Mary Crawford (Mansfield Park) - Mary With Fanny

Mary With Fanny

Mary is never unfriendly to Fanny or intentionally cruel to her, but initially does not pay her much attention, instead spending her time with her brother Henry and Fanny's cousins (Tom, Edmund, Maria and Julia). Mary does thoughtlessly monopolize Fanny's horse for a few days. On one occasion, Fanny's aunt Norris verbally attacks the sensitive Fanny for refusing to participate in a play proposed by her cousins. Mary, astonished and angry at Aunt Norris's words, immediately moves and acts to protect Fanny, when no one else in the family will (including Edmund). In general, Mary treats Fanny with consideration, noticing her mistreatment and supporting her.

When Henry, Tom, Maria, and Julia all leave the area, Mary begins to seek Fanny's company on a regular basis essentially out of boredom, inviting Fanny to come hear Mary play on the harp and take walks together. Mary begins to appreciate and respect Fanny as (Mary believes) a sweet and upright person. Fanny, meanwhile, spends time with Mary out of a sense of obligation, without really liking her. Secretly, Fanny resents Mary because Edmund loves Mary and Fanny loves Edmund. Fanny also does not believe that Mary is sufficiently moral or principled.

Mary's brother Henry Crawford then returns, and, as Maria and Julia are no longer in the area, informs Mary of his intent to amuse himself by flirting with Fanny and causing her to fall in love with him, in order to stir her placid, upright exterior. He intends to then coldly leave Fanny in the same manner in which he has previously manipulated other women, including Maria and Julia Bertram. After some token objections, Mary allows Henry to proceed, believing that "a little love" might be good for Fanny, but asking that Henry not "plunge her deep" as she is "as good a creature as ever lived." Mary then helps Henry in his plans by passing along a golden necklace to Fanny (pretending that doing so was Mary's own idea and Mary's own necklace, though given to her by her brother; according to notions of propriety of the time, it would be quite improper for a girl such as Fanny to accept a necklace from a man not closely related to her), and hinting to Fanny on several occasions that Henry is in love with Fanny.

To his surprise, Henry ends up being the one who sincerely falls in love with Fanny; he decides to marry her. While Mary is very surprised by this, she is also very happy about it, despite the fact that Fanny has no money to bring to the marriage. Mary believes that Fanny is a good person and will make Henry happy (and vice versa). Mary is shocked when Fanny refuses Henry, but remains friends with her, and encourages her to reconsider.

Mary and Fanny are then separated, as Fanny is sent on a visit to Portsmouth, where her immediate family lives, and Mary goes to London to visit friends. Mary asks Fanny to write her letters, but is not diligent in responding. Mary uses her letters to Fanny as a cover for Henry's letters to Fanny. It was very improper at the time for an unmarried man to write letters to an unmarried woman, so Mary's subterfuge is discomfiting to Fanny. Mary continues to encourage Fanny to accept Henry's suit, and discusses her own mixed feelings with regard to Edmund. Eventually, Mary and Fanny are separated for good by Henry's adulterous affair with Maria.