Fanny Emerges Victorious Essay Research Paper FANNY

Mary Crawford is pleased to see Fanny. The absence of Edmund has allowed for Mary to grow a fond attachment to Fanny.

We know that Fanny is concerned with social morality (her own right and wrong even more than other peoples), and that morality is connected with religion for her – as was usual for the time and place. She also bursts out with a few expressions of na ve enthusiasm for the profession her beloved Edmund is entering into – that of clergy man. However the following is Fanny s one and only statement of specifically religious piety in Mansfield park.

Chapter 9.

[Mrs Rushworth]

This chapel was fitted up as you see it, in James the second s time. [ ] It is a handsome chapel, and was formerly in constant use both morning and evening. Prayers were always read in it by the domestic chaplain, within the memory of many; but the late Mr Rushworth left it off.

It is a pity, cried fanny, that the custom should have been discontinued. It was a valuable part of former times. There is something in a chapel and chaplain so much in character with a great house, with one s ideas of what such a household should be! A whole family assembling regularly for the purpose of prayer is fine!

Fanny s relationship with Edmund is unswerving. At the beginning it is Fanny who turns to Edmund for comfort and support. Throughout the novel, however, she develops from his confidante to his guide, comforter and friend: his equal.

At the end of the novel Fanny becomes Edmund s wife but it is not until she overcomes her own faults, whilst retaining the positive side of her nature , that she can take her rightful place as mistress of Mansfield Parsonage.

Looking at the character of Edmund we see, with amazement, Edmund turning unreasonable and thoughtless under the influence of Mary Crawford. Edmund discounts Fanny s worries about Maria, Julia and Henry Crawford and he allows himself to be talked into taking part in the theatricals to please Miss Crawford. Despite all of these temptations, Edmund does not allow himself to lose sight of his duty as a clergyman.

Mary Crawford is sparkling, lively, charming and witty, however, she possesses a ruthless determination to be able to dominate. Mary is under the belief that what she cannot charm she can buy.

She is disillusioned when she realises that she has not been able to charm Edmund to alter his determination to be a clergyman thus making her angry and vengeful. Fanny is the only one who sees a mind led astray, and bewildered, and without any suspicion of being so; darkened yet fancying itself light .

As the relationship, between Edmund and Mary, develops, she becomes more outspoken, more irreverent. Edmund tries to educate and elevate her, she becomes more unyielding, more worldly, more corrupt and eventually betrays her amorality through her attitude to the elopement.

Henry Crawford likes a challenge and pursues Maria only because she is about to be married to Mr Rushworth. Henry has no respect for women, he practically destroys Maria s happiness. His perseverance in pursuit of Fanny which Sir Thomas finds so impressive is not constancy, but merely an assertion of his vanity, which refuses to accept that his charm has failed.

Behind his numerous superficial graces, we are always aware of he corrupt cynicism that allows him to oust and cuckold Mr Rushworth, to trifle with Maria and Julia and to destroy the customary peace of Mansfield Park.

Maria s flirtatious exchanges with Mr Crawford are brief but very intense.

Her intolerance of restriction is her most distinctive trait.

Maria is a finished product of society but she has no understanding of its duties. Having agreed to marry Mr Rushworth, simply because he is the most eligible man in their society, she does not have the integrity to go through with it.

Her education has taught her only the superficialities of life, without the duty, discipline or decorum that is its backbone.

Her relationship with Henry Crawford is considered serious enough to get into the newspapers. Adultery was not treat lightly at this time. Divorce however was legal but still Sir Thomas could not condone what Maria has done and will not allow her to return to local society.

Julia has received the same education as Maria that is directed towards accomplishments rather that morals. It is believe that it is a combination of things which allow Julia to run a way with Mr Yates: her fathers strictness, Mrs Norris s indulgence and the prospect of increased restrictions at home after Maria s elopement. However, her part in her own affair with Mr Yates is a passive one, though a girl with steadfast moral purpose would not have yielded.

Julia and Maria are both very selfish, being too bound up in their own pleasure to return home to comfort Lady Bertram during Tom s illness.

I believe that Fanny emerges victorious due to her own morals. She is the one who does not give in to temptation and the one who knows the difference between right and wrong.

However, I believe that the others falter, mainly, because of their upbringing. Henry and Mary were brought up with their uncle, the admiral, and his wife and when the uncles wife died he moved his mistress in with him. It becomes obvious that the uncle and aunt failed to install any morals into the two they were responsible for.

Maria and Julia had an education which was entirely deficient in the less common acquirements of self knowledge, generosity and humility.

The parents of Maria and Julia do not have much to do with their upbringing. Sir Thomas spends long spells away from the house on business trip to Antigua. Lady Bertram in he indolence abdicates the role of mistress of the house and of mother allowing Mrs Norris to have far too large a hand in the upbringing of the two girls.

I agree that Fanny emerges victorious because of the fact that the others falter but not simply because the others falter. Fanny grows as a person throughout the novel she stands up for the things that she believes in, which is an admirable quality in anyone.

Fanny aspires to be someone we could never have believed she could be at the beginning of the novel.

Fanny emerges victorious partly because the others falter but also because she is such a strong person and is not easily swayed to do something that she does not believe in.