Mansfield Park

Sir Thomas is the husband of Fanny’s aunt and the patriarch of Mansfield Park. As the owner of a sugar plantation in Antigua, his wealth is almost certainly built on the exploitation of slave labor. Sir Thomas is central to the novel’s theme of Stability Versus Change. As the guardian of Mansfield Park, he represents the values of order and tradition. His lengthy absence in Antigua creates the opportunity for chaos and change at Mansfield Park.

Sir Thomas is portrayed as a man with solid principles, but he also possesses evident flaws. A distant parent, he inspires fear and resentment in his daughters, who hide their true natures from him. He shows negligence in allowing Mrs. Norris too much influence in raising Maria and Julia. His desire for “domestic tranquility” leads to a failure to confront situations that may disrupt his peace of mind—such as Maria’s obvious dislike of her fiancé, Mr. Rushworth. When both of his daughters become the center of public scandals, Sir Thomas experiences an epiphany. He realizes that, while ensuring Maria and Julia were well-mannered and accomplished, he neglected to teach them the moral values that should accompany these traits.

Lady Bertram is Fanny’s aunt and Sir Thomas’s wife. Of the three Ward sisters, she married the most advantageously, highlighting the theme of Love, Marriage, and Money. His wealth secures her comfort, and she also appears to love her husband. As a comic figure, Lady Bertram is the target of Austen’s satire. The epitome of indolence, she rarely leaves the sofa, abdicating the task of raising her children to her sister, Mrs. Norris. However, in the characterization of Sir Thomas’s wife, Austen also makes a more serious point. Lady Bertram symbolizes privilege without responsibility, illustrating what happens when the values of the ruling classes begin to decay. As such, she represents a threat to Mansfield Park's continued health and prosperity.

Mrs. Norris is the miserly elder sister of Lady Bertram. After the death of her husband, the clergyman of Mansfield, she spends most of her time at Mansfield Park. Mrs. Norris is the novel’s antagonist. Although she initiates Fanny’s arrival at Mansfield Park, she is cruel and malicious, ensuring Fanny does not forget “who and what she is” (170). Akin to the evil stepmother in Cinderella, she encourages the Bertram sisters to look down on their cousin. Working Fanny hard, she attempts to prevent her from attending social events. Mrs. Norris is largely responsible for the ultimate disgrace of her favorite niece, Maria. Having shaped Maria into a vain and amoral young woman, she fittingly leaves Mansfield Park to accompany her into exile. Austen suggests that harmony can only be restored to Mansfield Park once Mrs. Norris’s malign influence has been exorcised.

Tom is the eldest son of Sir Thomas Bertram and heir to the Mansfield Park estate. Reckless and hedonistic, his character embodies the Bertram family's inner decline and the landed classes' worst excesses. Tom enjoys the sense of entitlement that comes with wealth and privilege, feeling “born only for expense and enjoyment” (54). At the same time, he has no respect for the traditional values of duty and responsibility prized by his father. This is illustrated when he accumulates such large gambling debts that Sir Thomas is forced to lease the living set aside for Edmund. Significantly, Tom also plays an active role in the disruption to Mansfield Park caused by the amateur theatrics.

Tom’s behavior in his father’s absence does not bode well for the future of Mansfield Park. However, his character undergoes significant development over the course of the narrative. When he falls seriously ill due to his dissolute habits, he finally confronts the consequences of his actions. His transformation from a careless young man to a “steady and quiet” individual underlines the theme of Stability Versus Change (447). By the novel's end, Austen suggests he is a deserving heir who will maintain tradition and order.

Edmund is the younger son of Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram and Fanny’s cousin. His intention to become a clergyman and his father’s ability to secure him a living illustrate the inextricable relationship between landowners and the clergy in 19th-century England. Despite the nepotism involved in his career path, Edmund is portrayed as an ideal clergyman. Serious-minded, morally upright, and thoughtful, he is committed to serving and helping his congregation.

Edmund is the Bertram family’s kindest and most compassionate member—as illustrated in his relationship with Fanny. Edmund serves as Fanny’s protector and confidant at Mansfield Park, shaping her intellect and earning her unwavering love. His character is initially a symbol of stability and solid moral principles. However, his infatuation with the worldly Mary Crawford leads him to compromise his moral values, representing the temporary triumph of Vice over Virtue. Edmund experiences an epiphany when Maria and Henry’s adultery reveals the full extent of Mary’s moral deficiencies. His return to the virtuous path is accompanied by a realization that Fanny is his ideal partner. Their marriage is based on love, mutual respect, and shared values.

