Maheen Khan's Post:

In Jane Austen’s novel, Mansfield Park, there is a strong presence of leading females but males certainly play important roles too. Austen’s novel depicts her own perspective on the role of men in a society and their masculinity. Among the many facets of masculinity Austen portrays an inspirational picture of certain characteristics such as economic sensibility, judgment, authoritarianism, and self-centeredness.  

          One such character possessing all these characteristics is of Henry Crawford.  Henry Crawford has great fortune and many girls were willing to make him the man of their lives but strangely he fell in love with Fanny, the poor cousin of Bertrams. He does not get attracted to Fanny straight away but as more he gets to know her the more serious he gets. Also the fact that Fanny’s reluctance made him get attracted towards her more clearly show a typical masculine side of his. His sense of economic sensibility came to forefront when, in Chapter 32, he used his influence to promote Fanny’s brother in Navy in exchange for Fanny’s approval for marriage. He does all this to prove to himself his power of conquest and achievement.

“I am quite determined to marry Fanny Price. … I am fairly caught.”

 When he forces Fanny to marry him, his masculine characteristics of authoritarianism and self-centeredness arise.

          A very typical nature of men is seen in this novel; they strive to get what runs away from them. Also, if Henry would have been in London, he would have never fallen in love with Fanny or even in Mansfield. It was only because of the absence of Fanny’s cousins, Maria and Julia, that he could admire Fanny’s personality. Henry’s constant struggle to get Fanny also shows his determined attitude but he eventually runs away with Maria.