Compare and contrast between Elizabeth Bennet of pride and the prejudice and fanny price of Mansfield Park

Ostentatious Heroines : A Comparison of Elizabeth Bennet of Pride and Prejudice and Fanny Price of Mansfield Park

Fanny Price is one of the least-liked Jane Austen heroines . Elizabeth Bennet , on the other hand , is one of the most of these heroines . Perhaps almost every reader of Austens ' novels would wish to be Elizabeth Bennet but not Fanny Price . Their personalities are almost completely opposite While Elizabeth Bennet is witty , vivacious , and opinionated , Fanny Price is timid , silent and reserved . Still , many readers see parallels in the stories of both these characters especially

, in terms of the developing relationships : Henry Crawford pursues Fanny Price in the same way that Mr . Darcy pursues Elizabeth Bennet . Given those , the purpose of this is to argue that Elizabeth Bennet and Fanny Price are equally likable , the other triumphing where the other does not

It is often thought by many that Elizabeth Bennet is Jane Austen 's cleverest heroine . She appeals to modern readers because of her individuality . She rebels against her age 's notion of an accomplished woman ' who , as Ms . Bingley lists

must have a thorough knowledge of music , singing , drawing , dancing , and the modern languages , to deserve the word and besides all this , she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking , the tone of her voice , her address and expressions [ .] (29

She remains independent although she does not cross the limits of propriety unlike her three silly sisters . She shows good sense . Her father respects her for it and acknowledges this in the occasion of Lydia 's elopement : Lizzy , I bear you no ill-will for being justified in your advice to me last May , which considering the event , shews some greatness of mind (227 . She thrives in spite of the adversity of having no fortune or connections

But even with all these accomplishments , she is not without fault . She immediately becomes prejudiced against Mr . Darcy when she overhears him saying to Mr . Bingley : She is tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt me and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men (7-8 . That is because she is proud of her beauty and accomplishments . Through that statement , he has hurt her vanity . As a result , she easily believes Wickham 's story because there was truth in his looks (65 . Mr . Darcy notices this early on at the Netherfield Ball when she comments

[ .] I have always seen a similarity in the turn of our minds . - We each of an unsocial taciturn disposition , unwilling to speak unless we expect to say something that will amaze the whole room , and be handed down to the posterity with all the yclat of a proverb

This is no very striking resemblance of your own character , I am sure [ .] How near may it be to mine , I cannot pretend to say . - You think it a faithful portrait undoubtedly (69-70

But after she reads Darcy 's letter , she realizes her error

How despicably have I acted ! [ .] I , who have prided myself on my discernment ! - I , who have valued myself on my abilities ! who have often disdained the generous candour of my sister , and gratified my vanity , in useless or blameable distrust . - How humiliating is this discovery [ .]But vanity , not love , has been my folly . [ .]Till this moment , I never knew myself (159

Her change after this is noticeable , which can be contrasted to Henry Crawford and Fanny Price 's relationship where no change happens

Mr . Darcy claims that he loved her for liveliness of mind (291 . It is true enough since most readers also love her because of it . It is through her liveliness of mind that she observes and critiques others for she had a lively , playful disposition which delighted in anything ridiculous (8 . She has the ability to verbally spar with Mr . Darcy examining issues such as pride which is one of the novel 's central themes

"Yes , vanity is a weakness indeed . But pride - where there is a real superiority of mind , pride will be always under good regulation

Elizabeth turned away to hide a smile . [ .] "I am perfectly convinced by it that Mr . Darcy has no defect . He owns it himself without disguise

"No [ .] I have made no such pretension . I have faults enough , but they are not , I hope , of understanding . My temper I dare not vouch for , [ .] I cannot forget the follies and vices of others so soon as I ought , nor their offences against myself . My feelings are not puffed about with every attempt to move them . My temper would perhaps be called resentful - My good opinion once lost is lost for ever

"That is a failing indeed " - cried Elizabeth "Implacable resentment is a shade in a character . But you have chosen your fault well . - I really cannot laugh at it you are safe from me

"There is , I believe , in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil , a natural defect , which not even the best education can overcome "And your defect is a propensity to hate every body

"And yours " he replied with a smile "is wilfully to misunderstand them (43

Her criticism hit truly him at the heart , as at times , he does her Sometimes though , she is too severe in her criticism especially of Mr Darcy

