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Christen Hurley

Professor Kanyusik

ENG 490-01

24 September 2021

Interiority and Growth within Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park

Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park is not her most-read novel. However, it has sparked

conversation among scholars because of the main character: Fanny Price. Some critics claim that

she is not a strong character. Fanny, to them, hides in the background and allows her family to

dominate her life. Austen does indeed display her as less demanding; this is because Fanny

symbolizes the individual experience. At nine years old, Fanny’s family relocated her to her

Aunt and Uncle Bertram’s estate due to her own family being poor. Mrs. Norris, Fanny’s Aunt,

took into consideration the money and time it takes to raise a young woman, stating, “What if

they were among them to undertake the care of her eldest daughter, a girl now nine years old, of

an age to require more attention than her poor mother could possibly give?” (Austen, 8). Fanny

was then removed from her home and family, regardless of her wishes. She did not have much

control over her physical life, but she consistently kept control over her mental space.

Ms. Price is portrayed as one who keeps to herself, follows the rules, and is highly

observant. These characteristics all contribute to her individuality. Her family urges change

because she does not meet the social standards of a young woman. Ms. Price is very self-aware;

she understands that she does not meet the status quo, but her desire to change is not present. The

interiority that Fanny experiences impacts her growth far more than her family’s expectations.

The development of Fanny relies on her internal journey, not the instructions given by society

that her family follows.

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There is evidence to support Fanny’s reliance on direction from her family. To fully

understand the interiority of Ms. Price, it is necessary to understand why critics focus on the

exterior issues at hand. Paula Cohen argues that many of Austen’s other novels have powerful

characters that resist their family history. However, it is not prevalent in Mansfield Park. Cohen

writes,

Mansfield Park is Jane Austen’s one novel in which the life of the family takes

precedence over the life of the individual. Other Austen heroines spring into relief against

the background of their families, but Fanny Price recedes. She shrinks, clings, and hides

herself. Her “favorite indulgence” is of “being suffered to sit in silent and unattended to”

(Cohen, 669).

This critic sees Fanny Price as an Austen heroine that shrinks at her family’s expense. There are

instances in the novel where this occurs. Still, by looking at her interior rather than the exterior, it

is understood that she is not narrowing at her family’s expense. From the surface, Fanny is

withdrawn and under control. Anna Despotopoulou argues that there is more than what is

surface-level. She sees Fanny as a character that defines herself outside of expectations. She

writes, “Fanny is one of few women in Austen who define themselves independently of male

expectancy and authority” (Despotopoulou, 570). If Fanny’s family had a strong sense of control

over her life, male expectancy and authority would be unavoidable. Her lack of interest in

meeting the male gaze is critical when analyzing the theme of interiority. If it were up to her

family, she would be under the strict guidance of men. The novel indeed focuses heavily on the

concept of being a proper lady for a man. Other female characters in Mansfield Park show the

importance of courtship, such as cousins Maria and Julia. Both young women rely on their

attractiveness to succeed. Fanny, on the other hand, does not compromise who she is to be
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viewed as “the perfect woman.” She does not conform because she has no interest in doing so;

her internal thoughts contribute to whom she is rather than the world surrounding her. The

concept of the inner-self was extensively explored during the Romantic Era when Austen wrote

Mansfield Park.

Jane Austen wrote Mansfield Park during the Romantic Period, and the novel provides

many examples of Romantic ideals. Alan Richardson describes Romantic Era literature as having

“the revaluation of feeling, instinct, and intuition; the active mind; developmental models of

subject formation; the unconscious…”. The inner workings of an individual is heavily reliant on

these concepts. Mansfield Park, being a Romantic Era novel, incorporates intuition, feeling, the

unconscious, and the active mind through Fanny Price. Choosing one character to capture the

individual experience was not a coincidence. By using Romantic concepts within a specific

character, Austen was able to contrast the tendencies of other characters, thus capturing the

interiority of Fanny. Stephanie Forward further elaborates on what it meant to be a writer during

the Romantic period. She writes, “The Romantics renounced the rationalism and order associated

with the preceding Enlightenment era, stressing the importance of expressing authentic personal

feelings” (Forward).

