Maria:
pg 92 - “Yes, there is nothing else to be done. But now,
sincerely"
But now sincerely implies the sentence before that was not of
sincere intent.
Lacks the Decorum expected of a wife-to-be (to want to be guided
by and not parted from her husband-to-be).
Link to pg 77 "She had rushworth-feelings and Crawford-feelings,
and in the vicinity of Southerton, the former had considerable effect"
(improper for an engaged woman to have affections for multiple men)
pg 92 - short silence…”I was glad to see you so well entertained"
pretense here is Ironic. Improper for her to desire
the attention of a man who is not her betrothed.
Given the expectations of an
engaged woman to not desire the attention from her fiance in order to fulfill
her responsibility to her family by ensuring that “all who were connected to
him in situations of respectability” in her eventual marriage, this highlights
her lack of a sense of Decorum and Propriety of a woman of her
circumstance.
Link to Pg 76 " Miss Bertram had very little real comfort... which
her own sense of propriety could but just smooth over"
pg 93 - “Naturally, I believe, I am as lively as Julia, but I have more
to think of now.”
Improper for her to be competing
for the affection of the man who is likely to marry her sister given that
she herself is already engaged. Disregard for her position and her duty to her
family in the process.
Thus disregarding what is expected of her as an
engaged woman- to maintain Decorum
pg 93 - "Your prospects, however, are too fair to justify want of
spirits. You have a very smiling scene before you.”
Idea of want of high spirits is a luxury implied to not be for an
engaged woman.
Link to pg 76 "it was with a countenance of delight, and whenever
she spoke to them, it was in the highest spirits" (unbecoming of her, Decorum)
pg 93 - "unluckily that iron gate, that ha–ha, give me a feeling of
restraint and hardship. ‘I cannot get out,’ as the starling said.”
Iron gate comes to be representative of her engagement to Mr
Rushworth. Her view of its restraint and hardship
and allusion to the entrapment of a bird reflects a reluctance to marry
him. This defies her duty as a wife-to-be and that of a daughter in society
where a daughter is expected to "(oblige) her family", highlighting how her upbringing within the
family has not corrected her sense of decorum, given her title as an
engaged women.
- reinforced by " by the same rule of moral
obligation, her evident duty to marry Mr. Rushworth if she could." (Propriety
in society)
Fanny:
pg 93 - " Miss Price will be so good "
- Fanny's reputation as a kind person is exploited by Henry (Don’t really get what she’s trying to say here, is
there a link between kindness and duty?)
pg 93 - " all this to be wrong, could not help making an
effort to prevent it. “
"could not help" reinforces the strength of Fanny's moral compass and how much it
influences her life/ guides her decisions. (She seems to be able to maintain
a deeper sense of decorum than her cousin despite not having received a
similar upbringing. While one’s family and hence upbringing is
crucial in determining character of an individual and establishing a sense
of decorum within her.
Link to pg 20 "they should be entirely deficient in the less common
aquirements of self-knowledge, generosity, and humility." (Decorum)
pg 93 - "you will certainly hurt yourself against those spikes; you
will tear your gown; you will be in danger of slipping into the ha–ha. You had
better not go.”
Fanny is aware of the appropriate decorum and propriety, and places
its necessity/ importance above Maria's desire to see the rest of
Sotherton (frivolous and unnecessary)
Fanny understands the expectation that is held upon an engaged
woman as seen through how she is "astonished at Miss Bertram"
pg 93/94 - "with no increase of pleasant feelings, for she was
sorry for almost all that she had seen and heard, astonished at Miss Bertram,
and angry with Mr. Crawford."