From the very beginning , from the first moment I may almost say , of my acquaintance with you , your manners , impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance , your conceit , and your selfish disdain of the feelings of others , [ .] I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry (148

Mr . Darcy does change because of it . It is because of this that he comes to love her more deeply . She is also frank and assertive with Lady Catherine when the latter insults her

You can now have nothing further to say [ .] You have insulted me in every possible method I must beg to return to the house

[ .] You are resolved to have him

I have said no such thing . I am only resolved to act in that manner which will , in my opinion , constitute my happiness , without reference to you , or to any person so wholly unconnected with me (273

After Elizabeth accepts Darcy after his second proposal , she jokingly asks him : [ .] did you admire me for my impertinence ' Perhaps that is true since many readers have loved her because of her impertinence While Fanny Price is silent , she is out-spoken

In the end , she manages to marry both for love and for money , and Jane 's nothing to it (290 . She is indeed one of Jane Austen 's almost perfect heroines . Yet even with this , she is humbled , where Fanny Price is exalted

Many critics would agree that Mansfield Park is a rethinking of Pride and Prejudice . Perhaps it is so because of the parallels in terms of plot . Fanny Price passes through almost the same roads as Elizabeth Bennet in rejecting proposals and accepting them for love or money Fanny cannot choose Elizabeth Bennet 's choices . In her case the choice is love or money . Unlike Elizabeth , she cannot have both . She does not have Elizabeth 's fine eyes ' She has no glow of complexion , nor any other striking beauty (30 . Because of her awkward position at Mansfield Park , she cannot act ' not only in Tom 's play but also in real life (139 . She can only be silent as she is . Yet it is because of this that she becomes likable . In the end , she triumphs not in spite of these but because of these

Fanny is Austen 's only heroine whose childhood is told in detail . Her story is almost Cinderella-like . In the novel , Fanny 's growth from a young girl to a marriageable woman is traced . Because of her sufferings she acquires the readers ' sympathies and later Edmund 's affection . Like Elizabeth , she reads and criticizes other characters , but unlike Elizabeth who openly states her opinion , she is silent . Yet it is through her silence that others characters are taken into consideration She is like a sounding board to other characters . Through her , the readers participate in conversations such as this

"Oh ! dear - Miss Julia and Mr . Crawford . Yes , indeed , a very pretty match . What is his property

"Four thousand a year

"Very well . - Those who have not more , must be satisfied with what they have . - Four thousand a year is a pretty estate , and he seems a very genteel , steady young man , so I hope Miss Julia will be very happy

"It is not a settled thing , ma 'am , yet . - We only speak of it among friends . But I have very little doubt it will be . - He is growing extremely particular in his attentions

Fanny could listen no farther (117

It is she who defends the old of Mansfield Park , though the place is no Eden . That is also the reason why she objects to the Tom 's play When she was sent back to Portsmouth , she recollects

No , in her uncle 's house there would have been a consideration of times and seasons , a regulation of subject , a propriety , an attention towards everybody which there was not here (334

Fanny 's goodness ' is a contrast to the vain and corrupt characters around her . Sir Thomas recognizes this later as he contemplates Julia 's and Maria 's upbringing

something must have been wanting within , or time would have worn away much of its ill effect . He feared that principle , active principle had been wanting [ .] They had been instructed theoretically in their religion , but never required to bring it into daily practice (399-400

It is through her silence and passivity that she succeeds . She is malleable to some extent , resisting Sir Bertram when he forces her to marry Henry Crawford . Her reserve helps her evade categorization by characters such as Henry Crawford . Like Elizabeth , she lacks feminine talents unlike the Bertrams who could not but hold her cheap on finding that she had but two sashes and never learnt French (32 Because of that , she never has to position herself like them to men . She is a heroine who knows how to survive and adapt , for this reason , she shapes the place and the characters that attempt to shape her

In conclusion , I would reiterate my opinion that both characters are equally lovable characters where both succeed where the other does not While one sees almost-perfection in Elizabeth Bennet , one sees maturity in Fanny Price

Works Cited

Austen , Jane . Mansfield Park . NY : Signet , 1996

--- . Pride and Prejudice . Ed . James Kinsley . Oxford : Oxford UP , 1998

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