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Mansfield Park: A blended family

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Kristen Bissell

Fanny Price is sent to live with her wealthy relatives, the Bertrams, at Mansfield Park as a child. She grows up feeling inferior to her cousins and is only treated kindly by Edmund. The story focuses on Fanny's growing love for Edmund. Though the Bertrams take Fanny in, their family functions with disengagement and separateness between members. Rituals like debutante balls and values of propriety are important to the Bertrams. Edmund and Fanny have a traditional relationship, while Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram follow traditional gender roles. Overall, the Bertram/Price family upholds strict rules and avoids conflict, classifying it as a protective family structure.

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Mansfield Park: A Blended Family By: Kristen Bissell
Background story: Mansfield Park is a novel written by Jane Austen, published in 1814. The story is centered around Fanny Price who is sent to live and be raised by her relatives, the wealthy Sir Thomas Bertrams. Fanny grows up among her four cousins, Tom, Edmund, Maria, and Julia, but she is always treated as a subordinate; only Edmund shows real kindness to her. The majority of the story centers around Fannys growing gratitude for Edmunds kindness which turns to romantic love.
Family Members Fanny Price the protagonist, a relatively poor woman sent to live with her cousins and treated by all except Edmund with inferiority. William Price - Fannys brother, a kind but poor naval officer awaiting commission. From left to right: Maria and future husband, Julia, Tom and Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram Fannys Fanny wealthy uncle and aunt Tom Bertram Cousin to Fanny. An irresponsible gambler and selfish man. Edmund Bertram Cousin to Fanny. Pious and kind, Edmund is Fannys only friend. A most virtuous man. Maria and Julia Bertram Cousins of Fanny, Maria and Julia treat Fanny Edmund and Fanny as less than human. They can be described as very vain and spoiled.
Type of Family: Because Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram essentially adopt Fanny into their family as a young girl I would consider this to be a blended family. It is not a blended family in the complete sense that the book suggests, but it is to the extent that families may also be blended through the addition of adopted or foster children (Galvin 7). The Bertrams by the end of the novel come to see Fanny as their own daughter. And she also becomes their daughter by law in the 19th century through her eventual marriage to Edmund. From Left to Right: Lady and Sir Thomas Bertram and Fanny
Cohesion: In looking at how the Bertrams and Prices communicate it becomes clear that they fall under Disengaged cohesion. Disengaged. Family members maintain extreme separateness and little family belonging or loyalty (Galvin 31). Although the Bertrams may think they are a connected, happy, equal family, in reality they are anything but. Although there is a fa巽ade of closeness and loyalty there is an emotional separateness, largely emphasized through how the majority of the family makes it blatantly clear Fanny is not an equal, let alone a real member of the family although she does all she is asked, loves and forgives constantly without complaint. Toward the end of the novel and this adaption Sir Thomas even remarks, I confess I do not think that I know any of my children at all.
Interdependence Within any system, the parts are so interrelated as to be dependent on each other for their functioning. Within a system, the parts and the relationship between them form the whole; changes in one part will result in changes in the others. Two examples when interdependence is displayed is first when Tom wants to conduct a play within the household. This is seen as improper, especially since women were not supposed to act. It was unseemly Another instance is when Maria runs off with Mr. Crawford. This brings shame and disgrace upon the whole family. The other daughter Julia would then be seen as tainted by any future suitors.
Rituals Rituals are an important aspect when looking at this family in Mansfield Park. One could say they are more important here, in this 19th century situation, than they are today. One example of ritual found in Mansfield Park is the idea itself that when making the transition from girl to woman, at age 18, a huge party is thrown. It helps these new women to redefine their identities, an idea discussed by Galvin on page 121. Sir Thomas insists on doing this for Fanny, even though she doesnt want it, she feels like an outsider at this point within the family, but this ritual was something that had to be done. Fanny has no choice but to grin and bear it.
Values Values are something that tend to be passed on from generation to generation. This idea is incredibly important not on in the Bertram family, but in 19th cenutury families in general. Propriety was key in the Georgian and Victorian Eras in England. Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram aim to pass on good values, The sad part of this is, as I have said such as marrying for the right before, Sir Thomas realizes too late that reasons, love, but also to marry he has not succeeded in doing this with someone that is advantageous all his children, he has only succeeded to you. After all you cant in making them well mannered. He only disgrace the family. Sir Thomas realizes this when he hears of his also tried to instill values such as daughter running off with another man doing the morally correct thing, from her husband, therefore bringing being a good Christian, and disgrace upon the rest of the family. The being virtuous. In other words, exception to this are of course Edmund, being a good, honest, loyal Fanny and to a certain extent, Julia. person; following your moral compass.
Couple Typology Both relationships (Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram and Edmund and Fanny) would likely be seen as falling under Traditional. Part of this is time period related, but lets say for instance that time in history has nothing to do with this. Traditional Couples can be defined: Women in traditional couples may Fanny and work, but they see themselves primarily as mothers and community Edmund members and want their husbands to identify primarily with work. Husbands in traditional couples base their identities on their work and expect their wives to manage the home (Galvin 174). This definitely describes both of these relationships, especially Edmunds parents. Although these couples function with the idea of equality between the two partners both men and women agree the womans place is in the house with the children while the men deal with work and income. Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram
Family Typology I would classify the Bertram/Price family as protective. Protective families rank low on the use of a conversational approach and high on conformity dimensions. They stress upholding family rules and avoiding conflict (Galvin 177). This is the definition of the Bertram/Price family. Because they are in an society that values propriety and virtuousness so highly rules are definitely stressed and whenever something happens to go against propriety is isnt talked about, if it happens at all. For example, when Maria goes against propriety by running off she is essentially cast out of the family and left on her own. She can no longer live at Mansfield Park.

