I remain unconvinced. The Bertrams initially don't want Fanny to set her sights on Edmund, because they think _she_'s not good enough for him (no dowry, no connections). They are so hell-bent on pushing her on Henry, a known cad raised by a - even for this age - remarkably misogynist father, because they genuinely can't see her doing better - Fanny's likely alternative to Henry would be spinsterhood, forever a burden on the Bertram's pockets; Henry's whimsical idea of marrying her for the lolz is a unique opportunity unlikely to ever return. Of course Fanny's one asset - her pious conduct - greatly appreciates in value after the unpleasant affair with Maria. At least Fanny's not going to bring shame to the family name. Embroiled in scandal, the Bertrams are chastened and have to re-adjust their priorities. Fanny marrying at all is a triumph, considering the low expectations anyone had for her, but her making the Bertrams eat crow by marrying Edmund is a triumph impossible to resist.
Because, of course, from the beginning, Edmund is the most conventionally eligible (somewhat age-appropriate, good reputation, comfortable income) man Fanny could realistically aim for (spending enough time in her approximate vicinity to potentially develop some appreciation for her less tangible merits, which is really her only hope, because she simply has no immediately obvious ones). Which is why the Bertrams initially are somewhat worried she might get her hopes up and take not insignificant care of keeping her in her place (a task mostly outsourced to Mrs. Norris, who clearly acts in the comfortable security of general approval). In the beginning, Sir Thomas reminds his wife not to give Fanny ideas above her station. In the end, he's so broken by his daughter's scandal that he's grateful enough for an inoffensive daughter-in-law.
Would I, the reader, want better for Fanny? Maybe, but I'm not sure she'd want better for herself. One big point of Mansfield Park is that pleasant circumstance breed pleasant manners, and that while pleasant manners can hide a million sins (snobbery, adultery, slavery, etc.) and won't count for shit when the shit hits the fan, they might still seem preferable to unpleasant manners in unpleasant circumstances most of the time. Edmund comes with pleasant manners and pleasant circumstances (and continued access to Fanny's true love, Mansfield Park), so we have to consider Fanny Price a happy woman.
I thought I was the only one who loved Mansfield Park best out of all of the Austen novels so this absolutely thrills me.
I feel nauseous with anger whenever I think of Edmund Bertram but I loved this!
So well observed! I love the passage from your book, Danny.
I remain unconvinced. The Bertrams initially don't want Fanny to set her sights on Edmund, because they think _she_'s not good enough for him (no dowry, no connections). They are so hell-bent on pushing her on Henry, a known cad raised by a - even for this age - remarkably misogynist father, because they genuinely can't see her doing better - Fanny's likely alternative to Henry would be spinsterhood, forever a burden on the Bertram's pockets; Henry's whimsical idea of marrying her for the lolz is a unique opportunity unlikely to ever return. Of course Fanny's one asset - her pious conduct - greatly appreciates in value after the unpleasant affair with Maria. At least Fanny's not going to bring shame to the family name. Embroiled in scandal, the Bertrams are chastened and have to re-adjust their priorities. Fanny marrying at all is a triumph, considering the low expectations anyone had for her, but her making the Bertrams eat crow by marrying Edmund is a triumph impossible to resist.
Because, of course, from the beginning, Edmund is the most conventionally eligible (somewhat age-appropriate, good reputation, comfortable income) man Fanny could realistically aim for (spending enough time in her approximate vicinity to potentially develop some appreciation for her less tangible merits, which is really her only hope, because she simply has no immediately obvious ones). Which is why the Bertrams initially are somewhat worried she might get her hopes up and take not insignificant care of keeping her in her place (a task mostly outsourced to Mrs. Norris, who clearly acts in the comfortable security of general approval). In the beginning, Sir Thomas reminds his wife not to give Fanny ideas above her station. In the end, he's so broken by his daughter's scandal that he's grateful enough for an inoffensive daughter-in-law.
Would I, the reader, want better for Fanny? Maybe, but I'm not sure she'd want better for herself. One big point of Mansfield Park is that pleasant circumstance breed pleasant manners, and that while pleasant manners can hide a million sins (snobbery, adultery, slavery, etc.) and won't count for shit when the shit hits the fan, they might still seem preferable to unpleasant manners in unpleasant circumstances most of the time. Edmund comes with pleasant manners and pleasant circumstances (and continued access to Fanny's true love, Mansfield Park), so we have to consider Fanny Price a happy woman.