Though not widely popular when she wrote it, Mansfield Park still implements classic

ideals of the Romantics. These themes include the individual and the importance of inner thought

and personal feelings. Coming out of the Enlightenment period, which focused on social order,

people were ready to understand themselves. Rather than applying focus to the order of society,

Romantic Era individuals felt as though the answers being searched for were not to be found out

in the world but within oneself.

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Even though Austen wrote the story in the Romantic Era, it increased in popularity

during the Victorian Era due to other themes relating better to the time. These themes include

morality, realism, and religion. Barbara Collins writes that Mansfield Park has “intimations of

social behavior, along with a longer passing of time,” which are classic components of Victorian

Era novels. The social behaviors within the book implicate that everyone must follow their role--

there is no room for disorder in the structure. There is also a much longer passing of time in

Mansfield Park. The story begins when Fanny is only nine and ends by the time she is eighteen.

Many scholars have studied these novel qualities for the same reason. Many would describe Jane

Austen as an “early Victorian novelist” for her work in Mansfield Park. Even with the novel

taking off in popularity during the Victorian Era, it still has prominent Romantic Era

components.

Austen’s Mansfield Park is primarily interpreted as a bildungsroman. This type of story

follows a character’s psychological and moral growth from childhood to adulthood. Fanny Price

is nine-years-old when the novel begins and eighteen by the time it ends. It is safe to say her

moral and psychological growth is significant during these years. Austen uses inner thought,

morals, and social and family pressures to formulate the inner growth of her main character.

Mansfield Park, a Romantic Era novel, incorporates many themes that relate to the evolution of

one’s interiority.

Along with being a bildungsroman, it is also interpreted as realistic fiction. Austen wrote

the text in 1813, and during this time, individuals were transfixed on their inner-workings.

Mansfield Park captures the real push and pull people during this time felt because of their desire

to focus on their minds and society’s pressure to breed success. Jane Austen’s main character
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faces the same struggle. Even with an individual desiring seclusion, the pressure that society

holds will always need to be faced.

The aspect of society and culture with Mansfield Park is essential to understand the

impact of interiority. Social order was crucial during the 1800s. The people with the most power

had money, and they were almost always white men. If an individual was not part of this group,

they had no control. The domination of power men had is one reason that marriage was

necessary, especially for women. During this time, courtship was a societal move. If a woman

wanted to be successful and taken care of, they would have to marry a wealthy man. The only

way to temporarily avoid marriage was to be born into a wealthy family; most women did not

have this privilege and would end up in loveless marriages. The imbalance in power also resulted

in women prioritizing the male gaze rather than their own. Barbara Welter further analyses what

she calls “True Womanhood,” she writes,

The attributes of True Womanhood, by which a woman judged herself and was judged by

her husband, her neighbors and society could be divided into four cardinal virtues-- piety,

purity, submissiveness and domesticity. Put them all together and they spelled mother,

daughter, sister, wife-- woman. Without them, no matter whether there was fame,

achievement or wealth, all was ashes. With them she was promised happiness and power

(Welter, 152).

Women competed with one another because of the judgment they faced from men and other

women. Without following male expectations, a woman could never be successful; only with a

man could she hold any means of power and success. Women could not do much on their own
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and were expected to be caretakers of the home. So, for most young women, they would either

stay living at home or marry early.

Mansfield Park has a clear focus on the heroine, Fanny Price. The novel is written from a

young woman’s perspective, yet another characteristic that sheds light on the impact of

interiority. Kathryn Sutherland supports the idea that the feminine role of the main character

plays a crucial role in the novel. She writes,

The effect is to reformulate what was in danger of appearing historical—the natural

history of the family, the personal history of a woman’s own life told by herself—and to

show by enactment of the real interpretation of so-called social and political narratives

and of literary and historical representations (Sutherland, pg. 414).

The novel being based on the perspective of a young female in the early 1800s is important

because men traditionally tell history. The female perspective is entirely different from the male

perspective due to the lack of exposure women had compared to their male counterparts.

