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micheleseverson 's review for:
Mansfield Park
by Jane Austen
Fanny, ignored and neglected by her adoptive family, clings steadfastly to her sense of morals and shies from outward attention. Maybe it's annoying for a modern reader to read about a young girl so committed to doing good and be so timid, but it's not like Fanny had many other attachments other than trying to be good and better when she was constantly reminded of how "low" she was. Sure, she grew up in her aunt and uncle's beautiful manor, "rescued" from her inferior birth into a poor family, but she was never left to forget how inferior her birth, and thus herself, was. Self confidence can never develop in such an environment.
"Remember, wherever you are, you must be the lowest and last." So says dear Aunt Norris to her young niece. How could any young person be like the spicy Elizabeth Bennet after listen to that crap all their life?
I think Edmund (yes, yes, kissing cousins is icky) suits Fanny so much better than the psychopath Crawford. Crawford was dashing and charming, but what he liked best was to manipulate the feelings around him, i.e. the definition of a psychopath. As for the argument that Fanny could have changed Crawford into a better man; no. People can't change other people, you can only change yourself. Thinking you can change other people into better people is bad news bears.
Fanny also isn't as weak as she might first appear. She flatly refuses to accept Crawford's marriage proposal, even after being shamed and pressured by her uncle and family. She knows Crawford is shallow and manipulative, and I greatly admire her great discerning of his true, utterly lacking character and refusal to attach herself in anyway to him, despite his charms and fortune.
So yes, the moral of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park is that good things happen to good people... a bit simple and super preachy, but the characterization and telling of the plot is still excellent. Highly enjoyed this.
"Remember, wherever you are, you must be the lowest and last." So says dear Aunt Norris to her young niece. How could any young person be like the spicy Elizabeth Bennet after listen to that crap all their life?
I think Edmund (yes, yes, kissing cousins is icky) suits Fanny so much better than the psychopath Crawford. Crawford was dashing and charming, but what he liked best was to manipulate the feelings around him, i.e. the definition of a psychopath. As for the argument that Fanny could have changed Crawford into a better man; no. People can't change other people, you can only change yourself. Thinking you can change other people into better people is bad news bears.
Fanny also isn't as weak as she might first appear. She flatly refuses to accept Crawford's marriage proposal, even after being shamed and pressured by her uncle and family. She knows Crawford is shallow and manipulative, and I greatly admire her great discerning of his true, utterly lacking character and refusal to attach herself in anyway to him, despite his charms and fortune.
So yes, the moral of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park is that good things happen to good people... a bit simple and super preachy, but the characterization and telling of the plot is still excellent. Highly enjoyed this.