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

[jyms.livejournal.com]

edmund: ah. i can't tolerate him, sometimes i just feel like yanking him out of the book by the cravat and shouting into his ear, "LOOK AT FANNY!" he's so awfully wishy-washy. i've only read MP once, and from what i remember, Fanny's okay. she's a real good role-model to follow - i wonder if anyone has set her up as their example for life as yet?

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

LOL!! I find your description of yanking him around by the cravat very amusing. ;-) And you're right about Fanny's being an excellent role model!