Mansfield Park Volume 3 Chapters 8-9

Portsmouth is worse than Fanny could’ve imagined, and in these chapters, she tries to find a friend among her family. Mary sends a gossipy letter to Fanny, and Fanny kind of likes it. Fanny buys a knife for her little sister AND joins a library!

Topics discussed include regency era dentistry, Fanny’s llama mama, Mrs. Price’s resemblance to her sisters, the social status of the Ward sisters, Spicy Susan, the Saturday half-holiday, the comparison of Portsmouth to celibacy, Mary poking the bear, Baron Wildenhaim’s courtship of Julia, what qualities in a person are innate, and luxurious and daring wealth.

Patron Study Questions come from Avi, Kate, Ghenet, and Linnea. Topics discussed include how Fanny’s sisters could’ve benefitted if she’d come home earlier, Mrs. Price as a tragic figure, and Fanny’s lack of a female friendship, where Fanny truly belongs, whether Portsmouth is an enticement or warning about marrying Henry, and Maria as a warning.

Becca's Study Questions: Topics discussed include the picture Jane Austen is painting of the lower classes and how Susan complicates that picture, what role Susan plays in the narrative, whether Fanny really misses Mansfield, why Maria is unhappy, and predictions about our former main characters.

Funniest Quote(s):

“As to the little irritations, sometimes introduced by Aunt Norris, they were short, they were trifling, they were a drop of water to the ocean, compared with the ceaseless tumult of her present abode.”

“I hope she will recollect it and be satisfied, as well she may, with moving the queen on a palace, though the king may appear best in the background.”

Questions moving forward: How close will Fanny and Susan get? Will we go to the Rushworths’ party? Will Edmund propose?

Who wins the chapters? Mary Crawford!

Glossary of People, Places, and Things:

Arthur (Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone), High School Musical, Is Your Mama a Llama?, Mean Girls, Rugrats, the White Lotus, Dr. Johnson, the Office, Money with Mel

Next Episode: Mansfield Park Volume III Chapters 10-11 or Chapters 41 and 42

Our show art was created by Torrence Browne, and our audio is produced by Graham Cook. For bios and transcripts, check out our website at podandprejudice.com. Pod and Prejudice is transcribed by speechdocs.com. To support the show, check out our Patreon! Check out our merch at https://podandprejudice.dashery.com.

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