Mansfield Park Ch. 15: Fanny Will Not Act

Summary

Mary Crawford accepts her part readily, and Mr Rushworth is cast as Count Cassel, though he needs Maria to explain which character is which. Edmund objects again, saying Sir Thomas would not like it. Nobody listens, and he becomes a bystander. Mary notices that nobody has been found to play Anhalt.

Fanny is then asked to take the part of the Cottager's wife. She begs to be excused. Tom and Mrs Norris press her, and Edmund steps in: "Do not urge her, madam." Her refusal costs her an unkind reproach from her aunt. The chapter ends with Mary telling Fanny, in an undertone, that she expects the rehearsals will be disagreeable.

In this chapter: Key Quotes

Why This Matters

Moral Courage Without Authority

Follow a girl with no rank who refuses to act in a play her uncle would ban, and is proved right when he walks in. Mary Crawford accepts her part readily, and Mr Rushworth is cast as Count Cassel, though he needs Maria to explain which character is which.

When you have no rank, decide the one thing you will not do, and say so plainly.

Coming Up in Chapter 16

Fanny goes to the East room to think. Edmund comes to ask her advice, and he has already half decided.

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Original text

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Chapter 15

Fanny Will Not Act

Miss Crawford accepted the part very readily; and soon after Miss Bertram’s return from the Parsonage, Mr. Rushworth arrived, and another character was consequently cast. He had the offer of Count Cassel and Anhalt, and at first did not know which to chuse, and wanted Miss Bertram to direct him; but upon being made to understand the different style of the characters, and which was which, and recollecting that he had once seen the play in London, and had thought Anhalt a very stupid fellow, he soon decided for the Count. Miss Bertram approved the decision, for the less he…

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Critical Thinking Exercise

12 minutes

Practise Moral Courage Without Authority

Write six lines on Fanny Will Not Act: who asked, who paid, and what you would have said. Keep it to this chapter.

Consider:

•The working skill is Moral Courage Without Authority.
•Use only beats from this chapter.
•Name a cost, not a slogan.

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Summary

In this chapter: Key Quotes