The Importance of Home and Family in Jane Austen's Mansfield Park

1435 Words3 Pages

The Importance of Home and Family in Jane Austen's Mansfield Park

"They were a remarkably fine family...and all of them well-grown and forward of

their age, which produced as striking a difference between the cousins in

person, as education had given to their address." (Austen, 49) Within the first

few pages of Mansfield Park, Jane Austen implants in the minds of her readers

the idea that contrasting and conflicting environments are the forces that will

decide the heroine's fate. Austen's own home and family influenced her life,

writing, and the creation of the homes in her novels, and in turn, shaped her

heroines.

But Fanny Price is unique among Jane Austen's heroines, having much more with

which to contend than simply the influence of one family. In fact, it is the

differences between her two homes and families that cause Fanny and the novel to

turn out the way they do. Yet the heroine finds herself in this situation only

because of the influence of the Austen family on the characters in Mansfield

Park. Not only can parallels easily be drawn between lively, theatrical,

handsome Henry Crawford and Henry Austen, reputedly Jane's favorite brother1,

but the imprint of Jane's siblings also shows in Fanny herself. Sent to live as

a young child with wealthy cousins, Fanny's situation much resembles that of

Jane's elder brother Edward. As her nephew wrote in A Memoir of Jane Austen,

Edward Austen "had been a good deal separated from the rest of the family, as he

was early adopted by his cousin, Mr. Knight, of Godmersham Park." (Austen-Leigh,

280) Just like Edward, Fanny "finally came into poss...

... middle of paper ...

... that he wanted." (Austen, 456) When Fanny finally becomes mistress

of the estate, the transition is complete-to herself and to the Bertrams,

Mansfield truly is her home.

By the end of the novel, Fanny has emerged triumphant-the conflict

in which Jane Austen placed her changed and formed her self-identity. She

returns to the country, the pleasures of springtime, and the warmth of a loving

family that her creator would have enjoyed as well. The reader is convinced

that in such a home, "with so much true merit and true love...the happiness of the

married cousins must appear as secure as earthly happiness can be." (Austen,

456)

Works Cited

Austen, Jane. MansfieldPark, 1814. Middlesex: Penguin Books Ltd, 1966.

Austen-Leigh, J. E. A Memoir of Jane Austen, 1870.

Show More
Related

  • Experiment Proving Lambert-Eaton Syndrome (LES) Patients Potassium Channels Conduct Electrical Current

    2671 Words  | 6 Pages

    calcium channels will help scientists to discover the precise cause and effect of LES which will in turn

    Read More

  • Explore Jane Austen’s attitude to marriage in Pride and Prejudice

    1657 Words  | 4 Pages

    little, if nothing at all based on a good love match. This can be seen

    Read More

  • Power and Knowledge in Angela Carter’s ‘The Bloody Chamber’

    1048 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... each other and ultimately determine the fate of the characters in the story, especially the fate of the Heroine.

    Read More

  • Sense And Sensibility In The Life Of Jane Austen

    1999 Words  | 4 Pages

    Austen was born in Steventon, England on December 16, 1775. She was the seventh child out of eight of George and Cassandra Austen. Considering that the majority of the Austen family were “her brothers, her closest relationship was with her older sister Cassandra” who she relied on to critique

    Read More

  • The Origins Of The Church Of Scientology

    1556 Words  | 4 Pages

    Moreover, by obtaining a basic understanding of Scientology and its purpose we can now explore and uncover the answer to a question that sparks the curiosity of outsiders in western civilization; such a question is How did it Begin? The origins of this culture began in the year of 1923 when L. Ron Hubbard started his studies of the mind and spirit. Likewise, such studies resulted in the creation of a manuscript entitled Excalibur; this book was completed in 1938 but was never published. Furthermore, it was in this unpublished work that the word “Scientology” first appeared. The literal interpretation of the phrase means “the study of knowing how t...

    Read More

  • ATP Synthesis

    817 Words  | 2 Pages

    As previously mentioned, enzyme catalyzed reactions are a large contributing factor to many biological systems. In regards to metabolic pathways, ATP Synthase is a necessary enzyme that uses a concentration gradient to attach a phosphate group to an ADP molecule. This process is called phosphorylation. The bond that is created between the ADP and the phosphate group is formed by dehydration synthesis. This enzyme appears at the end of the electron transport chain in cellular respiration and at the end of the light dependent reactions in photosynthesis. Regardless of where the enzyme is found, the purpose remains the same; create useable energy in the form of ATP. In cellular respiration, the ATP can be used for several different objectives.

    Read More

  • Mothers in Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility

    1504 Words  | 4 Pages

    It was enough for her that he appeared to be amiable, that he loved her daughter, and that Elinor returned the partiality" (13). As generous as thi... ... middle of paper ... ... line of thinking makes perfect sense when we consider Jane Austen's tendency, particularly in Sense and Sensibility, to use her writing as a vehicle for not only entertainment but also instruction. We may view the varying representations of mothers then, not only as examples for Elinor to learn from, but for us as readers as well.

