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Thoughts after rereading Mansfield Park

I've read Mansfield Park only once before, 10+ years ago, as a teenager. I didn't remember much from it, only that I've found Fanny plain, passive and boring, and same with Edmund.

I've read a lot of discussions about it here though and I was so sure that my opinions will not change. And I have a huge weakness for bad boys so I imagine myself being Team Henry.
And I was so wrong!

  1. I find Fanny's character deep, unique and fascinating. I admire her strength and reason, and in such a young age. I'm completely different than her but it doesn't matter. It's easy for me to understand where is she coming from.

  2. For me Fanny and Edmund makes sense! They are friends, they've been already friends for so many years. Friendship is such a great foundation for good, stable relationship. It's so touching how he cares for her. Sure, maybe Austen could add some lines showing us more about how his feelings for her developed. But it is said that he really did developed those feelings. He also says in a book about love as a requirement for marriage. I don't think he settled or something.

  3. I don't find cousin thing problematic, maybe because I don't really see them as being raised together. Fanny was raised with Julia and Maria, because they were also girls and in similar age. She wasn't raised with Edmund, who was 16 when she was 10. He was not even really a kid at this point and he would spend most of his time in boarding schools, as it was done for young gentlemen.

  4. If Henry Crawford couldn't keep it in his pants for a few months to show Fanny he really changed, he didn't.

  5. People that want Fanny to have big social life and fun via marriage with Henry, completely ignore the fact that this isn't what she wanted. She wanted nice, quiet family life with Edmund, and that is what she got.

Sure, this book isn't so light and bright as Pride and Prejudice. I will not be reading it in challenging times to keep my spirits up. But it was a really good book and I'm so glad that rereading Austen brings so many new perspectives.

Did your thoughts about Mansfield Park changed after rereading?

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Fanny is an amazing character!

I don't think anyone wants Fanny to have a big social life, most people just want her to meet more than five eligible men in her entire life before getting married (Tom, Edmund, Rushworth, Henry, and Yates). That said, she did love the ball which suggests she would enjoy being out a little more. It would have been nice if she could have also had a season in Northampton.