Jane Austen wrote several famous novels that are still admired and read today, such as Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Persuasion, and Mansfield Park. Austin’s novels are not only entertaining and eloquent, but they often include timeless love stories, which is why women today still swoon at the thought of characters like Mr. Darcy. Underneath all the romance, elegant balls, social gatherings, and flirtatious exchanges, lie deeper meanings and themes that relate to what was going on in England and the world during Jane Austen’s time. In Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park, the themes of social hierarchy and mobility within the British nation relate to how the British interacted and dealt with slavery in Antigua and on a global scale.
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Social mobility plays a significant role in many of Jane Austen’s books, including Mansfield Park. Austen creates a micro-society in which Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram represent the upper class, Mr. and Mrs. Norris represent the middle class, and Mr. and Mrs. Price represent the lower class. The first mention of social mobility is seen when Miss Maria Ward moves up the social ladder and becomes a baronet’s lady by marrying above her, which also raises the status of her two sisters (Austen 3). This is significant because Miss Maria Ward’s sisters also moved up the social ladder because of their kinship with Maria; which shows that the social hierarchy in England was based not only on money, but also on social …show more content…
At first glance, Mansfield Park is a heartwarming story of a poor girl who goes to live with her rich family and has to attempt to fit in as best as she can. After reading more closely, it is clear that Austen is writing about much more that just one family’s story. Austen creates this micro-society, which shows how British people viewed each other and other people they came into contact with. She reveals so much about the upper and middle classes by describing people like Sir Thomas and Mrs. Norris. In just one scene, Austen manages to divulge how the British felt about slavery, or rather, how they ignored what was going on. Ultimately, Jane Austen uses her amazing writing skills to criticize the social hierarchy and
Social mobility plays a significant role in many of Jane Austen’s books, including Mansfield Park. Austen creates a micro-society in which Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram represent the upper class, Mr. and Mrs. Norris represent the middle class, and Mr. and Mrs. Price represent the lower class. The first mention of social mobility is seen when Miss Maria Ward moves up the social ladder and becomes a baronet’s lady by marrying above her, which also raises the status of her two sisters (Austen 3). This is significant because Miss Maria Ward’s sisters also moved up the social ladder because of their kinship with Maria; which shows that the social hierarchy in England was based not only on money, but also on social …show more content…
At first glance, Mansfield Park is a heartwarming story of a poor girl who goes to live with her rich family and has to attempt to fit in as best as she can. After reading more closely, it is clear that Austen is writing about much more that just one family’s story. Austen creates this micro-society, which shows how British people viewed each other and other people they came into contact with. She reveals so much about the upper and middle classes by describing people like Sir Thomas and Mrs. Norris. In just one scene, Austen manages to divulge how the British felt about slavery, or rather, how they ignored what was going on. Ultimately, Jane Austen uses her amazing writing skills to criticize the social hierarchy and