Mansfield Park: Edmund Bertram

[plumapen]

This icon pretty much describes Edmund to me -- he seems bent on doing his duty. What do you think about him? Interesting? Boring? Honorable? Pathetic? Something else all together

Comments

[mauvaise_etoile]

Oh, good: Edmund. I'm nearing the end of Vol. 1 and I am already deep into contemplation over Edmund because I really rather like him a whole heckuva lot.

So far I find him to be very honorable. Duty-bound was a very good way to describe him, I think. Edmund seems perfectly content with his lot in life. Specifically, in Chap. 9 he says to Mary Crawford, "I am one of the exceptions, and being one, must do something for myself." (This is the exchange where Mary expresses her shock at finding out that Edmund is to become a clergyman and implies that he should have fortune from other relations). To me, he says it in a matter-of-fact way, without a hint of bitterness. Mary is basically attacking his position and I don't think he sounds defensive at all.

I hadn't thought of comparing him to Edward Ferrars yet, but I think that is a fair comparison. They're both low-key 'heroes' and are driven by what they know is the *proper* thing to do, rather than what they *want* to do.

[my_weezy]

I really like Edmund. He seems to be a perfectly nice guy but completely blinded by mary Crawford. I Don't know how he doesn't see all that is wrong with her that Fanny sees so easily especially since they are so similar in morals and manner.

I love the way he takes care of Fanny as well, trying hard to shield her from their Aunt Norris. He truly loves her from the get go.

[canutius]

The first time I read MP, I really liked Edmund. However, the second time I read it, I started to find him a bit of a sap. He’s a nice guy, but a little boring and not entirely sensible. The fact that he didn’t see through Mary Crawford earlier miffed me a bit. You would have thought that a man who otherwise possesses so much sense would be able to see that Mary was going to lead him in a direction he didn’t want to go. He also should have seen that she was never going to back down as to her demands on a husband. He did occasionally allude to not all of her thoughts mirroring his own, but he thought he could change them with time. He made the assumption that every female would be a pliable as Fanny and he would be able to mould her in the same manner. He should have had enough experience with his sisters to know that that wasn’t going to happen. The guy lacks backbone. As long as everything is going well, he’s a great guy, but he should have stood up for himself and what is right a bit more

[plumapen]

I think Edmund was utterly blinded and bedazzled by Mary that he saw nothing else going on around him. Is he an idiot for this? Yeah, probably. Is this believable? Yes, I definitely think it is. As a reader, though, I just want to smack him awake, lol. This time through, though, I felt he deserved Fanny much less, even though he has appreciated her since they were kids. He does love Fanny, like Weasley said. *is conflicted* His realization of his love for her is rather like the end of *SPOILER* (highlight to read) Emma. And I'm not sure I completely believe either of these realizations. I wonder if that's my personal experience and cynicism coloring my opinion though.