MovieChat Forums > Mansfield Park (1999) Discussion > Poll: how many people actually want Fann...

Poll: how many people actually want Fanny to pick Henry?

posted 20 years ago by tamannhan
74 replies | jump to latest

I hear that so often and I get so appalled! Perhaps if you haven't read the book you might feel that way, but when reading the book one should discover clues through the whole thing of how correct Fanny is in denying him. And who can blame her for loving Edmund? The only person in her life that cares and sympathizes and understands. I suppose it is the cousin thing in our time, it does seem gross to some. The next time I read the book I am going to list the clues about Henry's and Mary's vices. It should be enough that he wants to flirt with her just to make her love him and then upon being turned down he has an affair with Maria; that should be enough, but oddly it isn't for most people. Henry does not have true love for Fanny and I find it easy to conjecture what their life would be like had she accepted him. He would have continued to flirt with other women- even Mary says that he would. But she says he wouldn't love anyone else. That is because I feel he cannot really love anyone but himself and although he seems to wholeheartedly woo Fanny he is just playing and acting as she says. Their marriage would have been very sad.
If anyone disagrees please post. I love hearing the reasons honestly.

We're here; we're clear; we don't want anymore bears!

[–] beensfield 20 years ago

I couldnt stand Henry and I have never read the book. He was a complete schmuck. I absolutely adored Edmund and loved the entire movie.

[–] netrospeed 20 years ago

Hmm .. I've read every Jane Austen book, and am a huge fan. In fact I just finished re reading Mansfield Park for the upteenth time . But I gotta say, I really wish that Fanny had chosen Henry.

Yes, Edmund is all nice and brotherly, but he was completely blinded my Miss Crawford for ages, and only after he was *finally* open to her real character did he realise what a great person Fanny was.

Crawford was like any other rich and idle young man - the fact that he chose Fanny and was willing to change for her is merit enough. Yeah .. he had an affair . no doubt Maria was tempting enough.

Yes Crawford has his faults, but Edmund does too, and overall I think he was better suited for Fanny. But alls well that ends well :)

PS . Gotta say, although I enjoyed the movie immensely, it's painful as a dramatisation of the book . . Austen woulda turned over in her grave =p.

[–] davey1107-1 20 years ago

To suggest that Fanny should have chosen Henry is to miss the point of Austen's six novels entirely. She lives in an ordered world where, above all else, principles matter. Henry has the allure of being wealthy, charming and fun, and on the surface he may appear an ideal match for Fanny, but in lacking principles entirely, the Crawfords are the villains.

Edmund on the other hand, is the epitome of principle, and it is thusly that he and Fanny, despite coming from differnet stations in life, can end up together.

[–] 20 years ago

[deleted]

[–] everpure_17 19 years ago

Principles didn't really matter in society back then, rather the appearance of principles was, Especially with the rich. Yes some genuinely didn't misbehave b/c it was wrong but must didn't b/c they didn't want to risk exposure

with some movies, you merely watching people get paid to read lines

[–] MsLaDiva 20 years ago

Personally, I think it's a credit to the actor playing Henry that he makes you feel for him. He's not just a "bad guy." I wanted Fanny with Edmund, but I was mad at him for being so blind to the shallow and manipulative Miss Crawford. It is a well acted movie, the characters so well fleshed out...it makes sense that people may have wanted Fanny to marry Henry.

Think about this: More women diet than vote. Get it together, girls.

[–] jerinsalmon 20 years ago

Reading the book Henry -- absolutely not -- He was a cad!

Seeing Alessandro Nivola and his amazing expressions -- I really felt he loved her, or at least he loved who he was when he was with her, so I wanted them to get together... and Johnny Lee Miller (who is ALSO hot) was really quite wooden in this I thought. Until that last scene with him saying he loved Fanny as a man loves a woman I really believed that he was SO oblivious he deserved an evil cow like Mary!!!

