‘Mansfied Park’ – The theme of Social Class and a Marxist view.

During the time this novel was written the wars and other international troubles and the hardship at home did not impinge a great deal upon the everyday lives of country gentlemen and their families, although the wages fell drastically for agricultural workers. Fortunes were made and lost and there might have been less dramatic financial tightness for some, for example like those experienced by Sir Thomas Bertram, who seemed to find himself more dependent than usual on his income from Antigua.

Throughout the novel there is a principle theme of class. This is noticed from the very beginning, where the three Ward sisters marry three into three different social classes: Maria Ward who marries Sir Thomas Bertram the baronet, and then represents the upper class. Mrs Norris who marries the secretary of the Anglican Church, which then makes her middle class. Then finally, Mrs Price who marries a sailor who then becomes drunkard and out of work which then makes her of working class which therefore makes Miss Fanny Price working class too which is why in Mansfield Park she is treated differently than the Bertram’s, Crawfords and Mrs Norris.

As Jane Austen used a omniscient narrator, which is a narrator who is able to describe the thoughts as well as the actions of each individual character, we learn what each character feels about the themes throughout the novel for example, with the theme ‘Social Class’ we learn how each individual views this subject:

“The nonsense and folly of people’s stepping out of their rank and trying to appear above themselves makes me think it right to give you a hint, Fanny, now that you are going into company without any of us; and I do beseech and entreat you not to be putting yourself forward, and talking and giving your opinion as if you were one of your cousins.” – Mrs Norris, Chapter 23 

This statement proves that although you’re of a high status it does not necessarily mean you have high morals. Throughout the novel Mrs. Norris’ principle in life seems to be mistreating Fanny with just being as unpleasant as possible. The use of her character throughout the novel gives the common thoughts on social “rank” for the time period.

However, a Marxist reader would respond to the different social classes that are conveyed by the characters in Mansfield Park as a much wider representation of the problems which are going on in Britain during the time, or even now, which regards how people act considering the class system. For instance, in the opening chapter there is evidence of both the middle and upper classes exploiting the working class and attempting to highlight their own moral authority through actions which include being the people who would pay for the upkeep of people. As for ‘looking better’, both the upper and middle class would prove their selfishness and arrogance of which Austen believed they had and therefore wrote about in her novel ‘Mansfield Park’.

“Oh! then the point is clear. Miss Price is not out.”

Throughout this chapter it is recognised how much both the Bertram’s and the Crawford’s have in common. Henry Crawford at first decides to discuss women, and the difference between being ‘hard-to-get’ and those that are ‘out’.

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” — Henry Crawford, Chapter 5

Henry’s statement here reveals two things. First, is that it shows that Henry enjoys going after ‘hard-to-get’ girls. Second, Henry makes some interesting social commentary. In this time period, women were under an awful lot of pressure to get married and engaged due to the women leaning on the man for safety, money and also status.

However, this chapter is mainly focused on the theme of marriage. Both Mary Crawford and the Bertram’s discuss the fact at whether Fanny Price is “out”. Being “out” refers to being out in society, meaning that the girl is old enough to get married and is out looking for a husband.

“Manners as well as appearance are, generally speaking, so totally different. Till now, I could not have supposed it possible to be mistaken as to a girl’s being out or not. … Girls should be quiet and modest. The most objectionable part is, that the alteration of manners on being introduced into company is frequently too sudden”  — Mary Crawford, Chapter 5

Here, Henry and Mary are discussing the problems of looser social codes, where girls who shouldn’t be out on the marriage market are acting as if they are which is seen as extremely inappropriate as “Girls should be quiet and modest.”

However, they discuss that a girls behaviour is “entirely the mother’s fault” and if a girl was to act as if she was ‘out’ and realistically is not it would degrade the mother as they are the ones who are “managing their daughters.”

To summarise, the end of the chapter results in some kind of a circle as it begins with Mary Crawford questioning whether or not Miss Fanny Price is out and then discusses women in general and finally concludes with the quotation “Oh! then the point is clear. Miss Price is not out.”

My summary – Mansfield Park chapters: 4, 5 & 6.

Chapter 4

Sir Thomas and his first son Tom are away therefore Edmund now has the responsibility of being the man of the house. Lady Bertram does not miss them and is happy on the sofa while both her daughters (Maria and Julia) go husband hunting with Mrs. Norris in her place. Fanny is left out of the hunting and stays at home to attend to Lady Bertram’s needs and to keep her company.

