Mansfield Park (1814)

I'm currently catching up on some of the books on my personal reading list now that I have a little break between semesters. I thought I'd begin with Mansfield Park since it's been a while since I've read anything by Jane Austen. This edition was published in 1949 by the Novel Library and is 479 pages long on remarkably thin paper. 

I was surprised to find myself much more captivated by this novel than previous ones I've read (quite long ago), such as Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice. I'm reconsidering whether I will read them again as a more mature reader or if I'll just put it to Mansfield Park being written after the two above mentioned and thus attribute it to Austen's own matured style.

Austen's novel makes a change from more contemporary fiction in so many ways: the steady chronological style, the value given to religious and moral conduct and the lack of vulgarity. Of course Austen had her own context to consider and the novels reflect this but she clearly has a moral stance and preference in the novel where religion seems like it ought to be valued more sincerely than the upper class can admit. The religious and moral values she advocates include sincerity and humility, which are lacking in high society in favour of material wealth. Despite this critique of the upper classes, Austen demonstrates her partiality to refined upper class etiquette as being indispensable in a truly noble character. This naturally puts the lower classes at a great disadvantage.

A refreshing element in the novel was the insight into the Price family, a family who is considerably less wealthy and "refined" than the principal Bertram family. While it clearly shows the failings of character that can easily pervade with lack of financial means and poor management, it also provides some hope and an incentive for wealthier members of society or a family to take the initiative to help "raise" others in order to increase goodness, or the potential of goodness, in society.

On a less positive note, I felt that the main protagonist in the novel, Fanny, was a little too sensitive, fragile and timid for my liking and it felt like a character that was, although morally correct, difficult to identify with. This, I can argue, also allows Austen to create a perfect, angelic character, which goes against contemporary subjectivity of character, judgement and a general trend for rebellion.

Overall, it was a rather pleasant, almost indulgent, read and I look forward to reading Northanger Abbey in order to increase my exposure to Austen's writing.