MovieChat Forums > Mansfield Park (1999) Discussion > question about the book

question about the book

posted 19 years ago by 1980sGirl
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I can't find any website where I can ask a question about the book, so I'm asking it here.

I'm a huge Jane Austen fan and am reading Mansfield Park for the first time. I just finished volume II (in the Signet Classics edition) and I'm confused about one part. (the book so far has been very hard for me to stay with up until volume II began, now it is good!). Why did Fanny sign her letter to Mary Crawford as "I remain, dear Miss Crawford, &c &c." Did I miss something? Shouldn't it say "I remain, dear Miss Price, &c. &c." ? Is that a typo or did I miss something? thanks in advance.

[–] randommovies2002 19 years ago

It's not a mistake. Note the comma usage.

After "I remain," Fanny inserts a comma to indicate that she is directly addressing Mary Crawford. ("I remain to you, dear Miss Crawford..." The "to you" is understood.)

She also does this earlier in the letter: "I am very much obliged to you, my dear Miss Crawford, for your kind congratulations" [emphasis mine].

The &c &c is a form of etcetera (etc.) So her signature is implied by the etceteras.

[–] 1980sGirl 19 years ago

OK thanks. I was thinking that if there were to be any name written in the closing sentiments it would be her own name, but I see now the comma usage intends differently. :)