JC H2 Lit Group (with Cheryl and Nathan) paper on Mansfield Park

Mansfield Park Assignment

Read the first 3 chapters of Mansfield Park in detail. 

-why do the first 3 pages talk about events that did not occur in Mansfield Park (the location)? 

-consider the significance of : Duty, Responsibility, Education, Values, Marriage, PROPERTY and PLACE

-Why is the title “Mansfield Park” and not “Fanny Price”? Emphasis on the Geography/location rather than persons. Reflects how status (measured by property/salary) is seen as of more importance than character in the book????

Place/Marriage

Page number(s)	Quote	Analysis
5	‘with all the comforts and consequences of an handsome house and large income’	The marriage for Lady Bertram is looked upon by society as it is said that ‘all of Huntingdon exclaimed on the greatness of the match’
5	‘Had the good luck’ & ‘All of Huntingdon’	Shows that money and status is a well sought after characteristic to look for in a husband
5	‘She had two sister that benefited by her elevation’	Shows how status and wealth influences far beyond just the individual but the immediate family as well. ‘elevation’ indicated the improvement of status and wealth of Lady Bertram after her marriage significantly that her sisters, although not married to Sir Thomas benefits as well (shows how far reaching status and wealth can be)
5	‘feels obliged to be attached to…’	Shows that her situation, although ‘contemptible’, is needed. It is better to marry Mr Norris with ‘little less than a thousand a year’ than to be left on the shelf after ‘half a dozen years’. This shows how society not only prioritises wealth and status but marriage itself. Being left on the shelf brings more shame than to marry “poor”
5	‘to disoblige her family’	(links to family) Shows that marriage is far from being just an individual’s affair
5	‘without education, fortune, or connections did (disoblige her family) very thoroughly	Once again highlights the importance of such qualities in a husband ‘thoroughly’ highlights the severity of the supposed offence of marrying someone without the necessary pre-determined conditions
5	‘she could hardly have made a more untoward choice’	The severity of the tone (which is condescending and criticising), which highlights how if the husband lacks such values, it is heavily condemned that is likened to an unfortunate event (untoward)
5	‘useless remonstrance’ & ’to point out the folly of her conduct and threaten her with all its possible ill consequences’	Shows the difference between views of marriage. → Mrs Price married for love (?) → Mrs Norris believes that marriage should be hinged on wealth, status, and the like. She believes in the practicality of marriage as it determines a woman’s status ‘conduct’ → links to morality. It shows that she believes that it is the right thing to do and not a choice but a morally correct thing to do.

**SHOWS THAT MARRIAGE IS: 

• affects just the individual, but the family as well
• wealth, status and education are prerequisites for a husband**

Place

Page number(s)	Quote	Analysis
6	‘Mrs Price in her turn has injured and angry; and an answer which comprehended each sister in its bitterness’ & ‘put at an all intercourse between them for a considerable period’	The sisters (Mrs Norris & Lady Bertram) disagree with the marriage so much so that it drove Mrs Price away from their family, believing that she would do better without them. (shows importance of status)
6	‘Their homes so distant, and the circles in which they moved so distant’	Shows the segregation of the sister. Their status determines the position of their home and the people which they mix with.
12	‘to make (Fanny) remember that she is not a Miss Bertram’ & ‘Their rank, fortune, rights and expectations, will always be different’	Shows that Fanny, because of her lowly status, can never be an actual member of the household. She does not even have the same rights as them. Highlights the importance of place as it surpases that of kinship (can never be a part of the actual household).
14	‘they were soon able to take a full survey of her face and her frock in easy indifference’	How Fanny looked and what she wore was an indication of her (low) status ‘easy indifference’ shows arrogance of the Bertram sisters and the importance of place/status is embodied in their blatant dismissal of their cousin who is obviously less well to do than them.
15	‘But nobody put themselves out of their way to secure her comfort’	Air of arrogance Perceived that Fanny was not important enough for their attention even though she is family.
15	‘They could do no more than make her a generous present of some of their least valued toys, and leave her to herself’	They believe that their least valued toys to be ‘generous presents’ shows that they belittle Fanny because she is poor and that even the toys that they did not want were a blessing to her that she must be so grateful for. The physical segregation accentuates the difference between the Bertram sisters and Fanny (not just place), as they proceed to play their ‘favourite holiday-sport’ because they believe that Fanny is not worth their attention.
19	‘She became occasionally an acceptable companion’ & ‘unworthy, from inferiority of age and strength to be their constant associate’	Constant repetition that Fanny is not of equal status of the Bertram siblings. Even though she is their cousin (and therefore family), she is only, under certain circumstances, allowed to join them. They only tolerate her. Shows discrimination of Fanny due to her low status and highlights the importance of place (to be accepted).
27	“the place, fanny is what you will not quit, though you quit the house”	To Edmund, social status is not a reflection of character
19	:”i do not know … difference”	Fanny must always be of a lower status

Place/Education

Page number(s)	Quote	Analysis
18-19	‘they thought her prodigiously stupid’ ‘that is very stupid indeed’	Shows the arrogance of them because they received more/better education than Fanny. The fact that Mrs Norris, an adult, agreed to her nieces’ insensitive remark about their cousin, shows that the arrogance is not due to ignorance of the younger people but far extends to the rest of the family as well. *highlights the importance of education/shows place*
19	‘pity her deficiency’	Mrs Norris believes that Fanny, who because of the lack of money her family has, is unable to receive a good education, is incompetent and is lacking of values that would make her a proper girl/woman of status. ‘pity’ evokes a sense of arrogance as they are better than Fanny as pitying someone is usually because of the unfortunate circumstances that they have.
20	‘she could only say it was very unlucky, but some people were stupid’	*same as Mrs Norris*
22	“he knew her to be clever..an education in itself” “he made reading useful..judicious praise”	education was highly valued
11	it will be an education… good and clever from them “	she regards her daughters highly
19	“so odd and so stupid… emulation”	emulation: effort or desire to equal or excel others. uses of education? to attract?
20	“to the education… cares”	emphasize Lady Bertram’s indolence. Importance on things other than edn, frivolous idle activities.

Duty/ Responsibility/Values

Page number(s)	Quote	Analysis
11	“should her disposition be really bad...family”	direct family > extended  unwilling to sacrifice familiy for goodwill
14	“mrs norris had been talking..be happy”	expected returns. Goodwill vs practicality? understanding of duty as a ward rather than a daughter.

•