The Interior Values of Courtship

Fanny’s thoughts impact every aspect of her life, including courtship. Her family desires

her to grow into a proper woman in order for her to marry a successful man. They consistently

offer her advice, and her female relatives boast of their womanhood. The women’s pride comes

from their beauty and the attention they attract from men. A description of Maria further

demonstrates this. Austen writes, “Maria was indeed the pride and delight of them all-- perfectly

faultless-- an angel; and of course, so surrounded by admirers, must be difficult in her choice…”

(Austen, 73). Fanny is surrounded by women that care more about any man’s opinion above
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their own. The description of physical standards does not end with the women that meet beauty

standards. Towards the beginning of the novel, at only ten-years-old, Fanny’s physical traits are

described. Austen writes,

Fanny Price at this time was just ten years old, and though there might not be much in her

appearance to captivate, there was, at least, nothing to disgust her relations. She was

small for her age, with no glow of complexion, nor any other striking beauty; exceedingly

timid and shy, and shrinking from notice; but her air, though awkward, was not vulgar,

her countenance was pretty (Austen, 20).

She is described as quite dull compared to her cousin. Her looks affect her throughout the novel,

but this does not bother her. Fanny would prefer to not be looked at, and not because she is self-

conscious. Most of the comments made about women throughout the novel have little to do with

their personalities unless it comes from Fanny. Her observant behavior comes from this lack of

interest in conventional looks and being “lady-like.” Even with everyone around her holding the

same beliefs, Fanny’s interiority is superior to any external disruptions.

Fanny is not nearly as outspoken as most of her family. Some see this as a weakness, but

by looking further into Fanny’s mind and less at her family’s general advice, it is evident that she

determines her own fate. Her morals always win when she has to choose between expectations

and what she feels is right; this can be seen through her interactions with the opposite sex.

Despotopoulou writes about how Fanny deflects the male gaze, denying the expectations of her

family.

While not wielding any visible power in the household, she does, however, impose on the

reader her gaze, which encompasses views, tastes, morality, and emotions. She
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powerfully withstands the male gaze of Sir Thomas, Henry Crawford, and even Edmund

by consistently avoiding being looked at, a choice that renders her free of male

influence…. Fanny’s world is much more stable than that of the men, and with this

heroine Austen seems to be presenting an alternative version to the male-defined woman

of her time (Despotopoulou, pg. 571).

This critic argues that even though it seems as though Fanny does not have any power in the

house, she does have power over herself. She might not have direct control, but she does in the

sense that she can be perceived as she wishes. She does not define herself with men as the other

women in the novel tend to do. This can be seen when Henry Crawford turns his attention to

Fanny. Henry, not content with the lack of attention that he was receiving from Fanny, speaks to

his sister about the circumstances:

I never was so long in company with a girl in my life, trying to entertain her, and

succeed so ill! Never met with a girl who looked so grave on me! I must try to get the

better of this. Her looks say, ‘I will not like you, I am determined not to like you’; and I

say she shall (Austen, 450).

Henry Crawford is a man of great wealth and even owns an estate in Norfolk. Any young woman

in Fanny’s position would more than likely accept Mr. Crawford’s advances. Instead, she is

unsure of what she wants. She takes into consideration how she feels rather than what her family

and society tell her to do. While making her decision, she does not draw attention to herself, as

other women in the novel would feel inclined to do so. Every other woman in the novel does the

exact opposite as Fanny and tries their best to gain male attention for marriage, wealth, and

power. With this being the case, the concept of interiority can be expanded on.
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Fanny’s internal struggles with courtship can be further analyzed when considering her

relationship with Edmund. Throughout the novel, Fanny and Edmund are the closest. He admires

her morality and personality; she admires his kindness and care. Nevertheless, she still questions

if she would like a relationship with him, but not because of what most women would question it

over. Edmund would not be nearly as rich and successful as Henry. For most women in the

novel, this would be enough to forget about Edmund and begin a successful relationship with

Henry. Fanny, on the other hand, values her thoughts and emotions much more than social

constructs and persuasion from her family. William H. Magee further explores the courtship plot

between the two in greater detail. He writes,

Austen modified the convention by introducing some sense of real choice for both

Edmund and Fanny. Like many a critic Edmund prefers Mary to Fanny as a woman, but

not as a moralist or minister’s wife-to-be. Fanny feels herself inflexibly opposed to Henry

Crawford, but Jane Austen assures us that she is not set so in her ways as she believes

(Magee, pg. 202).

The one male character that is closest to Fanny expresses his connection to his interior desires.

