SOLICITUDE
It was her (Fanny Price) intension, as she felt it to be her duty, to try to overcome all that was excessive, all that bordered on selfishness, in her affection for Edmund … She would endeavour to be rational, and to deserve the right of judging of Miss Crawford’s character, and the privilege of true solicitude for him by a sound intellect and an honest heart.The Narrator on Fanny Price, Mansfield Park, Chapter 27
Oh, – – our dear Fanny Price! The object of so much disagreement and derision between Janeites. Is she insipid? Is she a doormat? Is she a saint? The mere mention of this topic may ignite another Fanny war!
I support sainthood, – – so it is right and just that we should honour dear Fanny on this Catholic holy day of All Saints Day!
There are three steps to sainthood;
- One must become Venerable: Recognized as having lived heroic virtues or martyrdom. (much evidence in Fanny’s favour to support this; her kind and temperate nature, her generous solicitude in spending so much time attending to others needs, her charity extended to her aunt Norris, and her faith in her love of Edmund)
- One must become Blessed or Beautified: All of the above, plus one miracle. (it was divine intervention that one person could have all of the above mentioned virtues)
- One is Canonized a Saint: All of the above, plus a second miracle. (more divine intervention here; — that she could overlook and forgive the Bertram family all of their indecressions to her, and marry their son)
So was Fanny Price’s kindness solicitude, or saintly?
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