Reputation Over Blood

After reading the first part of Volume III of Mansfield Park, I recognized a theme that connects back to Mary Hays’ Victim of Prejudice. The reason Mary the character cannot get a job after she is “tainted” is based on the perception of her reputation following her relationship with Sir Peter. The employers are worried that her reputation will somehow affect their business, and they refuse to hire her because she is bad for business. Mary is an outcast of society based on what they think they know about her. She didn’t choose to be in the situation she finds herself in, but when she tries to improve her situation, she realizes she has no social mobility as a woman.

In the same way, I questioned whether this is the reason why Mrs. Norris chooses not to visit her sister, who she hasn’t seen in twenty years, is to avoid being tainted by her sister’s circumstance. The reason Fanny was brought to Mansfield Park was to help Mrs. Price take care of her family by having one less child in the house. Mrs. Norris is aware that her sister is living in reduced circumstances, yet the only help she provides is taking in one of her children. When she is given the opportunity to visit her sister, she chooses to stay in Mansfield Park where she is needed. Mrs. Norris doesn’t want the contamination that might come from visiting her poor sister. Mrs. Price is a victim of prejudice in her own family because she didn’t marry as well as her sisters. Though the situations vary because Mrs. Price is never considered a ruined woman, both women are judged for their circumstance and not their merit.