A Narratological Study Of Deep Ironies In Mansfield Park

Jane Austen (1775-1817) has been commonly recognized as one of the greatestfemale writer in the world. In her Mansfield Park, she attaches great importance tomoral values in the19th century. However, Jane Austen also gradually disapproves andsatirizes the upper class people in this book. This thesis will focus on the point to digout the deep satire and irony against the upper class based on three representative eventsand analyses on the main characters within the text.The growth of Fanny Price, the heroine, is essentially the process of realizing hersubversion between the lower and the upper class, which is vividly fulfilled through theauthor’s narrative techniques. The excellent use of character’s discourse in the threetypical events of the text produces sharp ironies on the upper class people. The familytheatrical is a strong irony on the Bertram siblings. All these are hiddenly presentedthrough their direct speeches. However, Fanny’s rejection on Henry’s proposal is anotherbitter irony on Sir Thomas. Different from the descriptions on those upper class people,those on Fanny is through free indirect discourse, which unconsciously forms sharpcontrast with Sir Thomas when the two have a serious conversation. The event ofadulteries finally exposes Mary’s evil nature behind her nobility. After the exposure ofthe ugly faces of these aristocratic people, Fanny’s becoming the mistress of Mansfieldis quite effortless.The second importance narrative technique is also marvelously applied to the text, i.e, character’s focalization. Actually, Fanny’s change of social position is in exchange ofthe Bertram sisters and Mrs.Norris. Thus, large amount of focalization appears on thefour people. Maria regards marriage as a transaction, while Julia is “ready to be fallen inlove” with Henry. Compared with the sisters’ ignorance, Mrs. Norris’s focalization ongossips is even more ridiculous. However, the focalization of Fanny is completelydifferent from the three. Fanny is a real “outsider”. However, Fanny becomes anauthoritative observer. Through Fanny’s observation, she witnesses various ugly doingsof the upper class people. It is because of her personality which can perceive theessence of event, she gradually forms her own moral values. At last, there occurs thedisplacement between Fanny and the Bertram sisters: Fanny becomes the real mistressof Mansfield Park while the Bertram sisters and Mrs. Norris are banished from it.The last narrative technique discussed in the thesis is the vivid design of theimplied author. Sisterhood is one of the striking features in Austen’s novels, but it seemsto be wakened in Mansfield Park because only a few writings are narrated on thefriendship between Fanny and Susan. However, this is actually the delicate arrangementof the implied author by forming a hidden contrast between the Price sisters,whosesisterhood is built up within only a few month, and the Bertram sisters who grow uptogether. The situations of the Bertram sisters and Price sisters present an oppositetendency as well as a hidden line arranged by the implied author. At last, Susan goes toMansfield with Fanny and they replace the Bertram sisters.Living in the age of regency, Jane Austen disapproves the upper class people’s theextravagant way of living. She shows her preference for the heroine despite negativecritics towards Fanny. Actually, Austen, together with her implied author and hernarrator, apparently protects Fanny from being an ironic object and Fanny’s finalrealization of her exchange between classes is previously arranged.