This week we’re discussing Chapters 7-13, Volume 2, or Chapters 25-31, of ‘Mansfield Park’ in the Austen Connection’s Great Jane Austen Read-Along. Welcome!
Check out all the schedules and info for the Read-Along here:
Hello, friends —
What a week at Mansfield!
When you really look at these chapters and scenes in this week’s reading of Mansfield Park, it’s striking how on-the-nose Jane Austen allows herself to be with the games of this novel, both the literal ones and the figurative ones. We’re deconstructing it all this week and it’s so much fun — and also so very horrifying, all at once! Which we imagine is how Austen felt herself while writing these scenes.
Below you’ll find ways for you to weigh in with your own takes on this game scene and everything playing out this week — as well as our usual schedules, info, and cool links, all below. Enjoy, happy reading, and do have fun!
Mansfield Park Week 6 Discussion Post — Chapters 7-13, Volume 2, or Chapters 25-31
The maneuverings and machinations of Mansfield Park and its characters ramped up this week, in the last part of volume two. To this point, every Main Character of this novel has a clear goal: Edmund, Mary, Fanny, Henry. William. Our characters are far from giving up the game.
They are, in fact, doubling down.
And then our Main Characters all go into a room, at the Grants’ parsonage, and they sit down to play. An actual game: Speculation. Lady Bertram is advised by her husband to play Speculation, not whist — because, lol, Sir Thomas enjoys whist himself and doesn’t fancy his wife as a partner.
And my Norton critical edition of this novel tells me that Speculation is described in the 1800 edition of Hoyles Games as a “noisy” game of bidding, buying, selling.
But it’s impossible to miss the meanings and the metaphors of the gaming and goings-on, above and under the surface, at the kids’ table. William is in earnest and “driving as hard a bargain and imposing on” his sister. While Fanny insists on furthering his cause until assertively and deftly detoured by her coach, Henry. Lady B, also being managed by Henry, cannot figure any of it out and neither can she be bothered. Edmund competently defends his life choices throughout, but we don’t really see his wrangling of the cards. And Henry plays three hands at once: his own; Lady B’s while explaining the rules to her; and Fanny Price’s, maneuvering her into a win against her brother despite her instincts.
But our narrator also tells us — analogy alert — that while Fanny is “mistress of the game in three minutes,” Henry has yet to “inspirit her play, sharpen her avarice, and harden her heart …” We see what you did there, narrator.
Meanwhile, Mary and Fanny are each following not only the game but the conversation about Edmund’s future, while pretending to take an interest in what’s on their actual cards as well as what’s in their figurative ones.
But two even more overt metaphorical moments happen before this game closes: First, Mary Crawford says, “If I lose the game, it shall not be from not striving for it.” And our narrator tells us of Mary: “The game was her’s, and only did not pay her for what she had given to secure it.”
And, second, when Henry warns William: “Your sister does not part with her queen. She is quite determined.” He then turns to Fanny and says (drumroll here): “The game will be yours …— it will certainly be yours.”
The dialogue of this scene portraying five dashing, smart young people maneuvering over a game of cards is a virtuosic display. And especially impressive are the exchanges showcasing Henry Crawford’s gamemanship with three sets of cards - “(Excuse me, your ladyship must not see your cards. There, let them just lie before you.”) — intercut with his detailed and lively Improvement plan for Thornton Lacey, setting out a detailed vision of what a gentleman’s tasteful house and grounds should be.
In this virtuosic display, Austen is so good at her job we might forget that we’re in a fiction. And that there is a young woman orchestrating these characters, and overseeing this game: What is she going to do with us?
In this virtuosic display, Austen is so good at her job we might forget that we’re in a fiction. And that there is a young woman orchestrating these characters, and overseeing this game: What is she going to do with us?
And of course it’s after the actual game of Speculation has broken up that the true figurative games commence. We have Fanny Price setting out to the parsonage for Mary Crawford’s advice about a chain to wear with William’s gift of the amber cross.1
Fanny Price is one careful player as she guards both her heart and her treasure and solicits advice from Mary, who kicks into action offering Fanny Price a selection of chains for Fanny’s prized gift of the cross. What ensues is a give-and-take gambit where Mary pushes a variety of choices toward Fanny, and Fanny observes and considers Mary’s motives, attempting to choose one that Mary least minds parting with. Fanny considers and makes her choice, only to find herself caught in one of Mary’s maneuvers when it’s revealed that the chain Fanny’s chosen is in fact a gift to Mary from Henry. The gift now obliges Fanny to remember Henry, Mary tells her slyly: “The sister is not to be in your mind without bringing the brother too.”
