Book Review: Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

[olde_fashioned]

Title: Mansfield Park
by: Jane Austen
Genre: British Literature, Fiction, Classics

Mansfield Park is the most sombre of Jane Austen's works, and the one with the most prominent moral conscience. Originally published in 1814, the novel's heroine, Fanny Price, is often considered a polarizing figure. Even though others find her drippy, irritating, and boring, I find she, like Mr. Darcy, rather improve upon closer acquaintance. ;-)

This is only the second time I’ve read MP, and I did like it more this time around. Fanny is considerably more likable the second time around, but alas, Edmund is still his usual self…I confess that while I do see his merits, (taking care of Fanny more than anyone else, etc.) I am still hung up on his flaws and seemingly willful blindness about the Crawfords. Perhaps a third read will make him more palatable. ;-)



Fanny Price is probably *THE* most moral heroine I’ve ever come across, even more so than Jane Eyre and Molly Gibson. She has such an earnest desire to do what is right, without being a “goody-two-shoes” and show-off type of righteous prig, even though some seem to consider her as such. There are many proofs of her "humanity" and feelings which are all too easy to over-look. The difference is that while Fanny is not immune to temptation, she consciously chooses to do what is right, even at her own expense. The thought of doing wrong horrifies her, and I find that refreshing and something to be admired. In our modern society, we are all too often urged to do “what feels good” no matter what the consequences.

Contrast Fanny with the Crawfords. They are, without mincing words, wicked, devious, selfish, thoughtless, and callous. Mary, much more so than Henry, disgusted me, with her hot/cold/hot/cold behaviour to Edmund. No wonder the poor guy’s so confused! I think Mary’s rather confused herself… And as for Henry, how cruel to want to intentionally wound someone so innocent as Fanny! I wanted to punch him in the nose. And yet, he could have become a good man, I think, if he had married Fanny. I found myself almost wanting to give him a chance, something I’m sure JA fully intended to inflict upon her readers. ;-)

One person I found increasingly interesting was Henry Crawford. Now, let me preface this with the firm statement that I cannot stand him and I deplore his lack of moral conviction. I DO NOT like Henry Crawford. But I found myself almost liking him when he was being kind (well, sort of…) to Fanny and trying to win her over, especially in Portsmouth with her charming family.

Comments

[goingofthings.livejournal.com]

those thoughts - and the comments - were very enlightening to read. I need to read the book again now. They brought to my mind a whole lot of other thoughts and ideas. Such as the comment that it takes awhile to get to know Fanny - I think that is why I liked this novel best out of all of Austen's works. I'm not quite as moralistic perhaps, but I am very quiet and reserved and keep a lot of thoughts to myself like she does. I used to think I was most like her than any heroine in any novel, but I read Mansfield Park in high school and I've changed A LOT in the past eight years, lol! It'll be very interesting to read it again and see what I think now.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I am glad you found them so. :-D

I am reserved as well, although that may not come across online as much as it does in person. ;-) I've always empathized more with Elinor Dashwood more so than Fanny. They're very similar, but I don't know why I do, I just do.

When you do reread MP, perhaps you should write up a review of your own, and post it at olde_and_grey! :-)

[goingofthings.livejournal.com]

lol I think that often - people who read my journal probably don't think I'm reserved at all and sometimes I want to assert "I usually don't ever talk this much!" Somehow it's easier to not be as reserved with an anonymous audience.

I think I'm very much like Elinor Dashwood, very reserved and practical - I always thinks things through first and I'm not a gambler. But I think I've also always wanted to be a bit more like Marianne in a way. Fanny and Elinor are very similar now that you mention it, but the thought didn't strike me when I was reading either novel. Hmm. MP is slowly edging it's way up on my to-read list, I might have to post some thoughts when I get around to reading it ;)

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

I feel the same way. :-)

[ibmiller.livejournal.com]

Very nice review - MP is tied with P&P and Persuasion for my second favorite Jane Austen novel, so it's always nice to see someone who doesn't write a review which basically says "OMGENASUTHBBQ, Fanny is liek soooo boring." However, I have to agree with useriane_grey that Edmund never bothered me. Not sure why, but I never had the violent reaction so many seem to have. Then, Fanny is one of the few fictional characters I've ever actually had a crush on, so I might see him through her teenaged eyes. Remarkeably clear though those eyes usually are... :-)

Perhaps the reason you empathize with Elinor more than Fanny is that Elinor, though similar in personality and character to Fanny, is both older and more mature. She is also less psychologically damaged - though she is sad because her family has died, she doesn't have a nearly pathologically poor self-image.

I've not liked Elinor as well as she deserves, but the new film has given her new winsomeness and beauty of character. Which is just as it ought to be!