He does this by reflecting on his values (morality) and society’s expectations (womanhood). This

is no coincidence. Fanny simply questioning courtship with Henry Crawford because of her

feelings towards Edmund displays how interiority affects her decision-making. Wealth always

came before love because women were reliant on men for money. This should have made her

decision a simple one, but her beliefs did not match social standards. By analyzing her

conversation with Edmund, it can be understood that her values exceed societal expectations.

Austen writes, “‘We are so totally unalike,’ said Fanny, avoiding a direct answer, ‘we are so

very, very different in all our inclinations and ways, that I consider it as quite impossible we
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should ever be tolerably happy together, even if I could like him... ’” (Austen, 682). Fanny

values romantic love and personality far more than wealth and power. She has already expressed

that she would not mind being wealthy; she simply wants a genuine connection with someone.

Her connection with Edmund is apparent through their conversations. Both characters know that

this connection is there but refuse to acknowledge it for different reasons. Edmund is more

connected to the expectations from the family than Fanny is, and she respects his journey. Had

Fanny been more susceptible to her family’s expectations, she would have ended up with Henry

Crawford instead of Edmund. Her interior thoughts, values, and morals denied her the ability to

marry for any reason other than love.

Isolation and the Individual

The concept of isolation is essential when analyzing the priority of the individual in

Mansfield Park. Fanny, being an outsider in the home of her Aunt and Uncle, finds herself either

alone or feeling alone for the majority of the novel. Geoffrey Gorer comments on the story’s

plot, which correlates to the feelings of loneliness that Fanny portrayed throughout the novel. He

writes, “In Mansfield Park the heroine has no sisters whom she loves. She has two sister-

substitutes, whom she hates, and a real sister whom she meets late in life and likes temporarily”

(Gorer, 203). By observing Fanny’s relationships with other women, the aspect of loneliness

becomes more apparent. Most of the women she interacts with treat her poorly, including her

aunt and cousins. A conversation that Fanny has with Mrs. Norris will confirm this. Austen

writes,

‘This nonsense and folly of people’s stepping out of their rank and trying to appear above

themselves, makes me think it right to give you a hint, Fanny, now that you are going into
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the company without any of us; and I do beseech and entreat you not to be putting

yourself forward, and talking and giving your opinion as if you were one of your

cousins-- as if you were dear Mrs. Rushworth or Julia. That will never do, believe me.

Remember, wherever you are, you must be the lowest and last; and though Miss

Crawford is in a manner at home at the Parsonage, you are not to be taking place of her”

(Austen, 431-432).

This was another reminder to Fanny that she will never be one of them no matter how long she

lives with her Aunt and Uncle. She is always expected to act as though she is below everyone

because, by social standards, she was. The sense of isolation that she felt was increased because

even though she was being invited out without her family, she had restrictions. Conversations

like this would only reinforce Fanny’s beliefs because the only way she could be herself was

within her mind. Just because she is obedient towards these demands does not mean that her

family’s opinions are taking precedence over her own. The way the women in her family treat

her proves that there is no proper way to be a woman. Fanny believes in kindness and gratitude,

which she expresses no matter the circumstance. She also seems to prefer not being the center of

attention.

Allen Dunn further establishes this point. He writes, “She is characterized by a certain

passivity, by a resistance to change, movement, and action, and she seems most herself when she

is not the center of attention” (Dunn, 488). Fanny is most herself as a character when she is left

alone with her inner thoughts because she prefers to be the observer. She already feels she is a

spectacle because she is not truly a member of the direct family. So, she tries to understand the

world around her by observing rather than partaking. On page 197, Fanny is left to herself, and

the reader is given a chance to see her genuine reactions once left alone. Austen writes,
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Fanny was again left to her solitude, and with no increase of pleasant feelings, for she

was sorry for almost all that she had seen and heard, astonished at Miss Bertram, and

angry with Mr. Crawford. By taking a circuitous route, and, as it appeared to her, very

unreasonable direction to the knoll, they were soon beyond her eye; and for some minutes

longer she remained without sight or sound of any companion (Austen, 197).

