by Jane Austen
38. Having bestowed such gallant attentions on her, it would have been callous and dishonorable to disavow them once she embraced them and returned them so strongly. Similar reasons end up compelling him to run away with her when she takes the initiative in that direction.
39. virtue: sexual chastity.
40. Jane Austen refers to a long-standing double standard in judging male and female sexual misbehavior. Its basic justification specifically in relation to marital infidelity, was that maternity was always known while paternity was not. Hence an adulterous wife could saddle her husband with a child who was not his own, with no way for him to know or prove the child’s illegitimacy. This possibility threatened many of the foundations of society: a husband’s commitment to marriage, children’s ability to be certain of their fathers, and a property owner’s ability to pass on his property and position to his true heirs. This made wifely infidelity far more heinous in its effect, and was seen to justify harsher punishments as well as sharper restrictions on women’s freedom to prevent their pursuing illicit relationships. Samuel Johnson expressed it this way: “Confusion of progeny constitutes the essence of the crime; and therefore a woman who breaks her marriage vow is much more criminal than a man who does it. A man, to be sure, is criminal in the sight of God; but he does not do his wife a very material injury, if he does not insult her; if, for instance, from mere wantonness of appetite, he steals privately to her chambermaid.”
Jane Austen’s criticism of the double standard represents one of the only overt pieces of social criticism in her novels. It is still notable that she calls only for lessening the difference in treatment between men and women, rather than eliminating it. Moreover, her call is for increasing punishment for men rather than relaxing it for women. In fact, virtually no one at the time called for relaxing a strict standard of female chastity. Even Mary Wollstonecraft, whose Vindication of the Rights of Women (1792) constitutes one of the first major statements of feminist principles, still asserts the need for women to be sexually pure; one of her arguments for improved education for women, her principal focus, is that making women more rational will enable them to better safeguard their virtue.
41. That is, a superior allotment of justice in the next world. The author does not presume to look forward to this because that would be to anticipate the inevitably mysterious workings of divine justice.
42. neighbourhood: proximity.
43. This refers to their stay in Bath, already under way. They have stayed away longer than planned, to avoid the Bertrams.
44. interest: connection.
45. succeeded to: was appointed to (in the wake of someone else).
46. answer: compensate for.
47. A stall is a position as a canon at a cathedral or collegiate church; canons are responsible for administering the institution. Westminster Abbey is one of the two such entities in London (the other being St. Paul’s Cathedral). Mrs. Grant earlier expressed a wish for her husband to be someday appointed dean of one of these (see this page), a dean being the head clergyman. Being a canon is not as good, but it is still a desirable position, and one that allows them to live in London. That its increase in income balances the increased cost of living in London, which was considerable, indicates the importance of the position.
48. Dr. Grant was earlier described by Tom as tending toward apoplexy, the term for a stroke or other sudden seizures.
49. Meaning dinners relating to the church, his institution. These were probably official banquets involving church dignities, and thus extensive heavy eating and drinking, which was thought to contribute to apoplexy.
50. representatives: heirs.
51. heir apparents: those who will inherit after the current holder dies. They are contrasted here with eldest sons who have already inherited and who can be dashing because they have acquired the full means to display their prominence (“dashing” then often meant fashionably showy). In contrast, heirs apparent can merely wait idly for their fortune to come; such young men would be given an allowance by the existing estate holder (usually their father) that enabled them to live comfortably, but on far less than the income they expect to eventually enjoy.
52. estimate: value, appreciate.
53. The author is having fun with one of her most frequent satirical targets, the idea of “unconquerable passions” or “unchanging sentiments.” She is also mocking Edmund’s certainty that he will never get over his romantic suffering or ever meet again a suitable replacement for Mary (see this page)—though it is a gentle mockery, derived from knowing how normal such sentiments are to those disappointed in love. In fact, by appealing to “every one…to fix their own” estimate of how long romantic recovery takes, she is relying on her readers’ likely acquaintance with the phenomenon of dejection and despair followed by eventual recuperation. All this gives a reason for Austen’s uncharacteristic vagueness about dates. There is also no need for her to be precise here, since the outcome will not vary according to how long it takes, and, unlike in the body of the novel, there are no concurrent events that need to be chronologically coordinated and reconciled with this one.
54. behind: remaining, still to come.
55. forestalled: anticipated.
56. agitated: discussed, raised for consideration.
57. The foiling of plans and decisions by subsequent events provides valuable lessons for those involved, and amusement for neighbors who can look on with detached curiosity and bemusement. Jane Austen exhibits this latter attitude on many occasions in her letters, as she comments on the foibles and failures and misadventures of those around her; she also does not exempt herself from this scrutiny.
58. liberality: generosity.
