Mansfield Park, Volume I

 

Please note the change to the assignment on the Mansfield Park main page.  Just provide a summary of the chapter.

 

All references are to the Penguin edition unless otherwise noted.

 

Chapter 1: 

 

In Chapter 1, we learn about the three Ward sisters:  Miss Ward, who marries the Rev. Mr. Norris; Miss Maria, who marries Sir Thomas Bertram; and Miss Frances, who marries Mr. Price.  Frances's marriage results in estrangement from her sisters and their husbands.  However, because of her family's situation (a lot of children and little income), she writes to them.  At Mrs. Norris's instigation, they agree to take Mrs. Price oldest daughter to raise.  [E.C.]

 

Chapter 2:

 

In Chapter 2, Fanny, who is ten years old, arrives at Mansfield Park, where she will be raised with her cousins:  Thomas, Edmund, Maria, and Julia.  Though she is homesick and especially misses her brother William, Fanny eventually become comfortable at Mansfield Park, where Edmund becomes her friend and champion.  [E.C.] 

 

Chapter 3:

 

 

 

Chapter 4:

 

 

 

Chapter 5:

 

 

 

Chapter 6:

 

Mr. Bertram left for ---, leaving Edmund in charge of the family.  The Bertram family goes to Mr. Rushworth's house at Sotherton for dinner.  It was decided that everyone but Fanny and Mrs. Bertram were going to. (HG)

 

Chapter 7:

 

Miss Crawford receives her harp and while she plays, Edmund starts to fall in love with her, while Fanny stays busy at Mansfield Park. When Edmund discovers that Miss Crawford doesn't know how to ride a horse, he tells Fanny he will take her horse down to the Parsonage a half an hour before Fanny's daily ride, so Fanny won't miss her exercise, however he arrives late and curious, Fanny arrives to fetch the horse. The next day Fanny decides not to ride so Edmund could take the mare for Miss Crawford. When Edmund and Julia return from a dinner invite, they find out that Fanny has a headache because she was asked to cut roses during the hottest part of the day. Edmund, angry at himself, his mother and his aunt, treats Fanny's headache and decides not to take Fanny's horse again.

 

Chapter 8:

 

 

 

Chapter 9:

 

Fanny and the rest of the party get to Sotherton and are greeted by Mr. Rushworth. They are shown around the house and the church by Mr. Rushworth's mother. Edmund, Fanny, and Miss Crawford have a discussion about religion and Edmund's future as a clergyman- Miss Crawford makes a rude comment about the clergy and Julia responds with a comment of her own noting that Edmund could marry Maria and Mr. Rushworth if he had already taken orders in an attempt to break up the shameless flirting going on between Maria and Henry. Miss Crawford is embarrassed by what she's said and apologizes for her lack of respect. Everyone leaves the church to view the "wilderness." Maria, Henry and Mr. Rushworth split into a group; Fanny, Edmund, and Miss Crawford split into a group; Julia stays with Ms. Rushworth and Mrs. Norris. Edmund and Miss Crawford flirt and banter as they walk around, and then all three sit down so Fanny may rest... and while she does, Edmund and Miss Crawford go off on their own, leaving Fanny behind with a promise of a quick return. [S.M]

 

Chapter 10:

 

Fanny and the rest of the group are at Sotherton and are viewing the grounds in this particular chapter. Fanny goes along with Edmund and Mary, but is eventually left behind. Maria and Henry wish to go throgh a gaterwhich is locked, but find another way through/around. Mr. Rushworth, who had gone to fetch a key for the gate, asks Fanny what she thinks of Henry, and she does her best to avoid answering the question. The rest of the group returns and reunites with Fanny, following which they have dinner and then leave Sotherton. (DW)

 

Chapter 11:

 

In Chapter 11, we learn that Maria and Julia are not looking forward to their father's return.  Maria, infatuated with Henry Crawford, doesn't want her marriage to Mr. Rushworth to take place as scheduled when he gets back.  The majority of the chapter relates a conversation among Miss Crawford, Edmund, and Fanny about marriage and the clergy.  When Miss Crawford moves away from them, Edmund extols her virtues, while Fanny exclaims about the beauty of the night. [E.C.]

 

Chapter 12:

 

 

 

Chapter 13:

 

 

 

Chapter 14:

 

 

 

Chapter 15:

 The chapter begins with the final roles for the play being decided on.  The final part of the Cottager's Wife needed to be filled and Tom tried to talk Fanny into taking the role.  She protests but her cries go unheard.  Mrs. Norris makes Fanny feel like she is being ungrateful for not taking the part.  (HG)

 

 

Chapter 16:

 

Edmund consults Fanny with her opinion on Tom bringing a stranger to perform Anhalt in the play, and reaches the conclusion that he must play Anhalt so Miss Crawford will be comfortable. Fanny is upset that he went against his decision.

 

Chapter 17:

 

 

 

Chapter 18:

 

Fanny begins to act as a rehearsal buddy, exchanging lines with people in the play (especially Mr. Rushworth!), and listening to them as they gripe and complain and worry. Since Edmund has taken a role in the play opposite Miss Crawford, Fanny can't help but be anxious about watching them perform, considering she cares for Edmund and doesn't want to see him profess his love to another, though pretend, mostly because she knows about how he feels towards Miss Crawford. Mary comes to her to rehearse, and before they begin, Edmund comes into the nursery to ask Fanny to help him as well. When he realizes that Miss Crawford is there, too, he instead decides that he and Mary should rehearse together and that Fanny should serve as a sort of audience. The dress rehearsal is to be that night. Mrs. Grant (playing the Cottager's Wife) is absent because her husband is ill, and so Fanny is asked again to read the part. She agrees, but just as they begin, Julia comes in announcing that Sir Thomas is back from Antigua and is already home. [S.M]