Ms. Price’s alone time allowed her to reflect on the people she was supposed to look up to, the

people that are supposed to be the epitome of success. By recognizing that the people that have

fulfilled their societal duties might not be the best, Fanny understands at an early age that success

is not everything. This understanding that she develops gives her a concrete idea of whom she

would like to be. Growing up in her wealthy family’s estate showed her what people turn into

when they follow these rules rather than what they care about.

Society and Inner-self

Mansfield Park elaborates on the importance of culture and society, which further

highlights the inward expression of Fanny Price. By taking a look at other characters, the impact

of these social expectations is apparent. Fanny is not affected by social and family pressures as

much as others; this can be understood through other characters’ experiences. Louise Flavin

discusses a situation with Maria and Henry which features a significant social standard. She

writes,

Presenting Maria’s perceptual and conceptual viewpoints allows us to see the effect of

Henry’s gallantry on her. A week’s silence confirms her worst fears. Maria’s hopes have

been shattered; the shifting viewpoint registers the effect on her mind, showing the

pathetic interest Henry Crawford’s ‘selfish vanity had raised’ (Flavin, pg. 142).
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Maria’s attraction to Henry Crawford in the first place is a problem in itself. She was engaged to

Mr. Rushworth but began to take action towards her attraction to Henry. Her thoughts became

consumed by him, even knowing what she was doing was wrong. It became apparent to

everyone that she had feelings for Henry, which was morally and socially unacceptable. Sir

Thomas noticed behaviors that led him to believe Maria was not in love with Mr. Rushworth on

page 293, Austen writes,

Had Sir Thomas applied to his daughter within the first three or four days after Henry

Crawford’s leaving Mansfield, before her feelings were at all tranquillised, before she

had given up every hope of him, or absolutely resolved on enduring his rival, her answer

might have been different (Austen, 393).

Only when Henry made it clear that they would not be together did she settle for Mr. Rushworth.

Her father noticed that she did not have genuine feelings for Mr. Rushworth, but she denied the

accusation. She does this because society had led her to believe that being in a loveless marriage

would be better than being in no marriage at all. Maria had lived with Sir Thomas her entire life,

unlike Fanny. She is used to living up to her family’s standards which directly correlate to social

standards. Fanny, on the other hand, had nine years that she lived outside of the Bertram estate,

giving her a different perspective on certain expectations.

Since Fanny is not originally from Mansfield, her role in the home was much different

from others. Her surroundings also involve pressure from the family. Their influence on Fanny is

expressed distinctively from the rest of the family. Where for others, it looked like guidance; for

her, it looked like criticism. This is because the Bertram’s take wealth in high regard, whether

she is family or not. Since she came from a poor home, their critiques of her were unwarranted at
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times. Her treatment in the home is similar to behaviors a servant would exhibit. Ruth G Garcia

makes a statement regarding this behavior. She writes, “Because she is both family, and inhabits

a servant-like role, Fanny’s trajectory in the novel challenges, but also, paradoxically supports a

traditional social hierarchy” (Garcia). Fanny’s obedience throughout the novel comes off as

servitude. She often runs errands for them, such as on page 400, “Fanny, having been sent into

the village on some errand by her aunt Norris, was overtaken by a heavy shower close to the

Parsonage…” (Austen, 400). This seems to be one of the novel areas where she allows her

family to take precedence over herself, but the opposite is true.

Ms. Price is grateful for her family’s opportunity, but she still sets boundaries for herself.

The “traditional social hierarchy” that Garcia refers to is present within the family because of the

circumstances surrounding Fanny being there. Fanny, in her mind, is not lesser than her family

because she values different things than them. Her values are accurately depicted in a

conversation between her and Edmund. Austen writes,

‘Your degree of respect for honesty, rich or poor, is precisely what I have no manner of

concern with. I do not mean to be poor. Poverty is exactly what I have determined

against. Honesty, in the something between, in the middle state or worldly circumstances,

is all that I am anxious for your not looking down on” (Austen, 417).

Fanny values the pure characteristics within individuals, such as honesty. When she is speaking

to Edmund, he claims that he would not respect a poor honest person but would respect an honest

rich person. Fanny, on the other hand, is much more concerned that wealth and honesty are being

talked about when they are different matters. She feels as though Edmund does not look down on

dishonesty and focuses on wealth instead. Her perspective on wealth is interesting because she
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states that she is determined not to be in poverty, but other than that, she does not mind. Fanny

does not care about money nearly as much as the rest of her family. Her thoughts on these crucial

social constructs prove to differ from most people in the novel. This is why Fanny’s internal

experiences impact her more than the pressure her family places on her. Her family feels a sense

of great importance in living up to society’s standards. However, Fanny interprets life through

her morals and values.

