a Mr. and Mrs Grant. Mrs Grant, it seems, has two half-siblings by her mother"s second.

             marriage, a Mr. Henry Crawford and Mary Crawford. The Crawfords come to live with.

             their half-sister, who introduces them to the Mansfield family. They become part of the.

             Bertram"s closest circle of friends. Edmund Bertram, with whom Fanny has forged a.

             special friendship and has likely fallen in love, quickly finds himself attracted to the charm.

             and beauty of Miss Crawford. Julia and Maria Bertram, who has lately become engaged to.

             a rich fool nearby, both find themselves captivated by Henry Crawford. Maria moves.

             forward her marriage after realising that she has no hope of Henry reciprocating the.

             feelings. .

             Henry, however, feels strongly toward Fanny and eventually proposes. She refuses.

             him on the basis that she senses certain character flaws. Upon her refusal, Fanny is sent.

             away from Mansfield to live, once more, with her family in Portsmouth. When she again.

             refuses Henry, he removes himself to London, where he again meets up with Maria, now.

             Mrs. Rushworth, with whom he begins an affair. The whole scandal is discovered, and.

             Edmund goes to see Mary, who claims that it is not the action that is to be reproached, but.

             rather the discovery; and she largely blames Fanny for not agreeing to marry Henry,.

             claiming that he would not have acted in such a manner would he know to be risking the.

             affection of Fanny. Edmund then relinquishes his attachment to Mary, and returns to.

             Mansfield Park to later marry Fanny. .

             Mary is of importance for several reasons. One of the more simple and obvious.

             reasons for her inclusion was as a love interest for Edmund. A major theme in the story is.

             the struggle Fanny faces in the love she feels for Edmund, who does not reciprocate her.

             feelings. In order to make this struggle seem acute, Edmund must love another. Thus.

             Mary is introduced. .

             Mary is vastly different to Fanny. She is outspoken where Fanny is quiet.