"I suspect you are almost entirely composed of ready opinions not yet shared"

[–] tamannhan 20 years ago

Yes he is hot as Edmund! I really like the principles of Edmund, and Henry is so opposite of what would suit Fanny. He tries to improve but Jane shows us in the book that it was all an act. Edmund needs to be forgiven for being obtuse about Fanny as she is his cousin and he grew up with her. She loved him from the start but he had to come to eventually view her as not a little girl anymore but a lovely woman. I think the actors were great- except for Fanny!!!

We're here; we're clear; we don't want anymore bears!

[–] everpure_17 19 years ago

Read the book again--in the book Edmund is wooden!
with some movies, you merely watching people get paid to read lines

[–] siseo05 14 years ago

I'm going to agree with jerinsalmon--I agreed with the novel all the way, but then I believe it (obviously) portrayed Austen's feelings on the importance of principles much more clearly. The film, as often happens in Hollywood, shot for the romanticized love triangle (watch the trailer and it's so obvious), so of course Henry couldn't be a total cad--what's the point of rooting for him if he's a jerk? And that's also the magic of visual media, getting to watch the characters. Alessandro Nivola won me over, at least for a while. Then again, the film and book should definitely be considered as two separate stories.

"Reality leaves a lot to the imagination." --John Lennon

[–] iliketoshimmy 20 years ago

My mom had said something along those lines to me. Ahhh Noo mom no! If there was one thing I could add to this film, it would be a scene towards the beginning where Henry and Mariah run off for a tryst at a picnic. There was something similar in the book, if I'm not mistaken. I think that this would have definitely let the people watching (who hadn't read the book) know that Henry is not trustworthy.

[–] AnotherDay1787 20 years ago

Sorry guys, but Henry was not in love with Fanny...it's a simple case of "I want what i can't have". It is a common occurence with one of my friends. He always likes girls that are already seeing somebody else. Henry has had always had everything handed to him without question. Fanny is the first one to not give in to his charms, which causes him to become infatuated. Yes, he makes a very good effort to get her, visiting her home and being kind to her family. But it was all part of the hunt and in the end, notice how easily he gave up started screwing someone else. If he really loved Fanny, he would not have slept with the other girl. And it just goes to show you where his morals are, she was married and he did not care that it ruined a family and social circle! Henry is a major hottie tho!

[–] bethyjean 19 years ago

i fully agree - henry never wanted or tried to change, he was just trying to get what he couldn't have. & the only reason why he wanted her was because she did not return his affections immediately. the scene where he's eating dinner with fanny's family in portsmouth makes me certain he was just being a spoiled boy who was awfully ready to throw a temper tantrum when he couldn't have her. not to mention he refused to speak to her after which is incredibly immature.

[–] thetwentysomething 19 years ago

Even when I was reading the book (w/o even knowing there was a movie) there was a time I wanted her to pick Henry...

In the movie when it seemed like she would I was like "whaaaaaaaaat?" lol But of course she just has to be with Edmund. Any other pairing would be incomplete and wrong!

[–] everpure_17 19 years ago

"If he really loved her, then he wouldn't have---"

What someone would or wouldn't do b/c they loved someone really depends upon their moral center. I'm not debating whether or not Henry was good, just whether or not he loved Fanny. And this was a day when a little promiscuity, as long as it was kept in silence and secretive, was easily forgiven, on the part of the male, at least--the woman was completely ruined regardless.

with some movies, you merely watching people get paid to read lines

[–] ch_golfer 19 years ago

I have to disagree. Jane Austen herself admits that Henry loved Fanny. Near the end of the book she writes he regrets having "lost the woman whom he had rationally, as well as passionately loved."

[–] Pietta 19 years ago

I think that Fanny should have picked Henry, she could have changed him for the better. True I hated him i the book but he did love her. He was sick of waiting and Fanny acted like a fool. She didn't really love Edmund, just idolised him because that was how she was brought up. I think I loved the ending more because Henry got his comeuppance, Fanny being the only person he ever loved, he just got bored, that's all.

[–] zen_has 19 years ago

I loved this movie! I admit I haven't read the book yet but now I can't wait to do so. I wanted Fanny to pick Henry. I think he really did love her and he knew he was a better person with her. My favorite part of the movie was when Fanny says "Yes" to Henry. I could almost feel the joy in his heart when her heard her. Who could blame him for being so upset when he was patiently wait for her, she says Yes and then takes it back the next day?? If it hadn't been for that, I think he would have waited for her. The scene when Fanny walks in on Henry sleeping with Maria, you can see the look on his face. He seemed to hate the person he went back to being (he's an awesome actor!) It could have ended differently...
We'll see how I feel after I read the book though.