During the 1800s, women’s choices were made in order for them to be taken care of.

They were expected to find a man that could take care of them financially because women were

not to work. Their primary jobs were staying home and taking care of the home and kids.

Women that were born into poor families had a much harder time than other women getting into

a financially stable situation. Fanny Price had moved to Mansfield because her Aunt and Uncle

felt they could give her opportunities that her family could not. Being from a poor home, she was

not used to the conditions she was placed under. While the Bertrams were trying to turn Fanny

into a proper young lady, she had plans of her own. Ms. Price did not meet social standards, but

that was her intention. She was pressured to see marriage as a social move, but kept her values as

a priority. She wanted to marry someone because she loved them and had common interests, not

because she would be financially secure. She rejected wealthy Henry Crawford because she did

not share the same values as him, and she was not interested in him. She stays out of the

spotlight because she is more comfortable observing her surroundings. The experiences she has

with life are based on how she reflects on any given situation. The isolation she faces contributes

to her interior motives. Since she has no one to look up to properly, she finds the faults in others

to give her a sense of whom she wants to be. The society that she is forced to be a part of does

not match up with the person she envisions. The way the people that surround her interact with
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the environment differs from her. They value wealth and power. Fanny values the goodness in

people and does not necessarily care much about the expectations of society. Through all of the

pressure Fanny faced from her family to conform, she followed her internal values and

expectations. The interiority that Fanny experiences impacts her development much more than

any pressure her family placed her under. The development of Fanny relies on her internal

journey, not the instructions given by society that her family follows.
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Works Cited

Austen, Jane. “Mansfield Park.” Apple Books, Public Domain, 1 January

1814,https://books.apple.com/book/id395535313

Cohen, Paula Marantz. “Stabilizing the Family System at Mansfield Park.” ELH, vol. 54, no.3,

John Hopkins University Press, 1987, pp. 669-93, https://doi.org/10.2307/2873226.

Collins, Barbara Bail. “Jane Austen’s Victorian Novel.” Nineteenth-Century Fiction, vol. 4, no.

3, University of California Press, 1949, pp. 175–85, https://doi.org/10.2307/3044194.

Despotopoulou, Anna. “Fanny’s Gaze and the Construction of Feminine Space in ‘Mansfield

Park.’” The Modern Language Review, vol. 99, no. 3, Modern Humanities Research

Association, 2004, pp. 569–83, https://doi.org/10.2307/3738987.

Dunn, Allen. “The Ethics of ‘Mansfield Park’: MacIntyre, Said, and Social Context.” Soundings:

An Interdisciplinary Journal, vol. 78, no. 3/4, Penn State University Press, 1995, pp.

483–500, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41178718.

Flavin, Louise. “‘Mansfield Park’: Free Indirect Discourse and the Psychological Novel.”

Studies in the Novel, vol. 19, no. 2, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1987, pp. 137–59,

http://www.jstor.org/stable/29532485.

Forward, Stephanie. “The Romantics.” The British Library, The British Library, 18 Feb. 2014,

www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/the-romantics.

Garcia, Ruth G. “Fanny’s Place in the Family: Useful Service and the Social Order in Mansfield

Park.” Lit: Literature Interpretation Theory, vol. 31, no. 4, 2020, pp. 328–344.
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EBSCOhost,

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/citedby/10.1080/10436928.2020.1823183?

scroll=top&needAccess=true

Gorer, Geoffrey. “The Myth in Jane Austen.” American Imago, vol. 2, no. 3, The Johns Hopkins

University Press, 1941, pp. 197–204, http://www.jstor.org/stable/26300891.

Magee, William H. “Instrument of Growth: The Courtship and Marriage Plot in Jane Austen’s

Novels.” The Journal of Narrative Technique, vol. 17, no. 2, Department of English

Language and Literature, Eastern Michigan University, 1987, pp. 198–208,

http://www.jstor.org/stable/30225182.

