Mansfield Park · Chapter
Chapter XL explained
Fanny receives a letter from Mary Crawford, who reports on Henry's absence, Julia's and Maria's social doings, and Edmund's slow movements.
What happens
Fanny receives a letter from Mary Crawford, who reports on Henry's absence, Julia's and Maria's social doings, and Edmund's slow movements. In Portsmouth, Fanny finds no satisfying society but begins to bond with her sister Susan, helping her with advice and a silver knife to settle a family dispute. She also subscribes to a circulating library to share her love of reading with Susan and distract herself from thoughts of Edmund.
Themes in this chapter
Home and Belonging
Fanny feels exiled in Portsmouth, finding no society that compensates for the deficiencies at home, and longs for Mansfield Park.
Education and Character
Fanny observes Susan's natural good judgment despite her lack of proper guidance, and seeks to improve her through reading and advice.
Social Class and Money
Fanny's £10 gift from Sir Thomas allows her to buy peace in the household, highlighting the power of money in domestic relations.
Characters to notice
- Fanny Price
Struggles with homesickness and the coarseness of Portsmouth society; finds solace in her growing relationship with Susan and in reading.
- Susan Price
Fanny's younger sister, who shows a determined and useful character; Fanny helps her with advice and resolves a conflict over a silver knife.
- Mary Crawford
Writes a long letter to Fanny from London, describing Henry's absence, Julia's and Maria's social engagements, and Edmund's slow progress.
- Edmund Bertram
Mentioned in Mary's letter as being in London, detained by parish duties; Fanny is anxious about his potential involvement with Mary.
- Henry Crawford
Reported by Mary to be in Norfolk at Everingham; his absence is noted as a reason for Mary's delayed letter.
- Maria Bertram
Now Mrs. Rushworth; Mary describes her as flustered when Fanny's name was mentioned, but expects her to recover socially.
- Julia Bertram
Visits Mary with Maria; Mary notes Julia's better looks and mentions Baron Wildenheim's attentions to her.
- Elizabeth Price
Fanny's younger sister; receives a new silver knife from Fanny, ending a domestic dispute over the old one.
Key passages
“The first solid consolation which Fanny received for the evils of home, the first which her judgment could entirely approve, and which gave any promise of durability, was in a better knowledge of Susan, and a hope of being of service to her.”
Fanny's first real comfort in Portsmouth came from getting to know Susan better and hoping she could help her.
Highlights the beginning of Fanny's meaningful relationship with Susan.
“She became a subscriber; amazed at being anything in propria persona, amazed at her own doings in every way, to be a renter, a chooser of books!”
Fanny was astonished to find herself subscribing to a library and selecting books on her own.
Shows Fanny's newfound agency and her desire to educate Susan.
“There was great food for meditation in this letter, and chiefly for unpleasant meditation; and yet, with all the uneasiness it supplied, it connected her with the absent, it told her of people and things about whom she had never felt so much curiosity as now.”
Mary's letter gave Fanny much to think about, mostly unpleasant, but it also linked her to the world she missed.
Illustrates Fanny's conflicted feelings about her correspondence with Mary.
