Novel Blog #1: In Fanny Price's Shoes

Fanny Price is my favorite of all the Jane Austen characters.  Born into a lower position than her cousins, she moves to Mansfield Park as a meek adolescent, hardly able to stand up for herself but possessing a keen desire to please.  Everyone is hard on her, with high expectations for her but no hope for her that she will achieve them. She lives for the love of her elder cousin, Edmund, the one person who pays her any positive attention at Mansfield Park.  He is kind and takes the time to share his wisdom with her, and she comes to look forward to those moments.  Fanny learns to find pleasure in the small things in life, enjoying the exciting lives of her cousins from the sidelines.

I am nothing like mild-mannered Fanny Price.  While she is quiet and would rather listen than speak, I am loud and cannot find the ability to keep words from exiting my mouth. When she is selfless and does the will of others out of the goodness of her heart, I find my own personal tendency to be what is most convenient for me.  When she is criticized unjustly she remains silent and bears it, where I would fight and not allow others to think they can walk all over me.  Fanny's lack of courage and gumption saddens me, but I also admire her quiet strength.  She endures incredible hardships, without offending anyone or making any rash actions that would require apology later.  She is very calculated in what she does; something we all could learn from instead of acting upon instinct. 

She watches the man she loves fall for someone who doesn't deserve him, but treats it with sad maturity.  She is completely loyal to her immediate family, although she is no longer with them, but learns to love her extended family as well despite their many flaws.  Fanny Price has a heart of gold, even through all that life has thrown at her.  Something I would wish for in a heartbeat.