Maria is the elder daughter of Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram. The favorite niece of Mrs. Norris, she is shaped by her aunt’s indulgence and lack of moral discipline. Maria possesses the superficial charms of beauty and accomplishments but is morally vacuous, with no sense of conscience or duty to others. Her character exemplifies the theme of Love, Money, and Marriage as she oscillates between a loveless, financially driven marriage and an ill-advised love affair with Henry Crawford. Her narrative arc demonstrates the conflicting considerations women had to navigate in early 19th-century England.

Expelled from Mansfield Park, Maria is forced to leave England to escape her disgrace. Austen suggests that Maria deserves her downfall but also points out that “[i]n this world, the penalty is less equal than could be wished” (453). The author highlights society’s double standards, as Maria faces moral condemnation, while Henry emerges largely unscathed.

Julia is the younger daughter of Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram. Overshadowed by her older sister, she shares Maria’s faults of vanity and lack of self-control, but to a lesser degree. Like Maria, she falls in love with Henry Crawford, and her decision to withdraw from the theatricals stems from jealousy of her sister rather than a troubled conscience. She encourages the attentions of Mr. Yates without harboring any strong feelings toward him. Julia’s impulsive decision to elope with Mr. Yates is triggered by her reluctance to return to her father’s patriarchal authority after Maria’s disgrace.

Henry is a wealthy young man who exudes charisma, making him attractive to both Bertram sisters. Although not conventionally handsome, he is a master of flattery and presents himself favorably. His talent for amateur theatricals reflects his ability to take on different personas while underlining his lack of personal integrity. Austen portrays Henry as a classic Regency rake, as he encourages Maria and Julia to fall in love with him with no serious intentions toward either of them.

Henry represents a particularly disruptive form of change in the novel’s exploration of Stability Versus Change. At Mansfield Park, he causes a rift between the Bertram sisters and presents a threat to Maria’s forthcoming marriage. Meanwhile, his role as a landowner indicates his love of novelty and disdain for tradition. Although he owns an estate in Norfolk, he is a largely absentee landlord, preferring to spend his time in the more exciting environment of London. His pursuit of change for change's sake is reflected in his enthusiasm for estate “improvements.”

Henry’s eventual pursuit of Fanny is central to Austen’s theme of Virtue and Vice. His determination to make the protagonist fall in love with him begins as an amoral game. However, Fanny’s virtue unexpectedly wins him over, and he realizes he wants to marry her. In his efforts to impress Fanny, Henry becomes a more responsible landlord—suggesting that he is capable of some moral growth and reform. However, his underlying fickleness is exposed when he succumbs to the temptation of an affair with Maria.

Henry’s sister, Mary, is a foil to Fanny in the novel. Where Fanny is introverted and serious-minded, Mary is a witty, playful extrovert. Her restlessness and robust energy contrasts with Fanny’s stillness and physical frailty. Critics have observed that Mary’s wit and liveliness resemble the traits of Elizabeth Bennet—Austen’s protagonist from Pride and Prejudice. However, Mary also possesses significant moral flaws. Like her brother, she is worldly, shallow, and selfish. The plot of Mansfield Park is driven by Edmund’s admiration of the opposing traits of Mary and Fanny and his ultimate choice between them.

Edmund’s observation that Mary “has great discernment. I know nobody who distinguishes characters better” is perceptive (213). Mary is an insightful observer of human nature but uses her assessments of others to her own advantage. She is skillful at ingratiating herself by judging what each individual wishes to see or hear. For example, her acts of kindness toward Fanny are calculated to impress Edmund.

The power of Mary’s charm is illustrated when the pious Edmund falls in love with her. Mary surprises herself by returning his feelings but experiences a conflict between her wish to marry him and her mercenary perception of marriage. Viewing Edmund’s clerical calling as a challenge to overcome, she is initially convinced she can persuade him into a more prestigious career. The battle between Virtue and Vice peaks when Mary encourages Edmund to abandon his principles and play a clergyman in Lovers’ Vows. Edmund cannot resist her provocative query, “What gentleman among you am I to have the pleasure of making love to?” (167). His agreement to play Anhalt suggests that Mary may succeed in undermining both his ethics and his vocation.

