Predictable Happiness: Reading Mansfield Park Based On Spatiality And Feminist Criticism

Mansfield Park is the fourth novel of Jane Austen, it was written on February,1811. Inthe novel, Jane’s most words were used in describing the family trivialities in Mansfield andportraying the characteristics of several key figures. This writing skill is also conformed toAusten-novel’s consistent style. At present, the former studies on this novel are mainly fromits theme’s discussions, analyzing the relationship between the figures, or from its structure,analyzing Jane’s writing skill and so on. But with the theories of Spatiality and FeministCriticism, by analyzing the main locations (Mansfield, London, Portsmouth, Antigua) andthe main characters(Fanny, Mary, Susan) in the novel, this thesis is to interpret MansfieldPark’s predictable ending. Finally the novel ends with Mansfield’s purification to the otherthree places and the success of its own sublimation, and the success of Fanny, who finallygets her happiness.The dealing process of writing skill at space and time in Mansfield Park wasn’t limitedon a dot or a line. Jane extends it, in order to provide more and more extensive space for theperformance of the figures and the plots. At the same time, it gives the readers more and moreleeway for tasting and pondering.Love relationship between men and women is the most natural and a special kind ofsocial relations. The different state of mind in love between men and women reflects theirsocial status. The inequality from each of the aspects is clearly reflected by love and marriage.If the premise is not love, the marriage will be a tragedy. So the pragmatism of love andmarriage in Austen’s novels strongly highlights the consciousness of female subject. It drewsharp contrast to the British patriarchal society.Taking a feminist standpoint, the heroine Fanny Price, as a strongly spiritual figure withgreat literary originality, reveals Austen’s prophetic thoughts on women’s social values andpotential influence. This thesis explores the themes of female’s cultivation and assertion of theself and pursuing the happiness of the self in the novel.