Richardson, Alan. “British Romanticism and the Science of the Mind.” Cambridge University

Press, 2005. https://books.google.com/books?

hl=en&lr=&id=RgXo1E6tWxAC&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=romanticism+and+jane+austen

&ots=6sic5RpaCX&sig=k0K9tAGrMVGclnOgtx3MVtjnW6w#v=onepage&q=romantici

sm%20and%20jane%20austen&f=false.

Sutherland, Kathryn. “Jane Eyre’s Literary History: The Case for Mansfield Park.” ELH, vol. 59,

no. 2, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1992, pp. 409–40,

https://doi.org/10.2307/2873349.

Welter, Barbara. “The Cult of True Womanhood: 1820-1860.” American Quarterly, vol. 18, no.

2, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1966, pp. 151–74, https://doi.org/10.2307/2711179.

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Reflection

The Capstone process has been one that has pushed me, but also one that has

given me numerous tools to take with me after graduation. Before beginning the class, I had time

to look back on the numerous essays that I have written during my time at Loras College. When

going through my academic work, I had realized how many topics I have written about since my

freshman year, the things I would have not known about had I not majored in English. Once I

had come to the conclusion of what my paper would be over during my search, I felt ready, but

unsure of what was to come. As previously mentioned, I have written various papers over the

course of the last three years, but none would be comparable to the amount of preparation,

writing, and patience that came with the Capstone essay. I had to rework the way I would write

traditional papers, and be gracious towards myself when my thoughts were not translating

properly onto the page.

By essentially becoming an expert on the overarching idea of the individual self in Jane

Austen’s Mansfield Park, I found that I would have to do a lot of research, a lot of reading things

that I have already read, and how to find my voice—the way I wanted to display my perspective.

The research and rereading came very natural to me. With everything that we do, some things

become almost like second nature. Preparing to write an essay, no matter the length, had become

that second nature to me. I dived right into Mansfield Park looking for things that I might have

missed my first or second time reading it, but of course this would only be one of the many times

I would go back to look at the text. The thing about reading a work several times is that you

begin to realize all of the things you missed the first time around, such as symbolism, a

character’s actions or words, a piece of the background, just about anything. This is one of the

things I have always loved about writing essays.

 Hurley 20

Though finding new things within Mansfield Park helped me greatly, there would be

times that my thoughts would not translate well onto the page. I have always struggled with

perfectionism within my essays. I prefer for things to be as precise and perfect as they can get

within each draft. The Capstone process helped me get over this issue. Very early on, we

discussed the idea that a draft is never going to be perfect, especially in the eyes of the person

that is writing. I felt relieved to hear that other people also had this issue, and even more relieved

to understand that the solution to the problem is quite simple—I just had to get something written

down! By overanalyzing what I was going to write, I continued to dig myself into a deeper hole.

I would get stuck in a loop of writing and deleting, and deleting and writing, but by just getting

my thoughts down and going to correctly them later, I finally get over my perfectionist

tendencies.

Meeting with my first and second readers really began to build on my strengths as a

writer. I have issues with my confidence when it comes to writing and I usually do not like my

essays being reviewed and critiqued, but each meeting I left feeling optimistic about the progress

of my paper. My first draft, I needed to narrow the focus on my topic. A lot of my ideas were

very broad and Dr. VanLaningham helped me work through this problem. After narrowing my

focus, for my second draft, I needed to connect my topics together. Some of my ideas were not

translating the way that I intended to, but by going back and adding proper transitional sentences,

I fixed that problem. For my final draft, I needed to add my primary text quotes. I summarized a

lot of the events in the book, but after going through the essay again, and adding my missing

primary source, the essay’s ideas came together well. Without my draft meetings, I would have

struggled with various parts of the capstone process.

 Hurley 21

The Capstone writing process gave me many challenges and pushed me to become an

expert on my chosen topic. The tools that we received from the class as well as each other will be

taken with me during future academic work, as well as throughout my future teaching career. I

have been able to be more patient and thorough with my work because of the extended amount

of time we had to work on this essay. I have learned to be gracious with myself during a process

such as this one, because of the challenges that I overcame when I felt as though I was stuck.

This process has given me life-changing skills that I will carry with me far beyond graduation.