If you remember, I set a goal to read (or re-read) all of Jane Austen's novels. So far I've managed:
"Pride & Prejudice"
"Sense & Sensibility"
"Northanger Abbey"
and now "Mansfield Park".
(In case you're wondering about the order I'm reading them in, it's a simple system. I just pick up whichever Jane Austen novel happens to be available at the library when I visit. Next up are "Persuasion" and "Emma".)
I'll just start out by admitting it. "Mansfield Park" is my least favorite of Jane Austen's novels. It is obviously Austen; you could pull out any single page, read it out of context, and just know that it is from one of Austen's books. Yet it never reaches quite the level of the other books.
What is it that's lacking in "Mansfield Park"? Or what is perhaps there that's not in the other five novels?
First of all, Fanny Price just isn't as good of a main character as Austen's other heroines are. She doesn't have the wit or warmth of most of her counterparts. When we think of Jane Austen, we normally think of strong women leads. Fanny Price, however, is mostly characterized as being weak and sickly. Yes, she has moral integrity, but she's also known for being "persuadable".
Also, the love story just lets the book down. I know that in Austen's time it was acceptable for cousins to marry each other. Even as a modern reader I could have probably handled that they were somehow related. What makes the relationship between Fanny and Edmund disturbing is that they have grown up together like siblings. They refer to each other in family terms, like "brother" and "sister". Perhaps most disturbing to me is how completely malleable Fanny is to Edmund.
Their relationship is not one of equals. Although Edmund confides in Fanny, he is not actually influenced by her. Proof of this is offered again and again (for example, when he takes part in the play after her confirming counsel that he should not; his continued high opinion of the Crawfords despite Fanny's better judgement). Fanny, on the other hand, has formed most of her life and opinions around Edmund's advice, approval, and love. Even when they are approaching marriage, this is how their relationship is described:
"a regard [Edmund's feelings for Fanny] founded on the most endearing claims of innocence and helplessness, and completed by every recommendation of growing worth, what could be more natural than the change? [from "warm and sisterly regard" to "wedded love"] Loving, guiding, protecting her, as he had been doing ever since her being ten years old, her mind in so great a degree formed by his care, and her comfort depending on his kindness...what was there now to add, but that he should learn to prefer soft light eyes to sparkling dark ones..." -"Mansfield Park", Vol. III Chap. xxii
In the other novels, you really want them to get together. Who doesn't savor every moment of misunderstanding in "Pride & Prejudice", for example, yet long for Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy to have their happily ever after? In "Mansfield Park", conversely, you just don't really care. Or, if you do, it's because you don't actually want them together.
"Mansfield Park" is also the most moralizing of Austen's novels. Many of them show the consequences of certain actions or personality traits, and even have almost fable type elements to them. "Mansfield Park" is the only one that feels moralizing rather than just moral though. In accordance with this, the novel is much less ironic than many of her others. Yes, there are moments of irony in the novel (like Mrs. Norris constantly contradicting her words by her actions), but the tone is different.
I'm glad that I read "Mansfield Park", but it's not one I'll keep revisiting for pleasure reading.
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