#No it's fine we have an attic niece that we treat like a servant

[bethanydelleman]

As you read along in Mansfield Park, you, apparently like the Bertrams, almost start to feel like Fanny’s treatment is normal. This is just what people do when they informally adopt their poor nieces, right? Fanny seems content in her place, if only Mrs. Norris would be a little nicer. This is fine.

And then someone from the outside visits and reminds you how insane the whole set up actually seems to them.

Like Mrs. Rushworth, who invites Miss Price to see Sotherton and then is really confused when she can’t go. “Why not? She’s part of the family I want to confer favour upon her too,” thinks Mrs. Rushworth, somehow the voice of reason in this situation. Edmund must move mountains to have Fanny included.

And then we have Mary’s most sparkling moment, where Mrs. Norris openly berates Fanny for being ungrateful and Mary is like, “What the actual fuck did you just say to that poor girl?”

In an earlier chapter, Mary can’t even figure out if Fanny is in or out socially, not only because Fanny is so shy, but because her style of dress and pattern of going out doesn’t make any sense. Which yeah, everything done for Fanny is an afterthought even though you had a plan to bring Fanny out into the world, remember Sir Thomas?

When Henry Crawford is talking about marrying Fanny, he says he’s going to treat her so well that her whole family will be ashamed of themselves. Is this slightly problematic in itself because of the performative nature of his charity? Yes. Am I down for it? Also yes.

Or when Fanny is caught out in the rain and doesn’t want to impose on the Grants by asking for shelter. She’s so beaten down that Dr. Grant has to go out himself to convince her she’s worthy of not being soaked.

The way that Austen kind of numbs us to the abuse and then brings it back into our faces is terrible and magnificent.

#mansfield park #random musing #fanny price #mary crawford #henry crawford #I use swears as they are meant for emphasis #sparingly for maximum impact #fish don't know they are in water #Bertrams can't seem to see how awful they are #No it's fine we have an attic niece that we treat like a servant