59. This means the children of the Price family. This is a more positive assessment of the Price siblings than was apparent during Fanny’s stay at Portsmouth, but it is possible that as the children reached maturity they adopted a responsible and helpful attitude toward one another.
60. countenance: support, favor.
61. He may be thinking of the contrast between the Price children’s cooperative spirit and most of his own children, who were almost exclusively concerned with themselves. Fanny, though growing up at Mansfield, represents another lesson in the benefits of hardship and not always getting one’s way.
62. Once appointed to the Mansfield living, Dr. Grant had the right to remain in it until he died; even after he received his appointment in London he retained this living and the income attached to it, and hired a curate to perform the duties (as he did while he was visiting Bath). But once Dr. Grant died, Sir Thomas was able to appoint Edmund as the next holder.
63. Meaning long enough for Fanny to be pregnant, and thus for them to know they soon will have another mouth to feed.
64. Edmund would retain the lesser living of Thornton Lacey, but hire a curate to do its duties.
Chronology
Jane Austen provides one exact date in Mansfield Park (Thursday, December 22), along with a number of specifics concerning times of year, intervals between events, and days of the week, and from these it is possible to develop a good outline of the chronology of the novel.
VOLUME I PAGE
“About thirty years ago” Maria Ward captivates Sir Thomas Bertram
This is around thirty years prior to the very end of the story, which is approximately two years after the end of the main action.
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Within the Next Year Maria Ward and Sir Thomas marry this page
Year Two (relative to first event) Tom Bertram born
This interval is never stated, but a year to a year and a half fits best with other events. The page reference, as for those of other births, is for when his age is stated; he is seventeen when Fanny arrives at Mansfield (see below).
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Year Three Edmund Bertram born
He is sixteen when Fanny arrives.
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Year Six Maria Bertram born
She is thir
teen when Fanny arrives.
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Years Six to Seven The eldest Miss Ward marries Mr. Norris
This was “half a dozen years” after the marriage of Maria Ward and Sir Thomas.
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Year Seven Julia Bertram born
She is twelve when Fanny arrives.
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Year Seven Frances Ward marries Mr. Price
It is later because Mrs. Norris is already married, but it could not be much afterward, since the eldest Price is only six years younger than Tom Bertram.
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Year Eight William Price born
He is ten when Mrs. Price writes to Sir Thomas.
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Year Nine Fanny Price born
She is two years younger than Julia (p. 28).
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Years Ten to Twelve John and Richard Price born
They are mentioned here as the next oldest, and their ages, never given, can be inferred.
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Year Thirteen Susan Price born
She is fourteen when Fanny visits (at eighteen).
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Years Fourteen to Fifteen Mary Price born
She is described as having been a little under five when Fanny left (having just turned ten).
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Year Sixteen Sam Price born
He is eleven when Fanny visits.
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Year Eighteen Tom Price born
He is nine when Fanny visits.
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Year Eighteen Mrs. Price writes to Sir Thomas for help
It is eleven years since her marriage.
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Year Nineteen Charles Price born
He is eight when Fanny visits.
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Year Nineteen Sir Thomas offers to adopt Fanny
This is “within a twelvemonth” of Mrs. Price’s letter.
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Year Nineteen Fanny comes to Mansfield Park this page
Years Nineteen to Twenty William goes to sea
This happens “soon after Fanny’s removal.”
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Year Twenty-Two Betsey Price born
She is “about five” when Fanny visits.
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Year Twenty-Two—? Mary Price dies
This is “a few years after” Fanny’s departure.
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Year Twenty-Four Mr. Norris dies
Fanny is “about fifteen.”
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Year Twenty-Four: Late Autumn The Grants arrive in Mansfield
This occurs soon after Mr. Norris’s death. It was “hardly…a year” until the next event (p. 64).
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Year Twenty-Five: Probably October Sir Thomas and Tom leave for Antigua
They expect to be gone “nearly a twelvemonth,” and to return in September (p. 72). Fanny is sixteen (p. 66).
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Year Twenty-Six: Winter Maria and Julia mix in society this page
Year Twenty-Six: March Fanny’s pony dies
It is in the spring, and she has no horse to ride during April and May.
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Year Twenty-Six: Summer Edmund returns, gives Fanny a horse
It is after May, but before the next event.
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Year Twenty-Six: Autumn Tom returns from Antigua this page
Year Twenty-Seven: Winter Maria becomes engaged to Mr. Rushworth this page
Year Twenty-Seven: Early July Beginning of main action of the novel; Mary and Henry Crawford arrive in Mansfield
Fanny is just eighteen. Early July can be derived from Henry’s departure “seven weeks” later, at the end of August (p. 222).
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Early to Mid-July Julia and Maria become interested in Henry
This was within a week of his arrival.
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Mid-July Tom leaves Mansfield Park
Six weeks pass until he returns at the end of August (p. 220).