    Read More

  • A Modest Proposal: Jonathan Swift's Political Statement About Conditions of Life in 1729

    1090 Words  | 3 Pages

    Mouth-watering, scrumptious, and delicious are a few words that come to mind when you think of Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal.” His satire on the conditions of life in 1729 was to draw its readers to serious discussion on the distressing matters that plagued their society. His extreme and sarcastic response to the treatment of the ever-growing poor population of Irish families, by the rich English landowners, was to bring to light a matter that they had come to accept as normal. Apparently, over time English landowners obtained ownership of Irish lands and would lease these lands back to the Irish farmers at outrageous prices. This made it nearly impossible for farming families to make ends meet and in some cases to the point of near starvation. When many children of poor families grew up, they fled to foreign lands in search of a better life or they turned to a life of crime to make a living. The staggering number of children born to parents that could not support them was shocking and of a surety rarely considered in wealthy homes. Through this essay, he compelled the current government officials of the time to devise rational solutions that would deal with the large population of poor Irish farmers, and fix the conditions in which they lived.

    Read More

  • Satire, Irony, And Humor In Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal

    1320 Words  | 3 Pages

    Having “maturely weighted the several schemes of other projectors”(1288), Swift’s narrator asserts that other plans proposed to take care of the poor are inherently flawed as those children will still be a plague on society until they mature to working age. He goes on to describe the details of his plan, calculating that one hundred and twenty thousand poor children would be available to sell for food. Of this group it is proposed that twenty thousand of these be saved for breeding, and furthermore one fourth would be male “more than we [Irish society] allow to sheep, black cattle, or swine” (1289). Swift uses this line to let his piercing irony shine through for the first time in the pamphlet in dehumanizing the impoverished people of Ireland by speaking of them as strictly statistics and treating them as livestock. This ironic comparison brilliantly plays on the sad fact that, at the time, poor families were treated worse as humans than the livestock throughout the country. This dehumanization continues as Swift advises that mothers of poor children should receive payment of ten shillings, or roughly $65.38 in today’s money. The further irony here is that this amount of

    Read More

  • How Jane Austen Became a Great Author

    811 Words  | 2 Pages

    Jane Austen’s family faced financial issues once her father had passed away. George Austen, Jane’s father, earned a modest income, but when he died, that all went away. The Austen boys had already moved away and had their own families going when George passed away, leaving Jane, her mother, and her sister in financial issues. All being women, they had a hard time finding a steady income, so that is when Jane Austen started to make money off of her novels. Austen lived the majority of her life without her own home and without a steady income. She constantly looked for financial help from her brothers and took whatever living conditions she woul...

    Read More

  • Critical Analysis Of Jonathan Swift's 'A Modest Proposal'

    866 Words  | 2 Pages

    Jonathan Swift’s, “A Modest Proposal” by is a sardonic piece of work that provides an overwhelming sarcastic solution to the poverty and overpopulation issues that Ireland was having in the 1700s. He gives a sequence of nonviable and simply foolish solutions to the harsh treatment of children. The entire title of this work is, "A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children of Poor People from Being a Burden to their Parents, or the Country, and for Making them Beneficial to the Public." This can sort of hint an idea on the bizarre insights that the writer is going to display. His resolution is to “fatten up” the undernourished, unfed children and sell them to a meat market where they will be sold for food. Thus, solving the economic and population problems in Ireland. Swift does this through a very sarcastic and harsh style that was advanced for the time that he wrote it.

    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

  • Marriage, Wealth And Social Life In Jane Austen's Pride And Prejudice

    992 Words  | 2 Pages

    Pride and Prejudice, written by Jane Austen, was published on January 28, 1813. Pride and Prejudice was originally named First Impressions. In 1789 Jane Austen’s father submitted her novel to a publisher, but the story was rejected. Austen continued to work on the novel and was later recognized for her amazing work. In the beginning of Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen states, “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife” (1). This novel consists of different themes and plots. Pride and Prejudice focuses on marriage, wealth, and social class. Many characters in this story have to deal with several challenges. Some characters have to deal with several different

    Read More

  • The Diary of Anne Frank Book Review

    1379 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...her own home. It is so hard to imagine what life was like for her and her family, but the way the book was written definitely helped to understand and create a mental picture of what she lived through each day.

    Read More

  • Comparison Of Jane Austen's Pride And Prejudice And Habitation

    788 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, two main characters develop a courtship and fall in love in a similar fashion to the poem written by Margaret Atwood, “Habitation.” “Habitation” aptly describes the struggles that can often occur before marriage. The poem explains marriage, and how many couples endure challenges before reaching happiness. In Austen’s novel, Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy face numerous difficulties during their relationship. “Habitation” resembles the journey Elizabeth and Darcy experience, as both depict the obstacles couples must overcome to uncover the path to true happiness and lay the foundation for a successful marriage.

    Read More

More about The Importance of Home and Family in Jane Austen's Mansfield Park

Open Document