming with both external and internal conflict.

     About a teenager named Blue van Meer, the book describes the family (herself and her father) the friends (herself and her father) and the life, of an unusual high school senior, which primarily centers around her father and herself-- until she meets Hannah Schneider.

     In the book, Blue agrees with most everything her father (Gareth) says, and, as he is the only parental influence (or any influence) she has, and is also uncommonly brilliant to boot --an accomplished and well known literature figure/ professor/ lecturer/ writer. But when they meet Hannah Schneider, and he thinks she's "commonplace," while she thinks she's "elegant, with a romantic face."

     This is the first of many clashes between the two van Meers.

     Blue evolves over the book, and gradually is illuminated to her father's (many) flaws.

     And with realizing his flaws, comes shaping her own life. She goes to a dance with a boy her father doesn't like, makes friends with kids who sneak into adult parties, and becomes part of Hannah Schneider's "group."

     Her issues with him all come to a beaming climax when it is revealed that he's having an affair with one of her teachers, Eva (she finds out when the angry Eva Brewster breaks into their house, suspicious Gareth is cheating.)
   
     In the book, Blue begins to rely on her father less, and put more trust in herself, and her views. She begins to develop her own personality, away from the sphere of influence of her influential dad. She comes into herself, and, in some parts of the book, it is astory of self discovery-- finding the Blue van Meer amongst the sea of Gareth.