Character Development in Jane Austen's Mansfield Park

914 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Jane Austens technique of characterization and dialogue in pride and prejudice

Character Development in Jane Austen's Mansfield Park

Character: the combination of emotional, intellectual, and moral qualities distinguishing one person from another. Character is a very important part of the human make-up. It is something that time matures and experience sharpens. It is the invisible blueprint of our souls, and only a lifetime can produce the full potential of one's character. Thus, how does an author develop a character to its fullest potential when there are only so many pages to be filled? How does one character, or many, change, grow, and differ from what they appeared to be on the first page to what they have become on the last? It is an art indeed. One, that the author of this paper can only trace the steps of another to find the secret of.

Mansfield Park, written by Jane Austen, was first published in 1814. It was her third book and undoubtedly overshadowed by the huge success of her first two books, Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice. The book, all the same, is another one of her masterpieces. Just like the rest, it is full of English high society in the early 1800's, the struggle of love and money in those times, the idea of what propriety and modesty really were, and most of all, the complexity of character and the shock of the shallowness sometimes embedded instead.

One of Jane Austen's greatest talents is the marvelous job she does of developing her characters. The main character of Mansfield Park is Miss Fanny Price. The first description of Fanny starts out as her being, "small for her age, with no glow of complexion, nor any other striking beauty; exceedingly timid and shy, and shrinking from notice; but her air though awkward, was not vulgar, her voice was sweet, and when ...

... middle of paper ...

... he first possessed.

In the end, the development of every character is complete. Some gain good qualities, while others only seem to cultivate desolation. In the eyes of the reader, character development should be the true brilliancy of Jane Austen's novels. The main focus of each of her books is to portray the difference between outstanding morals, conduct, and character or the lack of. Through her writing, she emphasizes the importance of how a lifetime can be used to increase the accomplishments of the soul instead of the gains of one's pocketbook. Perhaps, this is the lesson to be learned from her writings. All should use their lifetime to increase the intricacy of one's soul blueprint instead of erasing it.

Works Cited

Austen, Jane. The works of Jane Austen.

London: Allan Wingate,1962.

"Character." Webster's II New College Dictionary. 2001.

Show More
Related

  • Russia: Lost in Transition

    1564 Words  | 4 Pages

    Historically, Russia’s relationship with the West has been shaky at best. From the Crimean War in the 1850’s to alienation following the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution all the way up to the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia has been “under attack.” This has forced them to adopt a mentality that is based in self sufficiency and autarky. As Western nations attempt to strengthen democracy in Russia in the 21st century, Russia has responded negatively to these perceived “intrusions.” Therefore it is important to ask what role the West should play in Russia’s development and what is hindering this from happening? In her book Russia: Lost in Transition, Lilia Shevtsova outlines two different ways the West can approach development with Russia: let them figure it out themselves or patiently create an international environment that the Russians feel comfortable in. Shevtsova clearly favors the latter. The West’s involvement is hindered however by double standards, ideological differences, and negative perceptions of the West’s motives by the Russian people. These must first be analyzed before showing how a cautious, assertive approach is the best way for the West to assist in Russian development.

    Read More

  • Criticism of Capitalism in The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald

    1507 Words  | 4 Pages

    In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald creates an artificial world where money is the object of everyone's desire.  The characters, the setting, and the plot are very deeply submerged in a Capitalism that ends up destroying many of them.  Fitzgerald's criticism of Capitalism can be seen as a move to subtly promote Socialism, an ideology in which value is placed on the inherent value of an object rather than its market value.  In a late collection of notes, Fitzgerald himself proclaims that he is "essentially Marxist." [i]   Marxism is a specific branch of Socialist theory.  Fitzgerald makes Gatsby a novel that is not inherently Marxist or even Socialist, but one that is imbued with Marxist theory.  He does this by denouncing nonhumanitarianism, reification, and market value.  Fitzgerald implies that the Capitalist system does not work because at the end of the novel, all of the characters that represent typical American Capitalism end up either dead or completely unhappy.  Fitzgerald's criticisms work to warn 1920's Americans of their behavior and how destructive it can be.

    Read More

  • Parent Child Relationship in Greek Mythology

    1616 Words  | 4 Pages

    ... children, Zeus, survived and it ultimately led to Cronus’s downfall. In order to uphold his preeminence, Cronus needed to limit the competition, which were his children. Also, in the myth of Medea, Medea assassinated both her children and her younger brother, without any sympathy. To be certain that her younger brother did not rebel against her in the future, she took the necessary steps to eliminate him. Medea as well murders her own children in which she bore to Jason, only to make him suffer. The vicious ways in which parents used to control their children’s lives just sparked a more hostile relationship.

    Read More

  • The Hunger Games: A Myth in Disguise

    704 Words  | 2 Pages

    Rosenberg, Donna. World Mythology: An Anthology of the Great Myths and Epics. 5th ed. Lincolnwood, IL: NTC Pub. Group, 1994. Print.