[–] urbanfoodie 19 years ago

Re: Pieta's comment, "I think that Fanny should have picked Henry, she could have changed him for the better."

There hasn't yet been a woman born who could change a man. A whole helluva lot try to, but it isn't possible. Men (and women, too) change when they decide to for themselves. There's no use in getting a "fixer-upper" when it comes to relationships.

[–] everpure_17 19 years ago

I don't think Fanny would have changed hium, rather he would have changed b/c of her good influence.
with some movies, you merely watching people get paid to read lines

[–] moovie_grrl 19 years ago

I read the book twice before seeing this movie for the first time. And after seeing the movie two times in two days, reread the book for the third time just to make sure. I know this is a lot :-\

My point is while reading the book, I thought Henry wasn't exactly as villainous as Ms. Crawford, but I still had a negative view of him. Edmund I thought was kinda dense and somewhat unexceptional - not the kind of guy who a protagonist should develop a secret yearning for - and not just because he was her cousin. But, because he was nice I had a positive view of him.

In the movie, my feelings about Henry changed. I kinda liked him in the film. I believed that while he was still a selfish jerk, he had the potential to at least partially improve his ways. And I believed he cared for Fanny given the way he responded after she accepted then later denied his marriage proposal. I agree that Jonny Lee as Edmund was somewhat wooden and stuffy. If Fanny was a more adventurous and risky character, I think the better choice would have been Henry, but apparently she wanted stability and comfort...

"I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her."

[–] chantelvdveen 19 years ago

Yes. I do. Well, somewhat. I believe that, while flirting with Fanny, he fell in love with her truly. I don't know exactly why I think this b/c he ran away with Maria just after, but I do. Also Edmund is, often, so boring and brotherly. But Henry is a flirt, and Edmund is respectable and faithful, so I can't decide positively!!

[–] fearuinelf 19 years ago

Here is what I think. Henry did love Fanny because she was different, almost a curiosity to him because she was not the type of girl he usually associated with. He soothed her rejection in the only way he knew how, by sleeping with Moriah. Edmund also loved Fanny. His was the love that had grown, not out of courtship, but of living out daily routine and tedium with someone close to you.

I believe that Fanny ended up with the right man because she would have grown weary of Henry's nature. He would have wanted to go off on adventures and such, whereas Fanny was more of a sit-by-the-fire sort of girl. This was a way of life that Edmund, dull and brotherly though he was, could provide.

[–] everpure_17 19 years ago

What I like about Jane Austens Romances is that they are so different compared to other romances, no one is really entirely evil they are all real people we all know people just like them that plots, incidents, and pacings are all realistic and not overblown and romantisized (sp?) Austen shows how real life romance goes not storybook some times you do not get the man you want most--see S&S---and some times the villain does not get punished really at all---see P&P--
I think that Henry Crawford really did love Fanny but that she was too predisposed to his treatment of her cousins to believe him, even in the novel it is not that she doubts that fe would be unfaithful or that he has fooled himself into believeing himself in love, she doubts that he could have any interest at all. This is folly from her own self-pity and lack of confidence fermented by insipid and emotionally selfish relatives. Henry indeed was an imature flirt, but this is implied as a result of the influence of his uncle the Admiral, I think that had Fanny had more self-assurance and had indeed accepted Henry that over the course of their engagement and marriage her good influence would have prevailed over him, but since she refused him Henry was left to solidify his impure ways and character. Neither he or Mary are naturally bad people they are products of bad influence, as is Fanny to some levels--her lack of self-confidece and worth. I truly believe if you were to have both couples marry each other Henry&Fanny and Edmund&Mary that they would pick up on the others good qualities and dilute their own bad ones. Henry and Mary= growth in morality and propriety; Edmund and Fanny= growth in spirit and livliness

with some movies, you merely watching people get paid to read lines