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Title
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Discussing the Necklaces
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Description
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Here we see Fanny and Edmund in the East room at Mansfield. Before the ball, Fanny went to the Parsonage to discuss what to wear to the ball with Mary Crawford. Miss Crawford gave her a gold necklace to wear with William’s cross. William brought Fanny an amber cross from Sicily, and Fanny needed a gold chain to put it on. This scene mirrors one from Austen’s life, as Jane Austen’s brother, Charles, brought her an amber cross when he was serving in the navy in 1801. Austen records this in a letter to her sister, Cassandra, written on 27 May 1801. Charles also gave an amber cross to Cassandra. In Mansfield Park, the gold chain was a gift from Mr. Crawford that he wanted to give Fanny but, knowing she would not accept a gift from him, had Miss Crawford give it to her instead. When she came home, she found Edmund in the East room, a room only used by Fanny. He came in to leave her a necklace that he bought for her for the same purpose. Edmund was in love with Miss Crawford, and after hearing she gave Fanny a necklace, he fell more in love with her because of her kindness to Fanny. This scene occurs in chapter 27 as noted underneath the title of this image. The characters are shown in the traditional regency style, with Fanny wearing the regency style dress with an empire waist. Her hair is worn tied up, as was tradition for women at this time. Edmund wears a waistcoat and tailcoat, with knickers that stop at the knee. The regency period dated to the early nineteenth century (1811-1820) when George, Prince of Wales, later George IV (r. 1820-1830), reigned as regent for his mentally ill father, King George III (r. 1760-1820). The regency period is associated with the rise of neoclassicism in art and fashion. The same image appears as an insert between pages 24 and 25 for the Dent 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, and 1897 editions of Mansfield Park.
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Image Creator
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William Cubit Cooke (engraver)
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Identifier
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mta:25602
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Source Name
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Mansfield Park
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Image
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