Mind games! Shakespearean wooing tricks! And this is after Fanny’s effusive thanks to her “friend,” where she says so warmly, “When I wear this necklace I shall always think of you … and feel how very kind you were.” Just when we were getting comfortable in this friendship! Not.
Moving along in the games, it appears that — while we’re not told this — this antic of Mary’s is the last Fanny falls for with her charming, harp-fingering friend. When Mary arrives at Mansfield Park later, she — more games! — attempts through Austen-style questioning to discover from Fanny the goings-on of Edmund while he’s away getting ordained. She speculates — word intended — on his interactions with the “Miss Owens” but Fanny Price just leaves Mary in the cold here, answering “stoutly” with calm brevity to Mary’s “alacrity.” Fanny is refusing to engage, this is her stance. The best players in Austen actually decline to play.
Fanny is refusing to engage, this is her stance. The best players in Austen actually decline to play.
But the journey of Fanny Price through the detours, the dealings, and the games in this maze of Mansfield continues — Who is she slaying on her way upward? Mansfield princesses Julia and Maria: Check. The oppositional sofa-surfing/busy-body energies of Mrs. Norris and Lady Bertram: Check. Mary Crawford’s gambits and tricks: Check. Henry Crawford (hesitates): TBD.
Because yes, another episode of this game has begun. We are in an Austenian face-off, friends. Henry has revealed his new object in his own little game — marrying Fanny Price — and he’s deploying a strategy that takes him right to the heart of this “Queen” of Mansfield. His campaign has begun in earnest, and we have been shown that he knows how to play.
Fanny Price is so far very competently holding her own. She’s answering the bids, the favors, the compliments, the appeals, the letters, with her own voice and her own answers. Gratitude when called for; resistance when necessary.
These two have met their match, finally, and are facing off as truly as any of our sparring lovers in Pride and Prejudice or Emma and with as much flair, and passion, and talent.
And, stay tuned! The games continue!
Your takes, readers! 🎤
Fanny Price is the Queen — Yes, Austen actually uses this word. This heroine has moved into the spotlight. She is “placed above so many elegant young women.” She is given a ball at this grand house in her honor — unlike her two cousins, no matter what Aunt Norris says. And Fanny Price on this upward trajectory has further to go! But first she will hit rock bottom again — this is coming next week. As we always say, we’re in this together. Take heart!
The ball from hell: And while Fanny Price shines at this ball, did you notice how much hard work this thing was? Again, it’s Jane Austen using actual words to convey something under the surface, while we’re supposedly having fun. Fanny Price worries — frets! — about the cross and the chain and about just everything; and even once this ball has begun, we meet with words like: “gravity,” “endure,” “much subdued,” “hard duty,” and “the toils of civility” — these are all just in the first two paragraphs describing the ball’s beginning. What do you make of this?!
And Fanny Price slays! Our heroine is — finally! reluctantly! — allowed by our narrator to have some moments of confidence. Fanny is happy and her “consciousness of looking well, made her look still better.” Thank you, dear narrator, for finally giving us this small triumph. Do we feel triumphant?
Taking all the credit from the sofa: But we know who to credit with all of this success — why, Lady Bertram of course, who has “sent Chapman to her” and is so proud of this that when anyone mentions Fanny Price’s shining triumph, “she could not get it out of her head.” LOL.
Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram simply do not have the manners to “do away” with the gravity of the first moments of arrival at the ball. Torture! Did you find these first moments of the ball cringey? Where is Tom Bertram when we need him?! And anyone who knows Jane Austen’s letters, knows that this author is not appreciating either of these two hosts. We know what to think of Lady Bertram. Perhaps the jury is out on Sir Thomas. Observe and decide, friends. But notice that Sir Thomas never brings cheer, joy, or comfort — and while this novel’s narrator may not be showing us her cards, Austen’s letters show us that warmth and cheerfulness are for her valuable as virtues.
Friends, Mr. Henry Crawford! He has fallen in love! He wants to see Fanny Price “very happy … happier than she has ever yet been herself, or ever seen any body else.” Oh my goodness, do we want this for her! Are we exhausted enough by this novel at this stage to be tempted by Henry Crawford?2
Belief, conviction, doubts — again, the hellish words our narrator uses to describe Fanny Price’s reaction to Henry Crawford’s now persistent, strong, and tangible declarations and offers. Is he sincere? Is he sincerely not to be trusted? Will Fanny Price’s strength and conviction actually improve him? Let us know!
Share all your thoughts!
Up next!
Keep going, readers! We’re doing spectacularly — and we have three more weeks to go of Mansfield Park! As we always say, feel free to go at your very own pace. We’ll be here for you!
For next week, on August 16th — we’re reading Chapters 1-6, Volume 3 , or Chapters 32-37. Next week’s discussion post be All About Fanny Price! This always sparks a lot of discussion in our comments - and there is really no consensus about this heroine among our brilliant readers and commenters here! You can weigh in.