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Mid- to Late July Discussion of Sotherton Court over dinner
Soon after Tom’s departure.
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Next Day Fanny and Edmund discuss Mary this page
Late July Edmund falling in love with Mary this page
Early August Mr. Rushworth issues invitations to Sotherton
This is two weeks after the dinner.
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Early to Mid-August Visit to Sotherton
This is less than a week from the invitation, for Mr. Rushworth asks whether “Wednesday would suit” (p. 146).
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Mid-August Letters arrive announcing Sir Thomas’s return
This occurs “soon afterwards” (referring to the previous event); “the middle of November was three months off.”
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End of August Tom returns to Mansfield Park this page
End of August/Beginning of September Henry Crawford leaves
He needs to be at his own estate during “the beginning of September.”
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Mid-September Henry Crawford returns
He comes “at the time appointed,” which was “a fortnight” (p. 220).
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Late September Mr. Yates’s arrival; Fanny’s first ball
Time is unspecified, but it does not seem long after Henry’s return.
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Late September Mr. Yates inspires the idea of doing a play
Soon after above, for Mr. Yates talks of little else, and the others are quickly inspired.
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Early October Rehearsals for the play
Mary later describes it as a week (p. 642).
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VOLUME II
Early to Mid-October Return of Sir Thomas
Tom speaks of “incessant rains” for many days since the 3rd (p. 334). See also timing of next event.
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Mid-October (Two Days Later) Departure of Henry Crawford
He returns at end of November (see below), after being gone “six weeks” (p. 418).
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Mid-October Departure of Mr. Yates
This was “Another day or two” after Henry Crawford’s departure.
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Late October Sir Thomas asks Maria if she wishes to cancel the engagement
There had been “three or four days after Henry Crawford’s leaving,” plus “another three or four days” (p. 372).
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Very Early November Mrs. Rushworth retires to Bath this page
Early to Mid-November Maria marries Mr. Rushworth
It was “before the middle of the…month.”
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Late November Fanny becomes intimate with Mary Crawford this page
Very Late November Fanny and Mary talk in the garden
It is still November (p. 390); Mary says it is “nearly five months” since her arrival, which was early July (p. 386).
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Next Day Fanny dines at the Grants’; Henry Crawford arrives this page, this page
A Day Later Henry announces plan to flirt with Fanny this page
Early December Letter from William Price announcing his return
This was “a few days” after the previous event.
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December 9 (probable) William arrives at Mansfield Park
He leaves on the 23rd, after having been there “a whole fortnight” (p. 512). It is also “scarcely ten days” since dinner at the Grants’.
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Early to Mid-December Large dinner party at the Grants’
Time is unspecified.
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Next Day Sir Thomas decides to hold a ball this page
Wednesday, December 21 Fanny consults Mary about jewelry for the ball
Date can be known fro
m its being the day before the ball.
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Thursday, December 22 Large ball at Mansfield Park
Described earlier as “the 22d” (p. 460) and as Thursday (p. 466).
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Friday, December 23 Departure of William, Henry, and Edmund this page
Sunday, January 1 Mary learns Edmund is staying away longer this page
Monday, January 2 Mary talks to Fanny about Edmund
Henry returns in the evening
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Tuesday, January 3 Henry tells Mary he intends to marry Fanny this page
Wednesday, January 4 Henry proposes this page
VOLUME III
Thursday, January 5 Sir Thomas speaks to Fanny about proposal this page
Friday, January 6 Henry tells Sir Thomas and Fanny he will persist despite her refusal this page
Saturday, January 7 Sir Thomas speaks to Henry again this page
Monday, January 9, or Tuesday, January 10 Edmund returns
He later says, regarding Mary’s departure (see below), he would have missed her if he had stayed away “five or six days more” (p. 636).
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Next Day Henry visits, reads from Shakespeare this page
Thursday, January 12 Edmund dines at the Grants
It was “the preceding day” before the next event.
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Friday, January 13 Edmund speaks to Fanny of Henry’s proposal
He says that tomorrow is Saturday (p. 636).
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Sunday, January 15 Mary speaks to Fanny
Henry says good-bye to Fanny
They leave the next day.
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Monday, January 16 Mary and Henry leave Mansfield
It was stated earlier to be Monday (p. 636).
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End of January William arrives at Mansfield Park
He has ten days’ leave; it is not certain whether days of departure and return are counted.
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Monday, February 6 Fanny and William leave for Portsmouth
It is three weeks since the Crawfords’ departure; she later says they left on Monday (p. 738).
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Henry travels to his estate in Norfolk
He traveled the same time as Fanny (could be next day instead, since his is a one-day trip).
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Tuesday, February 7 Fanny and William arrive in Portsmouth this page