Fanny Price - A Scandalous Affair

A Scandalous Affair

Fanny is sent by Sir Thomas back to her family in Portsmouth, so that she can better understand the benefits of what seems to him to be an ideal match with a wealthy suitor. Crawford visits Fanny in Portsmouth and she finds that his love for her is apparently constant and he does not disparage her poor family. She begins to think upon him more favorably, believing he has genuinely changed. Crawford then goes to London, where Maria is staying with her husband. At the same time, it seems that Edmund is moving towards marriage with Mary Crawford, despite her denigration of his desired profession of clergyman. It appears Mary truly loves Edmund. And Edmund told Fanny, "She is the only woman in the world whom I can think of as my wife." As the story begins to seem like it will resolve with Edmund marrying Mary and Fanny marrying Crawford, the story abruptly changes as Crawford, caught in a compromising position with Maria, elopes with her. Newspapers inform the general public of the scandal. Edmund, heartbroken, visits Mary Crawford in London. He is horrified to see that she does not regard the scandal as too terrible. Her character's lack of morals is exposed at last, and he realizes he can never marry her. Edmund and Fanny return to Mansfield Park; Edmund finally realises that he does love Fanny and is delighted to find that she has always loved him and they are married.