Mansfield Park

Nineteenth-century England was characterized by two gradual socioeconomic shifts—the decline of the landed gentry (upper-class landowners) and the gathering momentum of the Industrial Revolution. Throughout Mansfield Park, Austen represents traditional English values under threat. In doing so, the author highlights the conflict between old rural values and an emerging modern ethos associated with urban life.

The country estate of Mansfield Park is a symbol of stability and the traditional societal structure of rural England. The estate owner, Sir Thomas, sits at the top of the social hierarchy and, crucially, takes his responsibilities to the community seriously. Valuing duty, order, and harmony, he embodies the maintenance of the status quo. During the narrative, the stable way of life Mansfield Park represents is threatened by outside forces. The Crawfords and, to a lesser extent, Mr. Yates, are associated with new, more modern values that center on the gratification of individual desires with little sense of communal responsibility. Significantly, all three characters are from London, and Austen portrays England’s capital city as a corrupting influence on the countryside. The restless, amoral Crawfords embody the superficial values of London society, where life is fast-paced and “every thing is to be got with money” (89).