Mansfield Park, Part 5 of 36

The Sleepy Bookshelf: Just Jane

In this episode of The Sleepy Bookshelf: Just Jane, Elizabeth continues reading Chapter 7 of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park. The focus shifts to Fanny Price's growing unease about Mary Crawford's behavior and moral judgment,

Key takeaways

• Mary Crawford's outspoken criticism of her uncle reveals moral ambiguity and lack of decorum, which Fanny finds troubling despite Mary's charm.
• Edmund's growing affection for Mary is rooted in sincerity and quiet admiration rather than flattery, yet he remains blind to her flaws.

Main topics

• Moral judgment and social propriety
• Romantic tension between Edmund and Mary Crawford

Notable quotes

"She has a wonderful play of feature. But there was nothing in her conversation that struck you, Fanny, as not quite right."

"I do not censure her opinions, but there certainly is impropriety in making them public."

Conclusion

This episode deepens the emotional and moral complexity of Mansfield Park, revealing Fanny's

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 it is wonderful to be here with you tonight as we continue with Mansfield Park. But first, take a moment here to take a deep breath in and a long sigh out. to let go of the day. Lovely. Now, the last time we were together, the Crawfords and the Bertrams had continued to spend a great amount of time together. Mary's focus had shifted toward Tom Bertram as a potential husband. while Henry had been charming the socks off the two Bertram sisters. Though professing to prefer Julia, his attentions were clearly marked on Maria, despite her engagement to Mr. Rushworth. Speaker 1 (1:19) Fanny had been suspicious of the both of them, and when Tom left the estate on what could only be described as a pleasure tour, seemingly indifferent on leaving Mary behind, her attention seemed to shift toward Edmund. Edmund had been impressed with Mary's charisma, her likes and dislikes, her ability on the heart. Speaker 1 (1:48) but she did have some questionable and outspoken opinions that he was not yet too sure about. One evening at dinner, the conversation turned to Mr. Rushworth's desire to improve his estate at Southerton, and Henry offered his advice. while Mrs Norris came up with the idea of them all going to visit Southerton one afternoon in order to better gauge what could be done with the house and grounds. We pick up tonight with Edmund, curious to understand Fanny's opinion of Mary Crawford. So just lie back and relax as I turn to the next pages of Mansfield Park. Chapter 7 Speaker 1 (2:52) Well, Fanny, and how do you like Miss Crawford now? said Edmund the next day, after thinking some time on the subject himself. How did you like her yesterday? Very well, very much. I like to hear her talk. She entertains me and is so extremely pretty that I have a great pleasure in looking at her. It is her countenance that is so attractive. She has a wonderful play of feature. But there was nothing in her conversation that struck you, Fanny, as not quite right. Well, yes. She ought not to have spoken of her uncle as she did. I was quite astonished. An uncle with whom she has been living so many years and who, whatever his faults may be, is so very fond of her brother, treating him, as they say, quite like a son. I could not have believed it. I thought you would be struck. It was very wrong, very indecorous, and very ungrateful, I think. Ungrateful is a strong word. I do not know that her uncle has any claim to her gratitude. His wife certainly had. And it is the warmth of her respect for her aunt's memory which misleads her here. She is awkwardly circumstanced. Speaker 1 (4:24) With such warm feelings and lively spirits, it must be difficult to do justice to her affection for Mrs. Crawford without throwing a shade on the Admiral. I do not pretend to know which was most to blame in their disagreements, though the Admiral's present conduct might incline one to side with his wife. But it is natural and amiable that Miss Crawford should acquit her aunt entirely. Speaker 1 (4:53) I do not censure her opinions, but there certainly is impropriety in making them public. Do not you think, said Fanny, after a little consideration, that this impropriety is a reflection itself upon Mrs. Crawford, as her niece has been entirely brought up by her. She cannot have given her right notions of what was due to the Admiral. That is a fair remark. Yes, we must suppose the faults of the niece to have been of those of the aunt, and it makes one more sensible of the disadvantages she has been under. But I think her present home must do her good. Mrs. Grant's manners are just what they ought to be. She speaks of her brother with a very pleasing affection. Yes, except as to his writing her such short letters. She made me almost laugh, but I cannot rate so very highly the love or good nature of a brother, especially one who will not give himself the trouble of writing anything worth reading to his sisters when they are separated. I'm sure William would never have used me so under any circumstances, and what right had she to suppose that you would not write long letters when you were absent? Speaker 1 (6:24) On the right of a lively mind, Fanny, seizing whatever may contribute to its own amusement or that of others, perfectly allowable when untinctured by ill-humour or roughness, and there is not a shadow of either in the countenance or manner of Miss Crawford. Nothing sharp, or loud, or coarse. She's perfectly feminine, except in the instances we've been speaking of. There she cannot be justified. Speaker 1 (6:57) I am glad you saw it all as I did. Having formed her mind and gained her affections, he had a good chance of her thinking like him, though at this period and on this subject, there began now to be some danger of dissimilarity, for he was in a line of the admiration of Miss Crawford, which might lead him where Fanny could not follow. Speaker 1 (7:31) Miss Crawford's attractions did not lessen. The harp arrived and rather added to her beauty, wit and good humour, for she played with the greatest obligingness, with an expression and taste which were peculiarly becoming, and there was something clever to be said at the close of every air. Speaker 1 (8:00) Edmund was at the parsonage every day to be indulged with his favourite instrument. One morning secured an invitation for the next, for the lady could not be unwilling to have a listener, and everything was soon in a fair train. A young woman, pretty, lively, with a harp as elegant as her soul, and both placed near a window cut down to the ground, and opening on a little lawn, surrounded by shrubs in the rich foliage of summer, was enough to catch any man's heart. The season, the scene, the air, were all favourable to tenderness and sentiment. Speaker 1 (8:58) Mrs. Grant and her tambour frame were not without their use. It was all in harmony, and as everything will turn to account when love is once set going, even the sandwich tray and Dr. Grant doing the honours of it were worth looking at. Without studying the business, however, or knowing what he was about, Edmund was beginning, at the end of a week of such intercourse, to be a good deal in love, and to the credit of the lady it may be