- Mansfield Park is the third published novel by Jane Austen, first published in 1814 by Thomas Egerton. A second edition was published in 1816 by John Murray, still within Austen’s lifetime. The novel did not receive any public reviews until 1821.
- Austen knew Portsmouth from personal experience. She records that Admiral Foote, then Second-in-Command at Portsmouth, was “surprised that I had the power of drawing the Portsmouth-Scenes so well”. Her brother, Charles Austen served as a Royal Navy officer during the Napoleonic Wars. In the novel, Fanny’s brother William joins the Royal Navy as an officer, whose ship, HMS Thrush, is sited right next to HMS Cleopatra at Spithead. Captain Austen commanded HMS Cleopatra during her cruise in North American waters to hunt French ships from September 1810 to June 1811. If the novel refers to the ship in its historical context, this would date the main events of the novel as 1810–1811. William’s tales of his life as a midshipman recounted to the Bertrams would have indicated to early readers that he had sailed with Nelson to the Caribbean. Lady Bertram requests two shawls if he goes to the East Indies.
- Characters:
- Perplexed Mr Rushworth contemplating the locked gate at the Sotherton ha-ha.
- Fanny Price, the niece of the family at Mansfield Park, with the status of a dependent poor relation.
- Lady Bertram, Fanny’s aunt. Married to the wealthy Sir Thomas Bertram, she is the middle one of three sisters of the Ward family, the others being Mrs Norris and Fanny’s mother, Mrs Price.
- Mrs Norris, elder sister of Lady Bertram, whose husband was the local parson until his death.
- Sir Thomas Bertram, baronet and husband of Fanny’s aunt, owner of the Mansfield Park estate and one in Antigua.
- Thomas Bertram, elder son of Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram, seven years older than Fanny.
- Edmund Bertram, younger son of Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram, who plans to become a clergyman, six years older than Fanny.
- Maria Bertram, elder daughter of Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram, three years older than Fanny.
- Julia Bertram, younger daughter of Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram, two years older than Fanny.
- Dr Grant, incumbent of the Mansfield Park living after Mr Norris dies.
- Mrs Grant, wife of Mr Grant, and half-sister of Henry and Mary Crawford.
- Henry Crawford, brother of Miss Crawford and half-brother of Mrs Grant.
- Mary Crawford, sister of Mr Crawford and half-sister of Mrs Grant.
- Mr. Rushworth, Maria Bertram’s fiancé, then husband.
- The Hon. John Yates, friend of Tom Bertram.
- William Price, Fanny’s older brother.
- Mr Price, Fanny’s father, an officer in the Marines who lives in Portsmouth.
- Mrs Price, born Frances (Fanny) Ward, Fanny’s mother.
- Susan Price, Fanny’s younger sister.
- Lady Stornoway, a society woman, complicit in Mr Crawford and Maria’s flirtation.
- Mrs Rushworth, Mr Rushworth’s mother and Maria’s mother-in-law.
- Baddeley, the butler at Mansfield Park.
- Plot:
- Fanny Price, at the age of ten, is sent from her impoverished home in Portsmouth to live with the family at Mansfield Park, the Northamptonshire country estate of Sir Thomas Bertram. Lady Bertram is her aunt. The Bertrams have four children – Tom, Edmund, Maria and Julia – who are all older than Fanny. There she is mistreated by all but Edmund. Her other aunt, Mrs Norris, the wife of the clergyman at the Mansfield parsonage, makes herself particularly unpleasant to Fanny.
- When Fanny is fifteen, Aunt Norris is widowed and the frequency of her visits to Mansfield Park increases, as does her mistreatment of Fanny. A year later, Sir Thomas leaves to deal with problems on his plantation in Antigua, taking his spendthrift eldest son Tom. Mrs Norris, looking for a husband for Maria, finds Mr Rushworth, who is rich but weak-willed and considered stupid. Maria accepts his proposal for his money.
- The following year, Henry Crawford and his sister, Mary, arrive at the parsonage to stay with their half-sister, the wife of the new incumbent, Dr Grant. With their fashionable London ways, they enliven life in Mansfield. Edmund and Mary then start to show interest in one another.
- On a visit to Mr Rushworth’s estate, Henry flirts with both Maria and Julia. Maria believes Henry is in love with her and so treats Mr Rushworth dismissively, provoking his jealousy, while Julia struggles with jealousy and resentment towards her sister. Mary is disappointed to learn that Edmund will be a clergyman and tries to undermine his vocation. Fanny fears that Mary’s charms are blinding Edmund to her flaws.
- After Tom returns, he encourages the young people to begin rehearsals for an amateur performance of the play Lovers’ Vows. Edmund objects, believing Sir Thomas would disapprove and feeling that the subject matter of the play is inappropriate for his sisters. But after much pressure, he agrees to take on the role of the lover of the character played by Mary. The play provides further opportunity for Henry and Maria to flirt. When Sir Thomas arrives home unexpectedly, he finds the play still in rehearsal; it is cancelled. Henry departs without explanation and Maria goes ahead with marriage to Mr Rushworth. They then settle in London, taking Julia with them. Sir Thomas sees many improvements in Fanny and Mary Crawford initiates a closer relationship with her. Fanny, led by Henry Crawford at her celebration ball.
- When Henry returns, he decides to entertain himself by making Fanny fall in love with him. Fanny’s brother William visits Mansfield Park, and Sir Thomas holds what is effectively a coming-out ball for her. Although Mary dances with Edmund, she tells him it will be the last time, as she will never dance with a clergyman. Edmund drops his plan to propose and leaves the next day. So do Henry and William.
- When Henry next returns, he announces to Mary his intention to marry Fanny. To assist his plan, he uses his family connections to help William achieve promotion. However, when Henry proposes marriage, Fanny rejects him, disapproving of his past treatment of women. Sir Thomas is astonished by her continuing refusal, but she does not explain, afraid of incriminating Maria.
- To help Fanny appreciate Henry’s offer, Sir Thomas sends her to visit her parents in Portsmouth, where she is taken aback by the contrast between their chaotic household and the harmonious environment at Mansfield. Henry visits, but although she still refuses him, she begins to appreciate his good features.
- Later, Fanny learns that Henry and Maria have had an affair that is reported in the newspapers. Mr Rushworth sues Maria for divorce, and the Bertram family is devastated. Tom meanwhile falls gravely ill as a result of a fall from his horse. Edmund takes Fanny back to Mansfield Park, where she is a healing influence. Sir Thomas realises that Fanny was right to reject Henry’s proposal and now regards her as a daughter.
- During a meeting with Mary Crawford, Edmund discovers that Mary’s only regret is that Henry’s adultery was discovered, rather than the actual adultery. Devastated, he breaks off the relationship and returns to Mansfield Park, where he confides in Fanny. Eventually the two marry and move to Mansfield parsonage. Meanwhile, those left at Mansfield Park have learned from their mistakes and life becomes pleasanter there.
Mansfield Park (1814) – Jane Austen
About the Author: Abirlal Mukherjee
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