The old grey pony dies, therefore Fanny has no one to ride. Edmund, being the gentleman he is, is appalled and trades one of his three horses for a suitable ladies mount for Fanny. Tom finally returns from Antigua. Maria meets Mr. Rushworth a man of large fortune and feels that it is her duty to marry him and accepts his offer. All but Edmund are happy and see no fault.

Fanny is now eighteen. Mr. and Miss Crawford arrive in Mansfield and join their sister Mrs. Grant at the parsonage. They are sophisticated young people of good fortune and fit in well. Mrs. Grant immediately starts matchmaking for them both and concludes that Miss Crawford’s twenty thousand pound dowry will suit Tom Bertram a Baronet’s son quite well and that Henry Crawford would suit Miss Bertram.

Chapter 5

The Crawford’s finally meet the Bertram’s and all are content. Since Maria is already engaged to Mr Rushworth, Julia has now claimed Henry and is ready and eager to fall in love with him. Henry Crawford and his sister Mary Crawford discuss the “manoeuvring business” of marriage with Mrs. Grant. Despite her qualm on marriage, Miss Crawford has her sights set on the eldest Bertram son Tom, but he leaves. Mary then begins to question Edmund on whether Fanny is ‘out’ or not, and concludes she is not ‘out’.

Chapter 6

With Tom Bertram not around, Miss Crawford shifts her attentions elsewhere. Aunt Norris and Dr. Grant discuss the charms of a Moor Park apricot! Sotherton improvements are talked about much further and removing the avenue is proposed which alarms Fanny who quotes Cowper, ‘Ye fallen avenues, once more I mourn your fate unmerited.’ She expresses a desire and dream to see the avenue before it is cut down. Miss Crawford’s harp is in transit from London, but delayed by the want of a cart in the country during harvest. Edmund is taken aback by some of Mary Crawford’s wild speeches about her uncle the Admiral. Mrs. Grant tends to brag about the improvements that her brother Henry Crawford made to his estate Everingham, and Julia Bertram suggests he advise Mr. Rushworth with his plans for Sotherton. Mrs. Norris sees her niece’s anxieties in Henry Crawford being separated from them and suggests that they should all go to Sotherton, except for Fanny who must attend to Lady Bertram.

( I am reading at a much faster pace)

Related articles

• My summary – Mansfield Park chapters: 1,2 & 3. (sarahstokes.wordpress.com)

Mansfield Park – How Fanny is treated (Chapters 2-3)

Fanny, who has been born into a working class family moves to Mansfield Park to receive education. When she first arrives she is noted as “exceedingly timid and shy, and shrinking from notice” and physically described as “small of her age, with no glow of complexion”. Instantly, this highlights how scared Fanny is to meet Mrs Norris and the rest of her family at Mansfield Park – although this is in fact a normal emotion for a girl of just ten.

Once she arrives she is made welcome by Lady Bertram and Sir Thomas; Lady Bertram has made more of an impression on Fanny. Both Miss Bertram’s believe Fanny to indeed be rather stupid: “my cousin cannot put the map of Europe together”. Today, not many people could in fact place a map of Europe together at her current age, however, this is the way both sisters have been brought up and therefore know no better. Moreover, the only person who gains Fanny’s trust is that of her cousin Edmund “‘My dear little cousin,’ said he with all the gentleness of an excellent nature , ‘what can be the matter?’ “. It is because of Edmund’s gentleness and excellence that both he and Fanny develop a bond and thus she finds comfort in him.

However, the biggest issue when Fanny arrives is that of her social class. She is made to feel “ashamed of herself” because of how different she is. As she is working class, she is consequently much below the Bertram’s as they are in fact upper class. Mrs Norris constantly reminds Fanny of this and thus does not understand the child’s feelings about leaving her home “she cannot as yet understand how much she has changed for the better”.

Mrs Norris’ relationship with Fanny can be somewhat described as hatred and disapproval as she constantly puts her down and reminds her of her place. However, also, when Sir Thomas discusses Fanny living with Mrs Norris, she does not want Fanny any where near her and states that it is “The last thing in the world for me to think of” – highlighting the lack of respect and compassion she has for the girl.

Due to Fanny not feeling at home and missing her brother, she puts herself down “Everything – my situation – my foolishness and awkwardness”. Jane Austen describes Fanny’s feelings for the reader to feel sympathy for Fanny because of this traumatic move, and also helps the reader understand how fearful Fanny is feeling at present – consequently, to save the reader misjudging Fanny’s character as well as Maria and Julia defining her as “prodigiously stupid” even though she loves to read books as they do in fact “charm[ed] her leisure hours”.