Sly approbation

APPROBATION 

Miss Crawford smiled her perfect approbation; and hastened to complete the gift by putting the necklace round her, and making her see how well it looked. Fanny had not a word to say against its becomingness, and, excepting what remained of her scruples, was exceedingly pleased with an acquisition so very apropos. She would rather, perhaps, have been obliged to some other person. But this was an unworthy feeling. The Narrator on Miss Crawford & Fanny Price, Mansfield Park, Chapter 26

Miss Crawford is a creepy crawly black spider, deceptively presenting gifts to poor clueless Fanny Price. Shortly, we will learn that the necklace comes with strings, namely that even though it is being given by Miss Crawford to Fanny, in actuality it is being re-gifted by her for her brother Henry, who because of social decourm can not give it to Fanny directly. Ick! 

The gift of the necklace represents many inward challenges for Fanny Price and is a favourite topic among readers and scholars. Firstly, in Regency society it is not appropriate for a young unmarried lady to receive gifts from anyone outside of her family. Secondly, Fanny knows this, but folds into peer pressure and accepts it; – – blaming her doubts on her own ‘unworthy’ feelings. And thirdly, when Fanny learns that the necklace was duplicitously re-gifted and realizes that if she accepts it, she will be obliged and more intimately connected to Henry Crawford than she out to be; – – she still can not decline, fearing the loss of Miss Crawford’s perfect approbation. 

Do you understand the mystery that is Fanny Price? No? Me neither, but I found this psychological profile from the Austen-L mail list archives at the Jane Austen Information Page which confirmed my suspicions! You may be so impressed with the results, that you will be classifying all your family and friends!!!

*Illustration engraved after George Pickering, “Miss Crawford smiled her approbation”, Frontispiece, Mansfield Park, published by Richard Bentley & Son, London (1882)