Fanny's expectation of others is similar to her expectations for
herself (to uphold Morality and Propriety). Her shock at the
others reflects that hers is the strongest moral compass that stems from a
"general wish of doing right"
pg 94 - “But, Julia, Mr. Rushworth will be here in a moment with the
key. Do wait for Mr. Rushworth.” + "so much trouble for
nothing"
Again, highlights her propriety, patience. and consideration
of others. These are all qualities missing in The Miss Bertrams and Henry
as evident from their decision to leave the gate.
pg 94 - "This was a most unjust reflection, but Fanny could
allow for it, and let it pass"
- reflects Fanny's lack of self-absorption.
Henry
pg 92 - "My feelings are not quite so evanescent, " +
"were we?"
IRONY in this statement as his feelings ARE Evanescent (vanishing;
fading away; fleeting/ tending to become imperceptible; scarcely
perceptible).
Link to " I fancy Miss Price falling in love with me. "
and his subsequent elopement with Maria. His deliberate use of rhetorical
question here serves to intentionally ignite jealousy in Maria. His nonchalance
is a front. (Self-absorption)
pg 92 - “It is undoubtedly the best thing we can do now, as we are so
far from the house already,” said Mr. Crawford, when he was gone.
"undoubtedly" suggests his
eagerness for the absence of Mr Rushworth (Link to page50, line 6-8 “ Covertly inappropriate as Maria is engaged to him.
(Sense of Decorum is absent from both
involved)
pg 93 - " Your prospects, however, are too fair to justify want of
spirits. You have a very smiling scene before you.”
Henry displays awareness for the respectability of Maria as an
engaged woman and what is expected of her. Yet, he continues to subliminally
probe her with suggestions of rebellion. He has a disregard for propriety,
not a lack of knowledge on the subject.
Link to "Any engaged lady is always more agreeable. Her cares are
over, and she can exert all her powers of pleasing without suspicion. " He
takes advantage of Maria's position.
"An engaged woman is always
more agreeable than a disengaged. She is satisfied with herself. Her cares are
over, and she feels that she may exert all her powers of pleasing without
suspicion. All is safe with a lady engaged; no harm can be done" (5.12).
- Link to this where he reveals his thoughts about how engaged women
seen to be more attainable than non-engaged ones, highlighting his view on marriage.
Julia
pg 94 - looking eagerly into the park. “But they cannot be very far off,
and I think I am equal to as much as Maria, even without help.”
- Justification of her merits is telling of Julia's self-absorption.
Compounded by phrase "even without help"
pg 94 - "I have had enough of the family for one morning." +
"escaped from his horrible mother. Such a penance as I have been
enduring"
- disregard for the importance of family and her duty as a sister
to daughter-in-law. Views her personal comfort to be of more significance than
family. Link to MAJOR POINT A
pg 94 - “That is Miss Maria’s concern. I am not obliged to punish myself
for her sins”
- lack of recognition of her duty as a family
member to Maria. Link to MAJOR POINT A. Disconnection within the family.
Mr Rushworth
pg 94 - "He was posting away as if upon life and death, and
could but just spare time to tell us his errand, and where you all were.”
- "as if upon life or death" reflects that he understands the
expectations of him as a host to be as accommodating as possible to guests,
even if it impedes on personal comfort. (could be used to support the idea of
altruistic duty being "right" which was previously illustrated
through Sir Thomas and Fanny) (MAJOR POINT A)
Mrs Norris
pg 94 - "my tiresome aunt was dancing about with the
housekeeper"
- foreshadows Mrs Norris' intention to bring back to Mansfield Park
baskets of produce. (see pg 99 "What else have you been spunging")
-shows how Mrs Norris has frivolous intentions, wanted something in
return from Sotherton.
MAJOR POINT A:
In contrasting Maria & Julia's behaviour, dialogue and mentality
(presentation) with Fanny's, we see that it foreshadows the outcome of the book
(Fanny becomes a daughter to Sir Thomas and Maria has been "exiled")
Link duty to Family to duty to self/leisure/comfort. The "principled"
way is to give more than to receive.
" To the education of her daughters, Lady Bertram paid not the
smallest attention", thus causing her daughters to become self-absorbed.
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