By Azarias Perez
Contributing writer
This semester break was perfect to catch up on some good ‘ole reading; for instance, Mansfield Park, by the Romantic English novelist, Jane Austen. Mansfield Park is considered the most scandalous of Austen’s six recognized works, which allows for an engaging and captivating read.
The story centers on the physical and emotional development of the heroine Fanny Price – a poor young girl who comes to live with her uncle and aunt, Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram, in Mansfield Park. Her parents give her up without regret, and her uncle only takes her in because he is deceived by his wife into doing so.
Fanny’s wealthy relations, when they notice her at all, generally only remind her of her inferiority and keep her in place as an unimportant member of the family. However, as the story unfolds, the reader becomes a friend to Fanny – loyal and attentive and unable to take his/her eyes away from this enticing tragedy. Although Fanny immediately becomes an outcast among her cousins and their circle of friends, she finds solace in Edmund, the younger son, with whom she finds herself incredibly attracted.
Mansfield Park is an interesting novel in Austen fans’ opinions because Austen steps away from her sparkling and satirical style of writing to something more serious. It appears to be ‘scandalous’ to many 19th century British literature fans. Nonetheless, Mansfield Park is filled with action from beginning to end. The characters come and go as they please as they manage to keep themselves busy by embracing their teenage years at Mansfield Park.
At the end of the novel, everything is shaken up from what would have likely happened from the beginning of the story. In fact, it is the potential marriage of Edmund and Fanny that gets the reader’s undivided attention in the end. Although their romance isn’t nearly as enticing and appealing as the rest of the novel, the possibility of the couple receiving a ‘”happily ever after’” is considered. We get the sense that their shared views on life and interests would create a basis for a happy life together.
