Mansfield Park: Chapter 4 Summary & Analysis

Without Sir Thomas, the family gets along fine. Edmund takes care of the logistics of managing Mansfield Park to Lady Bertram’s satisfaction.

Mrs. Norris indulges in obsessive, neurotic fantasies of the men’s journey resulting in disaster. She pictures herself as the center of attention as she breaks the news to the others. When the family learns that Sir Thomas and Tom have arrived in Antigua safely, Mrs. Norris is sad her imaginings are ruined.

Winter passes without incident. Mrs. Norris pays lots of attention to Maria and Julia, who have blossomed into young women renowned in the area for their accomplishments, their good manners, and their beauty.

Unlike Mrs. Norris, who takes a great interest in the girls’ social engagements, Lady Bertram is too lazy to socialize. Fanny stays in and keeps Lady Bertram company when the other girls go out. She loves to hear about the balls that Maria and Julia attend. She also looks forward to her brother William’s impending visit.

In the spring, Fanny’s beloved pony dies. As a result, Fanny feels her health suffering from lack of exercise. Lady Bertram and Mrs. Norris tell Fanny to ride Maria or Julia’s horses when they do not want them, but Fanny has few opportunities to do so.

When Edmund returns to Mansfield and sees that Fanny has no opportunities to ride, he insists that Fanny get a horse. Mrs. Norris, ever frugal and mean, believes that Fanny owning her own horse would be improper since it would elevate her to the status of her cousins. She insists that Sir Thomas would think the same, and to purchase a horse without his permission and given his financial troubles would not be appropriate.

Edmund rejects all of these arguments. Lady Bertram sides with her son, but thinks they should wait until Sir Thomas returns to make the purchase. Edmund concedes that point, and so he exchanges one of his own horses for one suitable for Fanny, and lets Fanny use it whenever she wants. Fanny is thrilled and extremely touched by Edmund’s kindness.

Sir Thomas, who intended to return in September, sends word that he must stay in Antigua longer, but will be sending Tom home. Tom arrives back in England and reports that Sir Thomas is in good health, but Mrs. Norris, ever dramatic, returns to her obsessive worrying and fatalist fantasies.

Once social events start up again, Mrs. Norris becomes preoccupied with marrying off Maria. Mr. Rushworth, a rich man, is courting her. Maria, age 21, is satisfied with Mr. Rushworth’s interest in her, since he is rich and has a house in London. Mrs. Norris approves of the match, and tries to manipulate social situations in order to make the couple’s success more likely.

To this end, Mrs. Norris befriends Mr. Rushworth’s mother. Mrs. Rushworth is also in favor of the match, and the two make it clear that they have a mutual understanding. After dancing together at several balls, Maria and Mr. Rushworth enter into a tentative engagement, contingent on Sir Thomas’s consent.

Edmund is the only family member who is skeptical of the arrangement, as he is concerned that the match seems to be, on his sister’s end, more about money than love. Edmund also thinks Mr. Rushworth is rather stupid.

Sir Thomas, though, indicates via letter that he is thrilled by the match. He insists that Maria wait until he returns home to hold the wedding so that he can attend. Sir Thomas tells them he hopes to leave Antigua by the end of the summer.

In July, Mrs. Grant wealthy, charming, and attractive half siblings, Henry and Mary Crawford, come to stay with her. Henry and Mary previously lived with an uncle, the Admiral, and his wife. Mary was close with Mrs. Crawford but did not like her uncle, while Henry had a lot of affection for him. When the Admiral’s wife died, Mary moved out of his house and in with Mrs. Grant. Mrs. Grant, being childless, was happy to accept the company.

Mrs. Grant does, however, worry that Mary, who is used to the excitements of life in London, will be bored in the country. Mary shares these fears, which is why she previously tried to get Henry to move in to his own country house and take her with him. But Henry, who does not like stay in one place, refused. Instead, to help her settle in, her accompanies her to the Grants’ house, and promises to come get her if she dislikes it there. Mary, however, finds Mrs. Grant and the house satisfactory. Mrs. Grant, likewise, is thrilled to reconnect with her half-siblings, who fell out of touch with her after their uncle’s remarriage.