Mansfield Park · Chapter
Chapter XXVII explained
Edmund confides in Fanny about his distress over Mary Crawford's playful but troubling remarks, expressing concern that her former companions have tainted her mind.
What happens
Edmund confides in Fanny about his distress over Mary Crawford's playful but troubling remarks, expressing concern that her former companions have tainted her mind. Fanny listens sympathetically, and they share a tender moment. Later, Fanny prepares for the ball, finding joy in a note from Edmund and in William's improved travel plans with Henry Crawford. Despite her anxieties about the ball, she treasures Edmund's handwriting and feels a mix of hope and apprehension.
Themes in this chapter
Education and Character
Edmund and Fanny discuss how Mary Crawford's former companions have influenced her speech and opinions, highlighting the theme of education's impact on character.
Appearance vs. Reality
Mary Crawford's playful words mask deeper flaws, and Fanny's outward composure hides her inner turmoil about the ball and Edmund.
Duty and Self-Restraint
Fanny exercises self-restraint by not complaining about her fatigue and by regulating her thoughts through 'reason and weakness.'
Characters to notice
- Fanny Price
Fanny listens to Edmund's concerns about Mary Crawford, treasures a scrap of his writing, and prepares for the ball with mixed emotions.
- Edmund Bertram
Edmund confides in Fanny about his pain over Mary Crawford's manner, expresses his love for her, and later engages Mary for the first two dances.
- Mary Crawford
Mary Crawford is discussed by Edmund, who is troubled by her playful but seemingly wrong opinions; she agrees to dance with Edmund but says it will be the last time.
- Henry Crawford
Henry Crawford offers William a ride to London in his carriage, which pleases both William and Fanny.
- William Price
William is delighted by Henry Crawford's offer to travel together to London, and Fanny is happy he will be spared a fatiguing journey.
- Sir Thomas Bertram
Sir Thomas approves of William's introduction to Admiral Crawford, seeing potential benefit.
Key passages
“She does not think evil, but she speaks it, speaks it in playfulness; and though I know it to be playfulness, it grieves me to the soul.”
Mary doesn't intend harm, but her playful words still hurt me deeply.
Edmund expresses his distress over Mary's thoughtless remarks.
“The enthusiasm of a woman's love is even beyond the biographer's. To her, the handwriting itself, independent of anything it may convey, is a blessedness.”
A woman in love treasures even the handwriting of her beloved more than any biographer could.
Narrator describes Fanny's deep emotional attachment to Edmund's note.
“To dance without much observation or any extraordinary fatigue, to have strength and partners for about half the evening, to dance a little with Edmund, and not a great deal with Mr. Crawford, to see William enjoy himself, and be able to keep away from her aunt Norris, was the height of her ambition.”
Fanny's greatest hope for the ball was to dance modestly, avoid attention, spend a little time with Edmund, and escape her aunt Norris.
Fanny's modest desires for the ball contrast with others' expectations.