Sorry, I still disagree. When Sir Thomas observes
"it was serious charge; - a girl so brought up must be adequately provided for, or there would be cruelty instead of kindness in taking her from her family. He thought of his own four children - of his two sons - of cousins in love, &c"
he's acknowelding that cousins do, in fact, fall in love and marry. The mention of "cousins in love" is an acknowledgment that taking in Fanny at Mansfield will include the risk that one of his sons might possibly fall in love with her and want to marry her.
(That's a concern because she isn't a "suitable match.")
There is nothing in that passage to imply that Sir Thomas is opposed to cousin marriage in general, or that he opposes cousin marriage out of disapproval of or repugnance to the practice.
At no point does Sir Thomas express any idea that Fanny is inferior because of her father or because she is not an heiressThere certainly is discussion recognizing and even emphasizing the difference between a Miss Price and a Miss Bertram:
“There will be some difficulty in our way, Mrs. Norris,” observed Sir Thomas, “as to the distinction proper to be made between the girls as they grow up: how to preserve in the minds of my daughters the consciousness of what they are, without making them think too lowly of their cousin; and how, without depressing her spirits too far, to make her remember that she is not a Miss Bertram. I should wish to see them very good friends, and would, on no account, authorise in my girls the smallest degree of arrogance towards their relation; but still they cannot be equals. Their rank, fortune, rights, and expectations will always be different. It is a point of great delicacy, and you must assist us in our endeavours to choose exactly the right line of conduct” (ch. 1).
And evidence of strong objections to Mr. Price:
But Miss Frances married, in the common phrase, to disoblige her family, and by fixing on a lieutenant of marines, without education, fortune, or connexions, did it very thoroughly. She could hardly have made a more untoward choice. Sir Thomas Bertram had interest, which, from principle as well as pride—from a general wish of doing right, and a desire of seeing all that were connected with him in situations of respectability, he would have been glad to exert for the advantage of Lady Bertram’s sister; but her husband’s profession was such as no interest could reach (ch. 1).
Sir Thomas wants to assist Mr. Price in his career, both because he has a desire of "doing right" and because if he can help Mr. Price to a better career, then the Price's won't be such low connections for the Bertrams to claim.
He find nothing remarkable in Henry Crawford addressing himself to Fanny, only Aunt Norris does.But Crawford isn't Sir Thomas' son. :-) And, in fact, Sir Thomas has a vested interest in seeing Fanny make a creditable marriage. Also, this occurs years later, long after the discussions noted above.
Also, I think that since Fanny and Edmund do end up in love and married in the end, it backs up my interpretation. I can't imagine Sir Thomas would have been able to overcome strong objections to one of his sons marrying Fanny
if such objections were originally based upon a general repugnance to cousin marriage. I don't see this being likely at all. I do, however, see him capable of overcoming his objections to her social status, and her unfortunate parentage (Mr. Price) due her own good qualities and characterisitcs, having proven herself worthy in ways that would make up for a lack of fortune and good connections.
His own wife was not a very rich or prestigious person when he married herI know well Lady Bertram's circumstances. I love how the narrator points out her "good luck" in captivating Sir Thomas. But she still had a fortune (albeit small) to bring into the marraige, whereas Fanny has none (except what Sir Thomas might provide for her himself) and perhaps of greater significance, Lady Bertram was not the daughter of Lieutenant Mr Price. :-)
Which brings us back to the fact that his objection really was to the plain idea of, as the book says he considers it, "cousins in love, &c." Again, I see nothing in that sentence nor in the chapter (or even the rest of the novel) that would suggest that Sir Thomas had an objection to cousin marriage. But I do see things that illustrate his objections to her father and her status.
Re: Mr. Price's career:
According to Brian Southam's
Jane Austen and the Navy, during this era the marines were viewed as a "subordinate and inferior branch of the navy." Marines were considered to be idle and stupid. Obtaining a commission was not at all difficult, and "apart from the sons and relatives of marine officers, who could look forward to preferential treatment, it was a career for those who could find nothing better. [...] Promotion, by seniority, was slow and for most officers there was a ceiling at the rank of Captain" (pp. 207-209).
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Julie-30
16 years ago
In Persuasion, Henrietta Musgrove marries her first cousin, Charles Hayter.
And, if Lady Catherine de Bourgh had her way, her daughter, Anne, would have married her own first cousin, Fitzwilliam Darcy.
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booklover181
16 years ago
I agree with you, randommovies2002. Sir Thomas doesn't like the idea of Fanny marrying his son because of her station and family connections, not because they are cousins.
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