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This thesis will focus on the people’s attitudes and behaviors in Mansfield Park to analyze the morals of the early 19th century Britain and take some of the details in the novel as example to support the opinion. With the help of reference books, This thesis will choose the powerful material to discuss the morals in the early 19th century Britain by comparing personal character and making some case studies, then the thesis will analyze the morals in that time. At last, a reasonable conclusion is made.
2 Morals of the 19th Century Britain Reflected in Mansfield Park
The story happened in the 19th century Britain when western world was under the material benefits of slavery and imperialism. During the period of transition from agricultural society to industrial society the economy of Britain made great progress, which led to a big gap between the rich and the poor. Social morals were dearly influenced under the background, which were reflected in Mansfield Park.
2.1 Price’s Character and the Formation of Her Morals
Fanny is the second eldest of nine children who is sent to live with her mother's sisters at Mansfield Park at the age of 10. Fanny is sensitive, shy, intelligent, virtuous, with a good sense of morals; and her status at Mansfield Park as a dependent poor relation only intensifies these traits. Much of the novel takes place when she is eighteen and nineteen. She has been in love with her cousin Edmund since she was young and when both realize their feelings, they get married. Fanny is pursued by Mr. Henry Crawford.
2.1.1 Fanny Price’s Character
Fanny who looks like the Cinderella isn’t a loveable girl. Her personality is delicate, shy, quiet and unexpressive. Compared with Maria, she doesn’t have any advantage. Different from Maria, a girl full of vigour, and Mary who is pretty and charming, Fanny is so ordinary. At the beginning of the story, Fanny lives in an oppressed environment. The only friend treating her sincerely is Edmund. He has a great deal of influence over her and helps form her character. But Edmund is lack of observation who gives Fanny some kind of pain especially when Edmund is obsessed with Miss Crawford. Fanny has the spirit of sacrifice and the perseverance of endeavor in order to carry out an important task.
2.1.2 The Formation of Her Morals
At the very beginning when Fanny comes to the Mansfield, she is timid and shy because of the strict uncle, nervous aunt and her sister. But her humble personality gains recognitions from the whole family. In fact she seems to clearly know her status in the family. Aunt’s two daughters form a poor opinion about Fanny who see her as a second-class citizen because she can’t speak French and doesn’t have beautiful clothes. The lucky thing is that she makes friends with her cousin and begins her happy days in Mansfield Park. Further more, Fanny’s elder brother holds a post in navy. After Fanny comes to Mansfield Park, She can clearly see the social motivation of the last generation. Although they try to let Fanny get rid of her self-value, in fact they don’t change their own self-value, too. On the contrary，those people who own social motivation are the most conservative who defense the hierarchy. The most obvious evidence in the novel is that Mrs. Norris tries to maintain reputation of Thomas family for continuing to enjoy the benefit getting from the Mansfield Park. At the end of the story the attitude of Fanny towards her cousin proves that she is a qualified hostess. The independence and adamancy of Fanny make her indispensible in Mansfield.
When Fanny goes to the Mansfield Park for the first time she thinks she will never see her parents again and feels lonely and helpless. At that time Edmund gives her much comfort which make both of them become friends. As the time goes by Fanny falls in love with Edmund and hides her real feelings getting along with Edmund as friends. When the Crawfords come to Mansfield Park, Mary puts eyesight on Tom, the eldest son of Sir Thomas, while Henry locks his eyesight on Maria who has had the existing engagement. When Tom is sick at the dying moment, Mary turns her eyes to Edmund who at this time is attracted by. But Fanny does not have a good opinion about Mary. Later, Edmund always gets together with Mary, which causes Fanny great pains because of her love toward Edmund. Compared with Mary, Fanny’s feeling is honest that doesn’t have anything to do with money and social status ,but her feeling is passive. That’s because Fanny doesn’t know how to treat relationship with Edmund. She even doesn’t know weather it is love or family affection. Mary is not satisfied with the fact that Edmund wants to be a priest, but she hopes Edmund to inherit his family business ,while Fanny supports what Edmund want to do. In the end, Edmund knows Mary’s true colors and finally chooses Fanny. Thus we can see that Fanny thinks marriage is not based on money and social status. She believes that love and marriage is on the basis of true feeling. That’s why she can understand and support Edmund’s decision. She rejects Henry’s proposal which can lift her into upper class just for her true love towards Edmund. It is no doubt that Fanny is the loyalist character in the novel.