Mansfield Park: Chapter 8 Summary & Analysis

Fanny begins riding again the next morning. While she is out, Mr. Rushworth and his mother arrive at Mansfield Park in order to plan the group visit to Sotherton. They pick a date for the trip. Needing to make sure that Henry is available, Mr. Rushworth walks to the Parsonage to ask.

While Mr. Rushworth is out, Mrs. Grant and Mary arrive at Mansfield. The Mansfield residents fill them in about the Sotherton plans. Mrs. Rushworth tries to convince Lady Bertram to come, and though Lady Bertram consistently rejects the invitation, she does so in such a mild-mannered way that Mrs. Rushworth keeps trying.

Finally Mrs. Norris steps in, and tells Mrs. Rushworth that the exhaustion of traveling would be overwhelming for Lady Bertram. She tells her that Lady Bertram will stay home and that Fanny will keep her company, while Edmund will join them at Sotherton. Mrs. Rushworth concedes Lady Bertram’s absence, but expresses her disappointment that she and Fanny, who has not yet seen Sotherton, will not come.

Mrs. Rushworth goes on to invite Mary and Mrs. Grant to Sotherton. Mrs. Grant turns her down, but Mary accepts. Mr. Rushworth then returns with the news that Henry can come on the date they agreed upon, and Edmund returns home, where he is informed of the plans.

Edmund goes into the breakfast room, where Mrs. Norris worries about if there is enough space in Henry’s barouche (a kind of carriage). The family argues back and forth about which carriage to take, with Maria and Julia advocating for the barouche, and Edmund loses the debate. Edmund then says that, since there is so much room in the carriage they chose, they should take Fanny with them. Edmund asks if Lady Bertram would let Fanny go to Sotherton if she did not need her company, and Lady Bertram says she would, but that she does need her company.

Edmund offers to stay at home in Fanny’s place, prompting an outcry from the others. Mrs. Norris objects that she has already told Mrs. Rushworth that Fanny will not be going. Edmund explains that he has already discussed Fanny’s attendance with Mrs. Rushworth, and that she whole-heartedly extended an invitation to Fanny. Mrs. Norris is annoyed, but concedes that Fanny should be allowed to go. Indeed, when Fanny learns of the plan she is extremely grateful, a feeling that is exaggerated by Fanny’s increasing appreciation for Edmund, which are developing into romantic feelings.

Ultimately, Edmund does not have to stay home, because Mrs. Grant offers to keep Lady Bertram company instead. Everyone is thrilled with this plan, and Mrs. Norris claims to have been about to suggest it just before Mrs. Grant proposed it.

Wednesday, the day of the outing, arrives. Henry arrives in his barouche to take them to Sotherton, with both Maria and Julia vying for the seat in the front next to Henry. Mrs. Grant suggests that Julia take the seat, much to her delight and Maria’s discontent. They take off.

During the carriage ride, Fanny admires the scenery and looks forward to talking about it with Edmund, who is riding his horse behind them. Mary, meanwhile, pays no attention to the environs. The narrator contrasts Fanny and Mary, who are sitting next to each other, saying the only thing they have in common is their interest in Edmund. When Edmund catches up with the carriage, both Mary and Fanny exclaim “there he is!”

Maria is sullen because Julia is sitting in the front with Henry, and she grows jealous as she watches them flirt. Julia doesn’t hesitate to rub in her good luck, telling the passengers in the back about how stunning the view is up front.

Once they arrive closer to Sotherton, however, Maria remembers her engagement to Mr. Rushworth and perks up. She points out the land that Mr. Rushworth owns to Mary, bragging about his property. Mrs. Norris also delights in Mr. Rushworth’s wealth, and even Fanny compliments it. Maria is giddy with pride as they pull up to the house.