“The Mansfield Park” by Jane Austen
One of the most pompous fictional stories by Jane Austen (1775-1817) is, “Mansfield Park.” Which was first published in 1815.
The story follows the young and poor woman Fanny Price who at the age of ten is sent to live with her rich aunt and uncle Bertram at their grand estate of Mansfield
Park. “The Mansfield Park” was also Austen’s third published novel. It explores, “morality, social class, and the consequences of moral compromise.” The novel also takes place during the Napoleonic Wars, which were a continuation of the French Revolution. The character “Fanny” is a
caricature of a good woman in the early 1800s, because she is pretty, modest, and
obedient.
Jane Austen’s novel is a satire and a romance. It goes through two editions before Jane Austen’s death (1817), but didn’t receive any public reviews until 1821. Historically, the 1889 publication of Malden’s Jane Austen was part of an Eminent Women series published by W.H. Allen & Co., London. The novel appeared in May 1814, in a possible edition of 1250 copies. Another precious works, “Sense & Sensibility” and “Pride & Prejudice” show same motifs like this novel. First edition of Mansfield Park in three volumes from the Museum’s collection.
At the beginning of the novel, Fanny Price, a young girl who is sent to live with her wealthy relatives, the Bertrams, at their estate. Fanny grows up with her four cousins, Tom, Edmund, Maria, and Julia, but is often neglected or mistreated by them and her aunt, Mrs. Norris. In this time, Edmund shows her kindness and friendship is, who plans to become a clergyman. Fanny secretly falls in love with him, but he is unaware of her feelings. In Mansfield Park, “She [Fanny] was small of her age, with no glow of complexion, nor any other striking beauty.”
The novel explores the themes of morality, social class, marriage, and education through the events and characters that Fanny encounters. When Sir Thomas leaves for Antigua to manage his plantations, two new visitors arrive at Mansfield: Henry and Mary Crawford. Henry and Mary are attractive and cheerful. In addition, Henry flirts with both Maria, who is engaged to marry the boring but wealthy Rushworth, and Julia, who is jealous of her sister. Mary is initially attracted to Tom, the eldest son and heir, but soon shifts her attention to Edmund, who is drawn to her despite her disdain for his profession.
In the course, a play, “Lovers’ Vows,” which involves some scandalous scenes and dialogues. Fanny is the only one who opposes the idea, but is pressured to take part by her relatives. The play is interrupted by the unexpected return of Sir Thomas. He soon gives his consent to Maria’s marriage with Mr. Rushworth. Fanny looks and, “observes the selfishness which, more or less disguised, seemed to govern them all, and wondering how it would end.” Henry, who has been amusing himself by trying to make Fanny falls in love with him. He proposes to her, but she rejects him. Sir Thomas and Edmund are shocked and angry by her refusal, and try to persuade her to accept Henry’s offer.
Fanny remains firm in her decision, and is sent back to her parents’ home in Portsmouth as a punishment. There, she misses Edmund and hopes that he will come to visit her. “She was hurt, shocked, mortified; but she was silent, and, as far as he could see, his only angry with him.” Meanwhile, Edmund is still in love with Mary, but is conflicted by her lack of moral sense and religious principles. A few days later, Fanny is recalled to Mansfield, where she is welcomed with affection and gratitude by Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram, who have come to appreciate her virtues and value. “My Fanny,” said Edmund, “I shall soon have done. I am not come to make speeches to you, but to be with you, if you will let me.”
Throughout the novel, It explores, “morality, social class, and the consequences of personal choices.” The novel also scrutinizes the role of marriage in society which is shedding light on the tension between personal desires and societal norms. The novel also delves into the challenges faced by the protagonist, Fanny Price, as she navigates societal expectations and personal integrity. It unfolds into the intricacies, “personal growth, the role of education, the impact of wealth and privilege on character development.”
To conclude, Austen’s novel “Mansfield Park” expresses the narrator uses first-person language and gives up her omniscience to make guesses and ambiguous statements regarding the fates of characters. The novel ends with a marriage, but we don’t see anything of married life afterwards. Some critics say that the ending hints at the essential ambiguity of knowledge. At the end of the narratives, Austen’s heroines have won both man and property. It is apparent reward for holding out for love rather than property alone, and restitution for the dispossession that they have anticipated or experienced; the losses that they have suffered. In Richardson’s “Pamela,” nor are they romantic fantasy endings of unalloyed joy and unbounded earthly goods.
“I belong to my beloved, and my beloved is mine.” __ Jamie MCgauire
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