Edmund Bertram - Edmund With Mary

Edmund With Mary

Edmund is infatuated with the beautiful and talented Mary Crawford. He tells Fanny of his love which affects her as she is in love with Edmund. At one point, Edmund even declares to Fanny that Mary was the only lady in the world whom he can think of as a wife. However, Edmund is also greatly upset when he discovers that Mary is opposed to him becoming a clergyman. Mary suggests to Edmund other possible professions. At a ball, Mary informs Edmund that they will never dance again, as she is soon to go away for a time and when she comes back, he will be ordained a clergyman and she never dances with clergymen. When Tom becomes dangerously ill, she rather callously hopes that Edmund will inherit the baronetcy and estate if his brother dies.

Meanwhile, Mary's brother Henry proposes to Fanny, who declines, both because she thinks him improper, and because she is in love with Edmund. Sir Thomas is infuriated at Fanny's "stupidity" and accuses her of being ungrateful, although he does not know Fanny's reasons for rejecting Henry. Sir Thomas decides to make Fanny experience the relative poverty of her own family in attempt to change her opinion of Mr. Crawford by sending her home to Portsmouth. Fanny then leaves for Portsmouth while Edmund goes to Peterborough to visit an old acquaintance and become ordained.

In London, Henry Crawford encounters Edmund's sister Maria, who is now married to the wealthy but stupid Mr Rushworth. They run away together, bringing disgrace and embarrassment to the Bertrams. Edmund, visiting Mary, is affronted by her response to the Henry's and Maria's "folly": Rather than evincing moral disapproval, she felt that they had simply made imprudent decisions, and that Maria ought to continue living with Henry in order to persuade him to marry her eventually, and thus save their social standing. Edmund is disgusted by Mary's lack of moral outrage and concern for social standing, tells her so, and leaves, thus ending their attachment.

Edmund tells Fanny about his disillusionment with Mary's character and she comforts him. Edmund is extremely grieved by what has occurred, but he eventually recovers and realizes that he loves Fanny, and that she is morally appropriate for him. Sir Thomas gives his approval, and they marry. Edmund is given the parsonage at the nearby village of Thornton Lacey, and he and Fanny move there. Dr and Mrs. Grant soon move to a position in London, leaving the Mansfield parish available for Edmund and Fanny.