Mansfield Park Ch. 2: A Child Among Cousins

Summary

Fanny arrives at ten, shy and plain, and is met by Mrs Norris at Northampton. Her Bertram cousins are polite, confident and well grown. Tom, Edmund, Maria and Julia soon find her ignorant of the things they have been taught, and Mrs Norris tells them to make allowances for "your poor cousin".

The great house frightens her. She cries for her brother William until Edmund finds her, listens, and helps her write to him. From that day he is her friend. He lends her books, talks to her about what she reads, and corrects her taste. Sir Thomas is kind but stern, Lady Bertram sits on her sofa, and Mrs Norris keeps Fanny in her place. Fanny loves Edmund best of anyone except William.

In this chapter: Key Quotes

Why This Matters

How Upbringing Shapes a Character

See how a poor niece, two indulged daughters and an absent father each turn out, and what Sir Thomas finally admits. Fanny arrives at ten, shy and plain, and is met by Mrs Norris at Northampton.

Name one habit you learned from the people who raised you, and decide whether to keep it.

Coming Up in Chapter 3

Mr Norris dies, and Mrs Norris is expected to take Fanny to the Parsonage. Sir Thomas has a bigger worry: his estate in Antigua.

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Original text

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Chapter 02

A Child Among Cousins

The little girl performed her long journey in safety; and at Northampton was met by Mrs. Norris, who thus regaled in the credit of being foremost to welcome her, and in the importance of leading her in to the others, and recommending her to their kindness. Fanny Price was at this time just ten years old, and though there might not be much in her first appearance to captivate, there was, at least, nothing to disgust her relations. She was small of her age, with no glow of complexion, nor any other striking beauty; exceedingly timid and shy, and shrinking…

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Critical Thinking Exercise

12 minutes

Practise How Upbringing Shapes a Character

Write six lines on A Child Among Cousins: who asked, who paid, and what you would have said. Keep it to this chapter.

Consider:

•The working skill is How Upbringing Shapes a Character.
•Use only beats from this chapter.
•Name a cost, not a slogan.

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Summary

In this chapter: Key Quotes

Why This Matters

How Upbringing Shapes a Character

See how a poor niece, two indulged daughters and an absent father each turn out, and what Sir Thomas finally admits. Fanny arrives at ten, shy and plain, and is met by Mrs Norris at Northampton.

Name one habit you learned from the people who raised you, and decide whether to keep it.