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Mansfield Park: A blended family

  • 1. Mansfield Park: A Blended Family By: Kristen Bissell
  • 2. Background story: Mansfield Park is a novel written by Jane Austen, published in 1814. The story is centered around Fanny Price who is sent to live and be raised by her relatives, the wealthy Sir Thomas Bertrams. Fanny grows up among her four cousins, Tom, Edmund, Maria, and Julia, but she is always treated as a subordinate; only Edmund shows real kindness to her. The majority of the story centers around Fannys growing gratitude for Edmunds kindness which turns to romantic love.
  • 3. Family Members Fanny Price the protagonist, a relatively poor woman sent to live with her cousins and treated by all except Edmund with inferiority. William Price - Fannys brother, a kind but poor naval officer awaiting commission. From left to right: Maria and future husband, Julia, Tom and Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram Fannys Fanny wealthy uncle and aunt Tom Bertram Cousin to Fanny. An irresponsible gambler and selfish man. Edmund Bertram Cousin to Fanny. Pious and kind, Edmund is Fannys only friend. A most virtuous man. Maria and Julia Bertram Cousins of Fanny, Maria and Julia treat Fanny Edmund and Fanny as less than human. They can be described as very vain and spoiled.
  • 4. Type of Family: Because Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram essentially adopt Fanny into their family as a young girl I would consider this to be a blended family. It is not a blended family in the complete sense that the book suggests, but it is to the extent that families may also be blended through the addition of adopted or foster children (Galvin 7). The Bertrams by the end of the novel come to see Fanny as their own daughter. And she also becomes their daughter by law in the 19th century through her eventual marriage to Edmund. From Left to Right: Lady and Sir Thomas Bertram and Fanny
  • 5. Cohesion: In looking at how the Bertrams and Prices communicate it becomes clear that they fall under Disengaged cohesion. Disengaged. Family members maintain extreme separateness and little family belonging or loyalty (Galvin 31). Although the Bertrams may think they are a connected, happy, equal family, in reality they are anything but. Although there is a fa巽ade of closeness and loyalty there is an emotional separateness, largely emphasized through how the majority of the family makes it blatantly clear Fanny is not an equal, let alone a real member of the family although she does all she is asked, loves and forgives constantly without complaint. Toward the end of the novel and this adaption Sir Thomas even remarks, I confess I do not think that I know any of my children at all.
  • 6. Interdependence Within any system, the parts are so interrelated as to be dependent on each other for their functioning. Within a system, the parts and the relationship between them form the whole; changes in one part will result in changes in the others. Two examples when interdependence is displayed is first when Tom wants to conduct a play within the household. This is seen as improper, especially since women were not supposed to act. It was unseemly Another instance is when Maria runs off with Mr. Crawford. This brings shame and disgrace upon the whole family. The other daughter Julia would then be seen as tainted by any future suitors.
  • 7. Rituals Rituals are an important aspect when looking at this family in Mansfield Park. One could say they are more important here, in this 19th century situation, than they are today. One example of ritual found in Mansfield Park is the idea itself that when making the transition from girl to woman, at age 18, a huge party is thrown. It helps these new women to redefine their identities, an idea discussed by Galvin on page 121. Sir Thomas insists on doing this for Fanny, even though she doesnt want it, she feels like an outsider at this point within the family, but this ritual was something that had to be done. Fanny has no choice but to grin and bear it.
  • 8. Values Values are something that tend to be passed on from generation to generation. This idea is incredibly important not on in the Bertram family, but in 19th cenutury families in general. Propriety was key in the Georgian and Victorian Eras in England. Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram aim to pass on good values, The sad part of this is, as I have said such as marrying for the right before, Sir Thomas realizes too late that reasons, love, but also to marry he has not succeeded in doing this with someone that is advantageous all his children, he has only succeeded to you. After all you cant in making them well mannered. He only disgrace the family. Sir Thomas realizes this when he hears of his also tried to instill values such as daughter running off with another man doing the morally correct thing, from her husband, therefore bringing being a good Christian, and disgrace upon the rest of the family. The being virtuous. In other words, exception to this are of course Edmund, being a good, honest, loyal Fanny and to a certain extent, Julia. person; following your moral compass.
  • 9. Couple Typology Both relationships (Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram and Edmund and Fanny) would likely be seen as falling under Traditional. Part of this is time period related, but lets say for instance that time in history has nothing to do with this. Traditional Couples can be defined: Women in traditional couples may Fanny and work, but they see themselves primarily as mothers and community Edmund members and want their husbands to identify primarily with work. Husbands in traditional couples base their identities on their work and expect their wives to manage the home (Galvin 174). This definitely describes both of these relationships, especially Edmunds parents. Although these couples function with the idea of equality between the two partners both men and women agree the womans place is in the house with the children while the men deal with work and income. Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram
  • 10. Family Typology I would classify the Bertram/Price family as protective. Protective families rank low on the use of a conversational approach and high on conformity dimensions. They stress upholding family rules and avoiding conflict (Galvin 177). This is the definition of the Bertram/Price family. Because they are in an society that values propriety and virtuousness so highly rules are definitely stressed and whenever something happens to go against propriety is isnt talked about, if it happens at all. For example, when Maria goes against propriety by running off she is essentially cast out of the family and left on her own. She can no longer live at Mansfield Park.