    Read More

  • The Equality Myth

    642 Words  | 2 Pages

    The novel makes a point to differentiate between classes within classes especially how the sociology of the wealthy differs within itself. The new millionaires (represented by Gatsby and those of the West Egg) of the twenties are much more crass compared to the old aristocracy (represented by the Buchanan's and those of East Egg). Fitzgerald describes the newly rich as being unrefined and lacking in taste. Gatsby for instance live in a monstrous ornate mansion wears gaudy pink suits and even drives a large Rolls Royce. In comparison, the Buchanan's live in a tasteful, elegance home and possess and innate sense of grace and style as seen in the dress of both Daisy and Jordan, "They were both in white, and their dresses were rippling and fluttering as if they had just been blown back in after a short flight around the house."(Gatsby pg.13)However the old aristocracy's sophistication is often overshadowed but their lack of compassion for anyone but themselves, gliding though life with the ease of knowing that money can solve any problem that might arise before them. For example, at the end of the novel the Buchanan's don't even attend Gatsby's funeral despite Daisy's indirect cause of his death, instead they simply threw money at the problem and moved.

    Read More

  • The Search for a Home in Jane Austen's Mansfield Park

    2069 Words  | 5 Pages

    begins a story of one family, three sisters, and quickly expands to a story of

    Read More

  • Influence Of Jane Austen On Literature

    1585 Words  | 4 Pages

    “A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of.” This was one of many austere comments made by Jane Austen in her book Mansfield Park. It was this radical way of writing that captured the attention of readers from all over, and made a lasting impression on scholars, critics, and readers for centuries. Austen tremendously impacted the world of literature by introducing a new style of writing, using new literary devices to describe her daily life, and continuing to remain current throughout the centuries.

    Read More

  • Q&A: Analyzing Emma

    1258 Words  | 3 Pages

    Jane, Austen,. Emma complete, authoritative text with biographical, historical, and cultural contexts, critical history, and essays from contemporary critical perspectives. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2002.

    Read More

  • Jane Austen: An Analysis of Sense and Sensibility

    1284 Words  | 3 Pages

    Austen was raised in an unusually liberal family where her father was a part of the middle-landowning class. They had a moderate amount of luxuries, but were not considered well off. Unlike many girls of her time Austen received a fairly comprehensive education. She received this mainly through the undivided support of her family. Austen and her sisters, like most girls of their time, were homeschooled. Austen’s zealous parents encouraged the girls to play piano, read and write. Her parent’s encouragement led to her interest in writing. Austen’s father housed an extensive library filled with books which kept Austen occupied for years (“Sense and Sensibility” 119). Through her observant nature and passion to read and write, Austen was able to eloquently write of the many “hidden truths” of social and class distinction during her time. They included daily societal changes some of which foreshadowed future societal leniency. Familial support also extended societal norm of marriage. Her parents attempt...

    Read More

  • Jane Austen's Emma

    933 Words  | 2 Pages

    Author Jane Austen had porttryal of arrogance that existed in upper class society. She uses Emma as a representative of the faults and lack of values of her society. Just as Emma contains these many faults, the upper class society as a whole also contains these many faults. Additionally, in Emma, Austen depicts the distorted views of gentility. Austen depicts her own message of true gentility by creating characters of differing class ranks. Bradbury relates that the characters that are socially high seem to be morally inferior and those of lower rank are "elevated" by their actions (Austen 81). Austen's development of characters, especially Emma, is very effective in relaying her message about the snobbery and lack of gentility that existed in upper class society.

    Read More

  • Jane Eyre Character Analysis

    589 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte is a novel about an orphan girl growing up in a tough condition and how she becomes a mature woman with full of courage. Her life at Gateshead is really difficult, where she feels isolated and lives in fear in her childhood. Her parents are dead when she was little, her dead uncle begged his evil wife, Mrs. Reed, to take care of Jane until she becomes an adult. But Mrs. Reed does not keep her promise, no one treats Jane like their family members even treats her less than a servant. By the end of this essay it will be proven that Jane’s life at Gateshead has shaped her development as a young woman and bildungsroman.

    Read More

  • British Social Class in Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

    1732 Words  | 4 Pages

    Mansfield Park is a complete, socially oriented novel. In this novel Jane Austen closely describes the everyday life of rural middle class society, its gaieties and hardships, describing a distinct system of moral and social principles influencing people’s lives in that period, women status in the system and female life expectations. In the novel, Austen shows the efforts of some trying to break the predetermined limitations in order to improve their social class and rank. Austen pointed out the social threats that might ruin the women’s lives permanently (Johnson, Jane Austen: women, politics, and the novel / Claudia L. Johnson, 1988). Jane Austen’s novel Mansfield Park is a classic.

    Read More

  • The Development of Characters in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

    1013 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Pride and Prejudice, written by Jane Austen, Austen uses Mr. Bennet to help develop the characters; in like manner, Austen uses Mr. Bennet to help develop the plot.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Global Education

    1001 Words  | 3 Pages

    While many Americans, and even more unfortunate is American teachers, claim that global education would harm American values and go against what America stands for (Webb), a global education presents the ability to either properly expand upon one’s knowledge of the world with accurate information about their true culture and their language, or a global education could either undeservingly demote or promote a country to a ranking it may or may not deserve. Without global education, our future generations will face unnecessary challenges and face the possibility of destroying everything that we, the world, built upon to maintain

    Read More

  • Jane Austen's Writing Style

    571 Words  | 2 Pages

    Austen used her sharp and sarcastic wit in all of her writing, including in one of her most famous works, Pride and Prejudice. She could create a powerful and dramatic scene and immediately lead it into a satirical, cathartic scene. We see these in various locations in Pride and Prejudice. She was able to use her experiences as well as her intense knowledge to create meaningful insights into her words, regardless of what topic she would be discussing. She often talks about marriage, or breaking the rules of what a person should be.

    Read More

More about Character Development in Jane Austen's Mansfield Park

Open Document