Haniya's Post: The Function of Men and Morality in Mansfield Park

After reading through the novel one realizes that morality in Mansfield Park is described by the men. The women are highly influenced by the men and are guided by them throughout. Majority of the characters in the novel are controlled through the morals and beliefs of Sir Thomas Bertham. He is the owner of not only the women but also his sons Edmund and Tom

Sir Thomas for instance is the head of Mansfield Park. He is the one making decisions and he is seen as the governor and ruler of Mansfield Park “under his government Mansfield was an altered place.” We see Sir Thomas having a strong hold on everybody in the household and it is only in his absence that things seem to go wrong for instance the play Lovers Vows was being directed and produced in the household. This play was not suited for respectable young women. However eventually everyone agrees to participate in it and the wrongness of it is only shown with the arrival of Sir Thomas, when it is finally put to an end. Earlier only Edmund and Fanny thought it wrong but they had given into social pressure too. Hence, only Sir Thomas was an effective moral police and upon his arrival “every other heart was sinking under some degree of self condemnation.” His presence made people aware of the wrong doing and we see things in perspective. He brought about order and peace to the chaos and mayhem in Mansfield Park that was caused during his absence. It is in his absence that the wrong people are introduced to the Mansfield circle: the Crawfords. Henry Crawford is a bad influence on the Bertham sisters and Mary on Edmund. These influences grow strong in the absence of Sir Thomas and they only lessen in his presence. Henry leaves Mansfield when Sir Thomas in present in the house but when he elopes with Maria Sir Thomas is not in the picture and so things are easier for him. Hence, Sir Thomas is the moral compass of Mansfield in a way of bringing about order and stability.