Mansfield Park

Mansfield Park is written by Jane Austen, and published in 1814, and the genre is comedy of manners. This novel is about a young woman named Fanny Price who gets adopted by her cousins, Aunt and Uncle, and what comes from this change.



Author Biographical Information
Jane Austen was born December 16th, 1775 in Steventon, England. She was the seventh of eight children born to a Farmer-gentlemen whose wife was a higher class then himself. She grew up with the only formal education of spending a few years learning at a Abbey. She was mostly self taught or her parents taught her (meaning mostly her father). Persuasion was the last  novel that ever got published. At this time she was ill and never did recover, Persuasion was published in 1818 and she died in July of 1817 before she ever saw her book published, she was forty-one. Also, none of her books ever had her name on it as the author until much after her death, she was afraid no one would buy the books if they saw it was written by a woman.

Setting: Historical Information
The setting is Northampton, England, at a nearby residence called Mansfield Park. The main historical attributes was this town was for a very long time the seat of power for England. It was actually the capital for 200 years. The area has always been fought over by different political powers and government. It is also known for being a good shoemaking town.

Genre
Comedy of Manners is the genre that uses much satire (use of wit to criticize behavior) from the main character or society to the main character.

Plot Summary
In this novel, poor little Fanny Price is taken away from her destitute family to live with her cousins and aunt and uncle; the Betram family. Here she grows up being always reminded by the family and a nearby aunt that she came from a poor, non-noble family which pushes her self-esteem to make her personality into a quiet, shy girl. Although, there is much unkindness brought to her, there is one person who almost always stands by her and supports her, Edmund Betram (her cousin who also is the second son). Then, a change comes about; Mr. Betram has to sail away for business and is gone for basically two years. Soon after that change a new family moves into to the parsonage, the Crawford’s. This change brings not only a competition for her cousin’s attention but also the attention of a young man that she has resentment for because of how he treated her female cousins. The rest of the novel explains how the two families interact with each other and being in the same society.

Characters

 * Fanny Price - this is the narrator of the story and the protagonist
 * Sir Thomas Betram- this is the uncle of Fanny nd helps support her financially (and sometimes emotionally)
 * Lady Betram- this is Fanny's aunt and the person Fanny constantly helps and takes care of
 * Edmund Betram- this is Fanny's cousin and emotional supporter (she also has fallen in love with him)
 * Maria Betram - this is Fanny's cousin and a selfish girl who ruins her own life in the novel
 * Julia Betram - this is Fanny's other cousin and she falls in the footsteps of her sister
 * Tom Betram - this is Fanny's cousin who goes through a personality change throughout the book
 * Mrs. Norris - this is Fanny's other aunt who keeps trying to put Fanny down
 * Mary Crawford - this is Fanny's neighbor and a love interest of Edmund
 * Henry Crawford - this is Mary's brother and a person who claims to have fallen in love with Fanny
 * William Price - this is Fanny's brother who tries to take care of her even though she is basically forgotten at her parent's house
 * Susan Price - this is Fanny's sister who comforts Lady Betram when Fanny leaves
 * Yates - this is one of Tom's old friends who leads to Julia's demise

Author's Style
Jane Austen’s style is to use imagery to convey the story of a young woman’s life during a time of change in England while showing selfishness and corruption of the society. Ex. “’ I mean to be too rich to lament or feel anything of the sort. A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of .’” (Austen Ch. XXII)

Setting
The setting is Mansfield Park in Northampton, England in the early 1800s. Mansfield Park is the home of Fanny’s wealthy relatives that adopt her, the Betram family. Mansfield Park is where Fanny spent most of her life growing up and learning how to be a good gentlewoman. It is here that she meets almost all of the characters listed above (except for Susan who she meets at her parent's house). It is also here where she observes the ill manners of most and foreshadows what it going to happen throughout the book.

Themes

 * don’t shut your mind to others when you think something - This is what causes one of the main problems throughout the novel, Edmund falls in love with Ms. Crawford even though he has said it himself that she is ill mannered. When Fanny tries to tell him about his mistake he is blind to everything that is wrong with Ms. Crawford.
 * selfishness and vanity are NOT good attributes - In the novel the two Crawfords try to get Edmund and Fanny fall in love with them. Both almost succeed except when they reveal a bit too much of their vanity and selfishness. These two qualities are their downfall in the book and keeps them from their happiness.
 * your heart and your mind might not always agree - In the novel Edmund falls in love with a completely wrong girl, but he end up with Fanny. What kept him from the right choice in the first place was his heart wanted Fanny, but his mind wanted another. He did not find what he really wanted until he made them both agree.

Symbols

 * the theatre- the symbol of this is it explains the deciet that was among the charcters it also showed many of the character's true colors
 * ordination- the symbol in this is that it is the main conflict between Edmund and Mary, it also shows their different virtues and what they think is right
 * home improvement- this shows not only the wealth but also metaphors the need of improvement of the personalities and morals of the home owners

Significance of the Opening/Closing Scenes

 * opening- Explains the role of rank in a person’s life in England at that period of time. Also explains how Fanny is related to the Mansfield Park family.
 * closing - Ties together everything and explains what happens to all of the characters in the end.

Memorable Quotes
Quote:“But there certainly are not so many men of large fortune in the world as there are pretty women to deserve them.” (Austen Ch. I) significance:This quote signifies how closely related marriage and wealth are in their society. Quote:“I know so many who have married in the full expectation and confidence of some particular advantage in the connection, or accomplishment, or good quality in the person, who have found themselves entirely deceived, and been obliged to put up with exactly the reverse.” (Austen Ch. V) significance:This quote shows what people expect to gain from marriage and in the society and time is the main reason anyone would marry, not for love. Quote:“It raises my spleen more than anything, to have the pretence of being asked, or being given a choice, and at the same time addressed in such a way as to oblige one to do the very thing, whatever it be!” (Austen Ch. XI) significance:This quote shows how people used satire and manipulation for their own selfish gains. This also further shows on the authors style of showing a corrupt society