Decolonizing the Colonized

It is evident from the novel that Fanny's indebtedness to her Uncle's family for housing and nurturing  her, albeit begrudgingly, has somehow put Fanny into a position of slavery. This gratitude, which is not just expected of her by the family that she is living with, but also emanates from her very self, in the way she prioritizes looking after Mrs Bertram over any other activity, is what has enslaved Fanny during her upbringing. It is interesting to note that while Fanny's increasing familiarity with the Bertram family should make her feel more at home with them, she is frequently put into her place by the likes of Mrs. Norris and Maria Bertram. With the entry of the Crawfords, whom the Bertram siblings are keen on impressing, it becomes a matter of utmost importance to push Fanny to the background so that by reiterating their superiority over Fanny, the Bertram sisters can reinstate their own importance. As tells this line from the novel “She was not often invited to join in the conversation of the others, nor did she desire it. Her own thoughts and reflections were habitually her best companions.” 

I want to focus on Fanny's ascent from the slave who is unable to rise beyond her apparent lack of skills and worldly knowledge, to the woman who is able to exercise agency not only in the choices she makes but also in the opinions she is able to express to those around her. 

“I can never be important to any one.'

'What is to prevent you?'
'Every thing — my situation — my foolishness and awkwardness.” 

While the above conversation with Edmund sheds light on how Fanny viewed herself initially, we see later than Fanny is able to command respect and position for herself through many ways. For starters, Fanny becomes an object of admiration for Henry Crawford, which lends more significance to her role as a young, pretty, desirable woman. Moreover, Fanny starts making choices which the reader might not have predicted earlier-her rejection of Henry's proposal, her dismissal of the lifestyle that her family is living in, her righteousness laying foundation for a certain desirability during moments of chaos and dysfunction of morality- all of that helps the individual surface. And with this ascent, we see the subject of colonization discard the strings that tied her to slavery or to any form of indebtedness to the Bertrams. Moreover, with the impending nuptials with Edmund Bertram, who is the most respectable and sensible of the siblings, Fanny is established as someone of importance. Together with the help of her own character and that of Edmund, Fanny is decolonized. Her Uncle sees her for the virtue she represents and realizes that he has wronged her in the past- this alone is very significant in removing her role as a slave because it her uncle who was her benefactor.