Mansfield Park; Empire & Orientalism from Edward Said Essay

Edward expresss abridgment of Jane Austens narrative in her third novel Mansfield Park (1814) is based on his avouch studies of orientalism. This term is defined by verbalise as a commixture of false assumptions /depictions of Eastern people inside westerlyern attitudes. This is achieved, he argues, through the lit seasonry discourse provided by post-enlightenment, post-colonial American/European (Western) writers. say draws our attention to an underlying home of Mansfield Park, which is conglomerate. Said recycles his interpretation of uninspired Muslims, Arabs & Egyptians and applies it again to a different neighborly group. He does so by examining the novels representation of the Atlantic knuckle down trade (in the West Indies), and in turn concludes that Austen must birth British values of imperialism and empire. He predicts step to the fore the ease with which Austens characters refer to Antigua, and convinces us that Austens infrequent use of this discourse is evidence of her individualised support of the abjection of slaves.In his analysis of the text, Said starts at the beginning, and relies heavily on the insensible way in which Sir doubting doubting Thomass colonisation is isolated from his family and domicile, which remains proudly on English land, miles across the globe. He implies that the disregard references to Antigua do no nicety to its own lulu, history, and the fact that it is, in comparison, a heaven island. However Austen does actually support this shout herself, as Lady Bertram does no plainlyice to India, wanting only the commodities it can render I may induce a shawl. I call in I forgeting allow two shawls His ultimate point is that the Antigua seen in Mansfield Park is no to a greater extent than a place for drill, necessary for obtaining personal luxuries and fortune for the locals of Britain. Austen doesnt deny this in her novel, but she doesnt shout rough it either. Saids writing just reminds us of how unfair the situation was, by pointing out the geographical space in between Mansfield Park (w here the cash is worn out(p) and enjoyed) and the Antiguan sugar plantation (where the m onenessy is produced).His critique of the ease with which the familys needs are met by a anticipate in the Caribbean is unnecessary and useless in explaining his point, it merely serves to highlight the fact that the slave trade was, at its peak, very success richly organised and achieved, due to the political hostforce. Sir Thomass means ordain be rather straitened, if the Antigua estate is to pee such poor returns, Mrs Norriss color proves that Austen is aware of the dependence of the family on their slave trade income, as is Lady Bertram, because her react is Oh that will soon be settled. Although his wife is unwilling to spend epoch talking on the subject, this type of ignorant attitude seems to be a rule of realism which Austen applies to her characters systemically, in hopes that their final outcomes will explain her own disposition on the subject. Said constantly alludes to Austens overlook of concern for the slave trade, because her narrative lacks the verbal description which is needed to properly illustrate the subject, and the setting.Said argues that without the slave trade, the Bertrams could not submit been possible, but again, I confide Austen is fully aware of the fact that slavery en ables the Bertrams to flourish in Mansfield Park. Otherwise, she simply would not have written so often about(predicate) wealth and class in relation to the success of women, for example in the end of Pride & Prejudice (1813) Lizzie chose go to bed over money, and Mr Darcy chose love over class. what is more(prenominal) Austen includes the downfall of the slave industry at bottom her narrative, and in turn she shows the downfall of Sir Thomas because of the latter. Sir Thomas is depicted (in the end) as having contrition for his actions, and having learned his lesson through redemption. Jane Austen is stereotyped by Said as a typic euro-centric academic, nave towards the REAL threats, inequalities and unfairnesss of the world. Just like the slaves Sir Thomas had the proceeds of owning, buns becomes the only slave who is able to dwell in Mansfield Park. I believe Austens hopes were that she would be seen as the paradigm of the slave She could hardly believe it.To be placed above so some(prenominal) elegant young women It was treating her like her cousins Austen explains, from the very first chapter how the class/background ideas of the era are a hindrance to her success, at home and in society. Overall she is tough as below standard, but by the end of the novel she is happy, reasonably prosperous and is married to the one whom she was meant to be price less than. She was constantly referred to as from a different class, background, and place. Those notions of breeding compare her to a mere puppy breed her up with them from this t ime, and suppose her even to have the beauty of an angel, and she will never be more to either than a sister. Fanny herself remarked upon the dead silencewhich followed from her uncle, after her enquiries about the slave trade. She concluded that because she showed a tenuity and pleasure in his information which he must wish his own daughters spirit she regretted asking about the slave colony, as if she just re-realised that she isnt fit to do certain things.Her character reflects ideas of rank and persecution and oppressiveness she is the ultimate realist of the novel. With regard to the character of Sir Thomas and his silence on the subject of his work, Said would most belike argue that he is selfish and ignorant and therefore doesnt permit any time macrocosm wasted on the subject. However, Austen is more likely treating the subject with the shame and embarrassment it deserves. It is my experience that Austen would have been sympathetic towards these slaves and could not fo r certain condone such hegemony, oppression and empire? After all she herself was a victim of oppression, macrocosm a female author unable to photograph credit and cod praise for her own work at bottom society. Austen ended her behavior as a spinster, having never married a man, showing that she didnt conform, for whatever reason(s), to social expectations of women. Moreover, her life was dependant on the males within her family, as per the UKs laws regarding rights, inheritance and property, because she had nothing of her own. then she would be hypocritical to support the forced labour of slaves for the benefit of the nation she pretty rejects. Supposing Austen was supportive of Britains imperialist danger for empire, surely someone with such priorities would have settled and married, just for wealth and protective cover? This is summarised in Susan Fraimans writing absentminded the franchise, enjoying few property rights (and these because she was single), living as a dependent at the perimeter of her brothers estate, and publishing her work anonymously, Austen was arguably a kind of behave in her own country In conclusion I completely rebut Edward Saids claims toward Austen his statements are judgemental and a little confused. Moreover, his attention to detail is lacking(p) in research, as Fraiman cleverly states here So ready is Said to whirl Austen as Exhibit A in the case for cultures sec of empire.Indeed the degradation of slaves was clearly fact, however, if Austen herself is an outsider to Mansfield Park and its narrative, then her opinions would be channelled through her characters fate. In my opinion, Said fails to take into account the fate of such characters, and the casualty that humans can exercise repentance andrehabilitation. Said draws the conclusion that Austen is lazily qualification trivial references to other important changes from this period, one being the Napoleonic revolution. However, I think that in the period and place she lived, it would have been nonsensical to openly critique the powers of the government, being that it really WAS un-just it would have been too unreliable to do so.BibliographyAusten, Jane, Mansfield Park (Oxford Worlds Classics, London 1814)Said, Edward, Jane Austen and Empire, Culture and Imperialism (Knopf, sassy York 1993) http//www.scribd.com/doc/57070252/3-Edward-Said-Austen-and-Empire accessed 19/10/2012 Fraiman, Susan, Jane Austen and Edward Said Gender, Culture, and Imperialism, Janeites Austens Disciples and Devotees edited by Deidre lynch (Princeton, Princeton 2000) https//blogs.commons.georgetown.edu/orientalism-spring2011/files/Fraiman0001.pdf accessed 19/10/2012