MovieChat Forums > Mansfield Park (1999) Discussion > Questions about the movie

Questions about the movie

posted 13 years ago by christeline1
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Big fan of Jane Austen movies... have a couple questions regarding this one.

1. Why exactly did Fanny get shipped off to the aunts house;
2. Why was the aunt so unkind to her?

3. Why did Henry pursue her so hard (I don't understand this because she had no dowry of any kind);
4. Why was Tom so angry at Sir Thomas (did it have to do with the slavery issue)?
5. Why was Maria in a rush to get married when she didn't love her fiance?

Thanks in advance to those who kindly take the time to answer my questions.

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

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[–] weaselfrance 13 years ago

1. Fanny was sent to live with her aunt because her parents had more children than they could afford to keep. Having Fanny at Mansfield would save her parents the cost of caring for her.

2. Because she was a deeply unpleasant witch. (I'm assuming you're referring to Mrs Norris here?)

3. Henry thought he was really in love with her. Being rich himself, he could afford to marry a peniless girl. He started chasing her because he was bored and she was a challenge, became infatuted with her and proposed. The fact that he was happy to commit adultery with Maria shows how deep and real his feelings actually were

4. According to the film (not the book) Sir Thomas was sexually abusing his female slaves. Tom found out about this and was unhappy with his father. Tom is also a whiney spoilt brat which is why he didn't get on with his father before the slavery revelation.

5. Maria's pride was hurt when she realised Henry had been toying with her. Marrying Mr Rushworth was a way of saying 'Jog on, I don't need you to be happy' to Henry. Also, she wanted more money and freedom than living with her parents could provide. The only way she could get this (she thought) was by marrying a man as filthy rich as Mr Rushworth.

This isn't a great Austen adaptation. It makes many deviations from the book. If you can find it, I highly recommend the '83 BBC mini-series, that's fab.

He looks like what happens when you punch a cow!

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[–] christeline1 13 years ago

Thank you so much for your kind reply and taking the time to answer my question. Sometimes I pause a bit asking questions as i usually get lectured or told "read the book"!

Are there any new adaptions of any of Austen's books? I wish she had written more.... I'm a glutton for Jane Austen stories?

Also, was there a character in any of her books that most resembled her own personality?

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

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[–] christeline1 13 years ago

I just thought of another question.... I have noticed that the wealthy looked upon the poor as gutters, and usually would have nothing to do with them especially having one of their relations marry an impoverished person. Did Sir Thomas have any redeeming qualities about him and did he have any problem with Edmund marrying Fanny?

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

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[–] weaselfrance 13 years ago

The problem with this adaptation is that it's so far away from the book it's ridiculous. In the book Sir Thomas has lots of redeeeming features, it's just that his manner to Fanny isn't kind or thoughtful or able to put her at ease. He also relies too much on Mrs Norris which means he abdicates his responsibilities towards his daughters who end up well educated, but not very nice people. There's nothing in the book to suggest he's a sexual deviant! In the book, he's delighted to have Fanny as his D-i-L because he comes to really appreciate her.

Not all rich people looked down on the poor and hated the thought of marrying someone of small fortune. Lots of people in Austen's novels did this and the people who didn't approve were usually idiots . What was seen as a stupid idea and something to be avoided (quite rightly too IMO) was two people with a tiny income marrying. With no system of social security in place, that was a really daft thing to do, and Austen herself seems to have disapproved of it (Lizzy Bennet's reaction to her Aunt Gardiner's warning not to get too involved with Wickham because he was poor, to give one example).

There were versions of 'Persuasion' 'Northanger Abbey' and 'Mansfield Park' made in '07, a new 'Sense and Sensibility' in '08 (which was really very good) and 'Emma' in '09. Lots to keep you occupied

He looks like what happens when you punch a cow!

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[–] christeline1 13 years ago

Thank you!!!!

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

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[–] christeline1 13 years ago

Can I ask you one more question?

Were the Crawford's related to any of them, and if not, why did they move into Sir Thomas's parsonage?

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

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[–] weaselfrance 13 years ago

They were the half brother and sister of Mrs Grant. Dr Grant was the rector who lived in the Parsonage. IIRC, the Grants weren't included in this adaptation, it's been a while since I've seen this and thought it was so bad I can only sit through it once.

He looks like what happens when you punch a cow!

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[–] christeline1 13 years ago

I enjoyed it a little, but that's probably because I haven't read the book and have nothing to compare it to.

There were a couple scenes with Mary that made me feel very uncomfortable and I felt were totally inappropriate for a Jane Austen adaptation. I'm sure you know what scenes I'm referring to.

I did however love the scene where Edmund tells Mary off at the end, it was so classic!

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

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[–] kaskait 13 years ago

3 - I really think Henry was in love with Fanny. It was sincere enough for him to be willing to marry a woman with no fortune. HOWEVER, Fanny had fortune enough in her relatives...Sir Thomas for one. Important family connections were just as invaluable as a fortune. So potentially Henry wouldn't be marrying an outright nobody. I believe Sir Thomas would have supplied a respectable dowry for Fanny.

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