Austen uses Mary’s dialogue throughout the novel to illustrate her lack of moral integrity. Her detached amusement at Henry’s womanizing and her cynical view of marriage are conveyed in her conversations with her brother and half-sister. Meanwhile, she playfully articulates her hope that Tom will die in a letter to Fanny. Her downfall occurs when she unwittingly reveals her casual attitude to Henry and Maria’s adultery, condemning “the detection, [and] not the offence” (441). Her comments leave Edmund no longer able to overlook Mary’s “perversion of mind” (442).

In the early stages of the novel, Mr. Rushworth is Maria Bertram's fiancé. Later in the narrative, he becomes her cuckolded husband. Mr. Rushworth’s initial proposal to Maria highlights the theme of Love, Money, and Marriage. Edmund’s reflection that “[i]f this man had not twelve thousand a year, he would be a very stupid fellow” sums up the attractions and flaws of Maria’s suitor (73). Mr. Rushworth’s considerable wealth leads Maria to believe it is her “duty” to marry him. However, she despises him for his dullness and limited intelligence. Mr. Rushworth’s lack of firm ideas of his own is illustrated in his discussion of making improvements to his estate. Although keen to follow this new fashion, he has no concept of the changes he would like to make. During the amateur theatrics and the trip to Sotherton, Maria takes advantage of her fiancé’s gullibility as she openly pursues Henry Crawford. As Maria plays Henry’s lover in Lovers’ Vows, Mr. Rushworth ironically accepts the role of Count Cassel—a vain character who is a figure of ridicule. Maria also makes a fool of him at Sotherton when she sends him for the key to a gate, which she symbolically circumvents with Henry.

Dr. Grant becomes the clergyman of Mansfield parish when Mr. Norris dies. He secures the role when Sir Thomas is forced to lease the living, originally intended for Edmund. As a clergyman, Dr. Grant serves as a foil to Edmund. Lazy, bad-tempered, and greedy, he has no interest in serving his congregation beyond obligatory Sunday services. His character highlights how unsuitable clerics entered the church in 19th-century England, attracted by the comfortable living they could make from tithes, or church taxes.

Mrs. Grant is Dr. Grant’s wife and the half-sister of Henry and Mary Crawford. Her presence at Mansfield Park prompts the arrival of the Crawfords when Mary comes to live with her. Mrs. Grant is less worldly and cynical than her half-siblings. She introduces them to the Bertrams, hoping to see them happily and advantageously married to Tom and Julia. Her plan goes awry when Henry shows more interest in Maria. However, she is powerless to stop the events she has unwittingly set in motion.

Fanny’s father is a former Navy Lieutenant incapacitated by drink and poor health. His inability to provide for his ever-growing family prompts 10-year-old Fanny’s departure to Mansfield Park.

Frances Price is Fanny’s mother and the sister of Lady Bertram and Mrs. Norris. Her character serves as a foil to Lady Bertram as, although they resemble each other in looks and personality, their fates wildly differ. In her youth, Mrs. Price was as beautiful as her older sister. Like Lady Bertram, she is also lazy, ineffectual at managing her household, and a negligent parent. However, Mrs. Price’s marriage has diminished rather than improved her economic and social status. Consequently, Fanny compares the two sisters with dismay, noting how “much more worn and faded [… and] slatternly” her mother looks (400). Mrs. Price underscores Austen’s theme of Love, Money, and Marriage, embodying the impracticality of marrying solely for love.

William is Fanny's beloved older brother. The siblings have a close relationship, and when Fanny first leaves Portsmouth for Mansfield Park, it is William she misses. Fanny’s affection for her brother proves a vulnerability when Henry helps William’s naval career to secure her gratitude. Similarly, Henry uses Fanny’s wish to wear William’s amber cross to trick her into accepting a chain from him. William’s departure overseas is an implicit reminder of the Napoleonic Wars that were taking place at the time the novel was written. His character is partially inspired by Austen’s brother Charles, a naval officer who fought in the conflict with France. Charles bought each of his sisters a topaz cross.

Fanny gets to know her younger sister, Susan, during her enforced return to Portsmouth. Susan is more spirited than Fanny, who notes that her younger sister takes action in situations where she would have cried. However, she shares Fanny’s dislike of the disorder and lack of propriety in the Price household. Fanny’s growth as a character is illustrated in her decision to educate and guide Susan, just as Edmund mentored her. Susan is enthralled by Fanny’s stories of Mansfield Park, indicating that, like Fanny, she is more suited to a stable and refined environment. When Fanny marries Edmund, Susan comes to live with the couple.