7 thoughts on “Brief thoughts halfway through Mansfield Park”
cally27said:
I’ve been reading Austen for nearly 50 years now. For me, appreciation for Mansfield Park deepened as I matured (more dramatically than for any other novel – possibly because it was somewhat unloved to begin with) and has continued to grow.
It’s the work of such a mature and accomplished author, that re-readings, and my growing knowledge of the history of the time, continues to reveal new elements of the story
I’m in the middle of reading Mansfield Park for the first time by myself (I’ve seen all the film adaptations and listened to audio dramatized shows and abridged audio books) and I am SO enjoying it! Fanny is the sweetest character and I love Edmund too! It’s become a new favorite and I’m only half way through! There are so many under stories and different layers that are amazingly different from Jane Austen’s other novels. As I read I keep finding surprises in the characters and the plot twists. Jane Austen is just such an amazing author!
MANSFIELD PARK could have been great . . . if Austen had not been so determined to ignore Fanny and Edmund’s failings in the end. I was also disappointed at how she rushed their eventual romance, following Edmund’s rejection of Mary.
Quite frankly, Fanny Price is a turn off for me. It’s not her mild-mannered personality that bothers me. I can think of other female characters I consider to be mild mannered and I ended up liking. But for me, Fanny is too judgmental, too hypocritical and as I had stated earlier, Austen made the mistake of failing to allow Fanny to become aware of her more serious failings. The character and the novel is a disappointment to me.
I thought that I was the only one who put “Mansfield Park” before other Jane Austen books. At first, many years ago, I had a problem with this book, mainly because it was very thick and complicated. But with time, I learned to appreciate it exactly because of its length and complexity. It takes time and open mind to truly love this book. When I read “Mansfield Park” I feel myself as close to Regency England as I will ever get there.
I’ve been reading Austen for nearly 50 years now. For me, appreciation for Mansfield Park deepened as I matured (more dramatically than for any other novel – possibly because it was somewhat unloved to begin with) and has continued to grow.
It’s the work of such a mature and accomplished author, that re-readings, and my growing knowledge of the history of the time, continues to reveal new elements of the story
Oh, now I’m doubly interested in Mansfield Park You two favorite Austens are my favorites, so far…
I find that as I get older Mansfield Park means more and more to me. Austen’s mature masterpiece. Glad you are enjoying it!
I’m in the middle of reading Mansfield Park for the first time by myself (I’ve seen all the film adaptations and listened to audio dramatized shows and abridged audio books) and I am SO enjoying it! Fanny is the sweetest character and I love Edmund too! It’s become a new favorite and I’m only half way through! There are so many under stories and different layers that are amazingly different from Jane Austen’s other novels. As I read I keep finding surprises in the characters and the plot twists. Jane Austen is just such an amazing author!
MANSFIELD PARK could have been great . . . if Austen had not been so determined to ignore Fanny and Edmund’s failings in the end. I was also disappointed at how she rushed their eventual romance, following Edmund’s rejection of Mary.
Quite frankly, Fanny Price is a turn off for me. It’s not her mild-mannered personality that bothers me. I can think of other female characters I consider to be mild mannered and I ended up liking. But for me, Fanny is too judgmental, too hypocritical and as I had stated earlier, Austen made the mistake of failing to allow Fanny to become aware of her more serious failings. The character and the novel is a disappointment to me.
I’m curious what failings are you referring to and why you call Fanny hypocritical?
I thought that I was the only one who put “Mansfield Park” before other Jane Austen books. At first, many years ago, I had a problem with this book, mainly because it was very thick and complicated. But with time, I learned to appreciate it exactly because of its length and complexity. It takes time and open mind to truly love this book. When I read “Mansfield Park” I feel myself as close to Regency England as I will ever get there.