Fanny's Heart

Mansfield Park 

by Jane Austen

“This would be the way to Fanny's heart. She was not to be won by all that gallantry and wit and good-nature together could do; or, at least, she would not be won by them nearly so soon, without the assistance of sentiment and feeling, and seriousness on serious subjects.”

― Jane Austen, Mansfield Park

Out of all Jane Austen's novels, Mansfield Park has the dubious distinction of being disliked by more of her fans. Sense and Sensibility is about striking a balance between feelings and thoughts, Pride and Prejudice is about passing judgment on people too quickly, Emma is about maturing into adulthood, and Persuasion is about second chances. These themes are very different from those of her other books, which can usually be summed up in one sentence or even one phrase. In contrast, it is difficult to characterize Mansfield Park's theme. Does it have to do with ordination? Is it a parable about Regency England? Does it have to do with slavery? Is it related to children's education? Is it about how appearances and reality differ from one another? Is it about the consequences of defying social norms? Mansfield Park can be applied to any or all of those themes.
The main character, Fanny Price, presents the biggest challenge because she is timid, shy, insecure, physically frail, and, to some, irritatingly, always correct. She is definitely not like Pride and Prejudice's vivacious and clever Elizabeth Bennett. However, Mansfield Park also has a large following, whose respect and allegiance can be ascribed to the novel's rich and nuanced themes as well as to the protagonist, a young lady who stands out from most literary heroines. In the end, most readers only care that it is a well-written book that is enjoyable to read.

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