Mansfield Park, Part 11 of 36

The Sleepy Bookshelf: Just Jane

This episode of The Sleepy Bookshelf continues the reading of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park, focusing on Chapters 15 and 16. The narrative ce

Key takeaways

The group settles on performing the play 'Lovers' Vows' despite Edmund's reservations.
Tom Bertram refuses to take the role of Anhalt but suggests recruiting strangers like Charles Maddox.
Fanny Price is heavily pressured by Tom, Maria, and Mrs. Norris to accept a minor role as a cottager.
Edmund Bertram decides to take the part of Anhalt himself to prevent further social impropriety.
Miss Crawford provides emotional support to Fanny during the stressful negotiations.

Main topics

Amateur theatricals at Mansfield Park
Social pressure and family obligation
Edmund Bertram's moral dilemma

Notable quotes

What a piece of work here is about nothing.

Conclusion

The episode illustrates the suffocating nature of social expectations

Transcript preview

Speaker 1 (0:01) Good evening, and welcome to the sleepy bookshelf, Just Jane, where we put down our worries from the day and pick up a good Jane Austen book. I'm your host, Elizabeth, and tonight we will be continuing with Mansfield Park. But before we do, take a moment to have a deep breath in through your nose, perhaps holding it at the top. Speaker 1 (0:34) and a long exhale out. Lovely. Now, last time, the young people of Mansfield struggled to choose a suitable play to perform. Meanwhile, a carpenter was hired to erect a stage, and Mrs Norris was busy preparing the green baize curtains. Speaker 1 (1:04) Eventually they settled on Lovers' Vows, the very same play Mr Yates had been rehearsing with the Ravensworths at Ecclesford. The play seemed to have a good balance of male and female roles, and a sound mix of comedy and tragedy to suit all. Crawford and Yates took the principal male role. while Mariah and Julia argued over who would play the romantic female lead. Crawford swung it in Mariah's favour, and Julia left the production feeling slighted and angry. Rushworth and Mary Crawford took the smaller parts, and when Edmund arrived home, he had to agree with Fanny that the play had many questionable elements for a family production. Speaker 1 (2:03) He urged Maria to withdraw as a nearly married woman, but she insisted that minor alterations would be made and the play would go ahead. And that is where we pick up tonight. So, just lie back and relax as I turn to the next pages of Mansfield Park. Chapter 15 continued. Dinner passed heavily. Mrs. Norris related again her triumph over Dick Jackson, but neither play nor preparation were otherwise much talked of, for Edmund's disapprobation was felt even by his brother, though he would not have owned it. Maria, wanting Henry Crawford's animating support, thought the subject better avoided. Mr. Yates, who was trying, Speaker 1 (3:21) who was trying to make himself agreeable to Julia, found her gloom less impenetrable on any topic than that of his regret at her secession from the company. And Mr. Rushworth, having only his part and his own dress in his head, had soon talked away all that could be said of either. But the concerns of the theatre were suspended only for an hour or two. There was still a great deal to be settled, and the spirits of evening giving fresh courage, Tom, Mariah and Mr. Yates, soon after their being reassembled in the drawing room, seated themselves in committee at a separate table, with the play open before them. and were just getting deep in the subject, when a most welcome interruption was given by the entrance of Mr. and Miss Crawford. who, late and dark and dirty as it was, could not help coming and were received with the most grateful joy. Well, how do you go on, and what have you settled, and oh, we can do nothing without you, followed the first salutations, and Henry Crawford was soon seated with the other three at the table, while his sister made her way to Lady Bertram. and with pleasant attention was complimenting her. I must really congratulate your ladyship, said she, on the play being chosen. For though you have borne it with exemplary patience, I'm sure you must be sick of all our noise and difficulties. The actors may be glad, but the bystanders must be infinitely more thankful for a decision. And I do sincerely give you joy, madam, as well as Mrs. Norris and everybody else who is in the same predicament. Glancing half fearfully, half slyly beyond Fanny to Edmund. Speaker 1 (5:38) She was very civilly answered by Lady Bertram, but Edmund said nothing. His being only a bystander was not disclaimed. After continuing in chat with the party round the fire a few minutes, Miss Crawford returned to the party round the table, and standing by them, seemed to interest herself in their arrangements till, as if struck by a sudden recollection, she exclaimed, My good friends, you are most composedly at work upon these cottages and ale-houses, inside and out. But pray let me know my fate in the meanwhile. Who is to be anhalt? What gentleman among you am I to have the pleasure of making love to? For a moment, no one spoke. And then many spoke together to tell the same melancholy truth, that they had not yet got any anhalt. I will not entirely give it up, however. I will try what can be done. I will look it over again. Your brother should take the part, said Mr. Yates in a low voice. Do you not think he would? I shall not ask him, replied Tom in a cold, determined manner. Speaker 1 (7:06) Miss Crawford talked of something else, and soon afterwards rejoined the party at the fire. They do not want me at all, said she, seating herself. I only puzzle them, and oblige them to make civil speeches. Mr. Edmund Bertram, as you do not act yourself, you will be a disinterested advisor, and therefore I apply to you. What shall we do for an anhold? Speaker 1 (7:38) Is it practicable for any of the others to double it? What is your advice? My advice, said he calmly, is that you change the play. I should have no objection, she replied, for though I should not particularly dislike the part of Amelia, if well supported, that is, if everything went well, I shall be sorry to be an inconvenience. But as they do not choose to hear your advice at that table, looking round, it certainly will not be taken, Edmund said no more. Speaker 1 (8:18) If any part could tempt you to act, I suppose it would be Anne Holt, observed the lady archly after a short pause. For he is a clergyman, you know. That circumstance would by no means tempt me, he replied, for I should be sorry to make the character ridiculous by bad acting. It must be very difficult to keep Alan Holt from appearing a formal, solemn lecturer, and the man who chooses the profession itself is, perhaps, one of the last who would wish to represent it on the stage. Miss Crawford was silenced, and with some feelings of resentment and mortification, moved her chair considerably nearer the tea table, and gave all her attention to Mrs Norris, who was presiding there. Speaker 1 (9:14) Fanny, cried Tom Bertram from the other table, where the conference was eagerly carrying on, and the conversation incessant. We want your services. Fanny was up in a moment, expecting some errand, for the habit of employing her in that way was not yet overcome, in spite of all that Edmund could do. Speaker 1 (9:38) "'Oh, we do not want to disturb you from your seat. We do not want your present services. We shall only want you in our play. You must be Cottage's wife.' "'Me?' cried Fanny, sitting down again with a most frightened look. "'Indeed, you must excuse me. I could not act anything if you were to give me the world. No, indeed I cannot act.' Indeed, but you must, for we cannot excuse you. It need not frighten you. It is in nothing of a part, a mere nothing, not above half a dozen speeches altogether, and it will not much signify if nobody hears