To Park or to Sweep Away
Posted by gkb on November 11, 1997 at 23:16:15:
In response to Parking Mansfield Here, & See Who Salutes (-:, written by Ken on November 03, 1997 at 09:48:26
Certainly Fanny's place is at issue, since her mother was so reckless as to 'lose her place' in the first place (sorry) but I will have to mull over whether this is THE central issue. I have been used to considering the central issue as being 'Where is home?' or more profoundly, 'Who shall inherit the field of Man?' (man being used to indicate all of humanity--Man's Field, yes?) By extension, all the characters then have to choose between Town and Country, Mansfield and Brrrighton, Portsmouth and Mansfield, Thornton Lacey and Racy Thorns (just kidding), etc. And the qualities of a home that contribute to domestic comfort take on strong morally reinforcing values when one is ill or in trouble. Even Mrs. Norris learns to redefine the meaning of home. But certainly Fanny's place in the world is an issue in focus throughout the work. I will think more on't and reply more fully after while.
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