Women on Wednesday - Fanny Price

Women on Wednesday visit Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park.

Fanny Price:


Fanny is the second eldest of nine children is sent to live with her mother's sisters at Mansfield Park. Her mother married her father a lieutenant of marines for love. When her father is hurt and disabled during his service, he is released on half pay, making life for the Price family very hard indeed.

Fanny is a sensitive, shy, intelligent young woman with a good sense of morals. She falls in love with her cousin Edmund at an early age. When the Crawford’s show up at Mansfield Park, Henry Crawford pursues Fanny as an amusing pastime, but ends up falling in love with her. She rejects his proposal much to the dismay of the Bertram’s; they pack her back to her poorer family as punishment. However when Tom Bertram becomes ill, Fanny is send for, she cares for Tom as well as being there to support her aunt and uncle. She and Edmund declare their love for each other, and as they say, the rest is history. (Well in the novel it is).

Fanny Price 1:
Sylvestra le Touzel

Sylvestra played the role of Fanny in the 1983 BBC mini-series adaptation of Mansfield Park. I haven’t seen this version of Mansfield Park, but I will try to find it to watch. You can watch a scene here.

In 2007, Sylvestra played the role of Mrs. Allen in Northanger Abbey.

Fanny Price 2:
Frances O’Connor

Frances starred as Fanny in the 1999 movie adaptation of Mansfield Park. I love Frances in this, she play a great part opposite Jonny Lee Miller.

From Wikipedia

This film alters several major elements of the story and depicts Fanny as author of some of Austen's actual letters as well as her children's history of England. It emphasizes Austen's disapproval of slavery.

Fanny Price 3:
Billie Piper

Billie was chosen for the role of Fanny for the Company Pictures production of Mansfield Park. Again, I haven’t seen this version and after seeing Billie in ‘The Secret Diaries of a Call Girl’, I’m not sure I’d believe her as Fanny. LOL.

So do you think Miss. Austen would approve of the women who portrayed Fanny? I’m going to stick with Frances O’Conner, maybe because she’s an Aussie.

Sandie

Monday's Male - Edmund Bertrum ~ Mansfield Park

Mansfield Park is believed to be the novel that readers like the least of Jane Austen's novels. The adaptation to film and television like many take liberties with Miss Austen work. If you think about it, that goes with any novel adapted to film or television, I guess directors, screenwriters etc, like to leave their own mark of the stories.

Today for Monday's Male I'm looking at Edmund Bertram. I have pictures of the three actors who stepped into the role of Edmund. Now, I've only watched one, that being Jonny Lee Miller, so I can't say for sure who is the better, but from youTube, it's a toss-up between Jonny and Blake Ritson.

Edmund Bertram ~

Edmund is the younger son of Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram and is six years older than Fanny Price. Edmund has plans to become a clergyman. He and Fanny form a strong friendship early in their relationship. While Fanny looked down upon by hie family, Edmund looks past the poor relation and sees the true woman she is and can be. For a time Edmund is attracted to Miss Crawford, until she expresses her opinion on the scandal involving his sister, Mrs. Rushworth and Mr. Crawford. Like all good romance novels he soon realizes he is in love with his cousin Fanny Price and they are married.

Edmund Bartram 1:
Nicholas Farrell.

Nicholas reprised the role of Edmund in 1983.

To watch a scene from Mansfield Park 1983 you need to link in HERE.

Nicholas has also starred as Mr. Musgrove in the 2007 television adaptation of Persuasion.


Edmund Bertrum 2:
Jonny Lee Miller.
Jonny stepped into Edmund's shoes for the 1999 film of Mansfield Park.

NOTE of INTEREST: Jonny played the role of Charles Price along side Nicholas Farrell in 1983.

Jonny recently starred as Mr. Knightley in the television adaptation of Emma (let's save that for another Monday's Male)

Jonny on youTube

Edmund Bertram 3:
Blake Ritson.


Blake was selected for the 2007 television adaptation of Mansfield Park.

Blake played along side Jonny Lee Miller in the 2009 adapted for television version of Emma as Mr. Elton.




Blake on youTube.

So there we have another Monday's Male. I wonder at times, where Jane Austen found inspiration for her heroes, did she model some after her father and brothers? What about Tom Lefroy? Lefroy did come into her life at a time when she was writing Pride and Prejudice (First Impression), some say she tailored all her hero after her alleged lost love, but I'm not convinced. Her heroes are very different in some respect, yet alike in other ways.

I'm going to continue to look at Jane Austen's heroes for the next few weeks as well as compare the actors cast for the role of the hero film or telemovie.

Until next time.
Sandie