In two weeks, on August 23rd — we’ll have our Read-Along Librarian Tabrizia Jones’s Read-Alikes for Mansfield Park.
Finally, for our last Mansfield Park week, on August 30th, we’ll weigh in with a celebration and our live-to-tape video discussion with our Readalong Guest hosts! Stay tuned!
The full schedule
Mansfield Park: Sunday, July 5 - Sunday, Aug. 30
Week 1: Kick-off - Sunday, July 5
Welcome, announcement, schedule!
Week 2: Chapters 1-6, Volume 1 - by Sunday, July 12
Week 3: Chapters 7-12, Volume 1 - by Sunday, July 19
Week 4: Chapters 13-18, Volume 1 - by Sunday, July 26
Guest post - Jane Austen Society of North America’s Renata Dennis!
Week 5: Chapters 1-6, Volume 2 | or Chapters 19-24 - by Sunday, August 2
Week 6: Chapters 7-13, Volume 2 | or Chapters 25-31 - by Sunday, August 9
Week 7: Chapter 1-6, Volume 3 | or Chapters 32-37 - by Sunday, August 16
Week 8: Chapters 7-12, Volume 3 | or Chapters 38-43 - by Sunday, August 23
The Read-Along Read-Alikes List for MP - from Librarian Tabrizia Jones
Week 9: Chapter 13-17, Volume 3 | or Chapters 44-48 - by Sunday, August 30
Celebration Video - We did it!
The amazing Readalong All-Stars:
We’re so fortunate that some of the most dynamic scholars, creators, authors, and Janeites have joined us for community discussion around the novels of Jane Austen. Here’s more information on our co-hosts and Readalong All-Stars:
Here’s how you can join, or invite a friend!
You only need two quick things to get yourself - or a friend - on the Read-Along:
1-Get the book - for Mansfield Park, I use as always the Norton Critical Edition, and this one is edited by the absolutely brilliant Claudia L. Johnson - and as always any copy from your library or an independent bookstore is just divine.
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Thank you!
You’re here! You’re reading, commenting, engaging, and making this reading community meaningful. Thank you for being here, for subscribing, and for supporting this discussion. And for those of you who can afford to power this project with a paid subscription, you especially help keep this going and keep it accessible to everyone. Thank you — you make us feel like we’re leading the ball!
And meanwhile, happiest of reads to you this week. May you be dealt the best of hands and may you have the most dynamic of coaches and may you play with exuberance when possible and vigilance when necessary, and ultimately may you slay your way past the problems and to the wins.
Whatever you do this week, stay well and stay in touch — see you next week, right here, to connect through story and Mansfield.
Yours, game-fully and affectionately,
Plain Jane
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Cool links and community
Game theory and Jane Austen:
Jane Austen, Game Theorist is a 2013 book by Michael Chwe, a UCLA economist Chwe who reads Austen through the lens of economics and game theory. And here’s a YouTube vid featuring Chwe with Austen and Mary Shelley scholar Anne Mellor sort of debating:
Special Guest Post over on the main channel of The Austen Connection:
This was fun! Substack and writer who writes the lovely newsletter and project, collaborated with us for this amazing discussion on the Spectrum of Sisters we find in Jane Austen’s stories, and what they say to us! Of course it’s already attacted a lively discussion in the Comments. Weigh in, and — Enjoy!
Connections and Discussions on Mansfield Park:
Here’s Austen creator Sarah Emsley’s blog with a roster of major Austen scholars on Mansfield Park — anyone who knows the world of Austen scholarship will recognize the names here, and with some wonderful discussion. Enjoy!
Is there there a possible Austen Connection between Mansfield Park and Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure? Shakespeare’s tragedy is very different —but somehow Henry Crawford’s utilization of Fanny Price’s brother William called this play to mind for me and also calls to mind Austen’s interest in, and experience with, sibling relationships and love stories and their overlap. Both stories also portray an extremely pious (too extreme?), nonconforming heroine up against the powers that be. You can see more of our discussions on Austen and Shakespeare here.
That’s all for this week - thank you for joining! If you enjoy the Austen Connection and the readalong, invite a friend!
In what might be the most overt connection between Jane Austen’s life and her novels, her own brother Charles Austen, a sailor, brought gifts to Jane and her sister, Cassandra - a topaz cross for each. The topaz crosses are held in the collection at Jane Austen’s House in England.
That even Austen’s sister, Cassandra Austen, was on Team Henry is referenced all over the place. However, I am having trouble tracing/confirming a creditable source - it’s likely coming from a niece via Cassandra, after Austen’s death, but if anyone has information on this or knows where this rumor comes from, please share!
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