Henry Crawford
Encyclopedia
Henry Crawford is one of the main characters in Jane Austen
's 1814 novel, Mansfield Park
. He is depicted as a man who only attempts to amuse himself, and at the end is proven to be a reprobate.
to stay with their half-sister, the wife of the local clergyman. They both are wealthy and extravagant with elegant London
heirs. Henry has an estate worth about four thousand pounds a year, and his sister Mary has twenty thousand pounds, which now is equivalent to about two million pounds. When he first comes Mansfield Park, he is seen as a suitable match for Julia, the younger of the two daughters of the wealthy Bertram family, Maria Bertram
and Julia. However, both sisters are attracted to him despite Maria's engagement to their neighbour, the wealthy but unintelligent Mr Rushworth. Henry initially flirts with Julia, the younger one, but gradually gives his full attention to Maria. This causes dissension between the sisters. While Henry temporarily returns to his estate in Norfolk
, Maria marries Mr. Rushworth, because she believes that Henry does not love her and she wants to leave her family home because she feels stifled there.
, the poor cousin of the Bertrams, fall in love with him. However, because of Fanny's sweet conduct and forbearance, Henry gradually falls genuinely in love with her. To try and make himself seem better in her eyes, he intercedes with his uncle, an admiral, to use his influence in the Royal Navy
to obtain a promotion for Fanny's brother William from midshipman
to lieutenant
. He then proposes to Fanny, but to his surprise, she refuses him, for several reasons. She is secretly in love with her cousin Edmund Bertram
and she believes Crawford to be improper in his conduct with Maria Bertram and that he would not be a serious and constant lover. Fanny's uncle, Sir Thomas, is very displeased and demands that she marry Crawford as he believes that this would be a most advantageous marriage for her. Fanny remains resolutely opposed to the marriage although her uncle reproaches her very severely. However, Henry is not discouraged. He continues to solicit her love. Sir Thomas Bertram decides to send Fanny back to her own family who live in relatively poor circumstances in Portsmouth
so that she might see how marriage to Crawford would be a better option. While she is there Henry visits her and proves that he is more constant than she believed as well as demonstrating his acceptance of her family's state.
, would have married Mary if she had not attempted to justify her brother's scandalous affair with Maria.
Jane Austen
Jane Austen was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction, set among the landed gentry, earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature, her realism and biting social commentary cementing her historical importance among scholars and critics.Austen lived...
's 1814 novel, Mansfield Park
Mansfield Park
Mansfield Park may mean:* Mansfield Park by Jane Austen* Mansfield Park , based on the novel, directed by Patricia Rozema, starring Frances O'Connor, Embeth Davidtz, and Sheila Gish in 1999...
. He is depicted as a man who only attempts to amuse himself, and at the end is proven to be a reprobate.
First Arrival to Mansfield Park
Henry Crawford comes to Mansfield Park with his sister, Mary CrawfordMary Crawford (Mansfield Park)
Mary Crawford is an antagonist in Jane Austen's 1814 novel, Mansfield Park.-First Appearance:Mary Crawford is introduced in the fourth chapter of the novel. She comes from London in company with her brother, Henry Crawford, and arrives in the country with urbane airs, tastes, and manners, with a...
to stay with their half-sister, the wife of the local clergyman. They both are wealthy and extravagant with elegant London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
heirs. Henry has an estate worth about four thousand pounds a year, and his sister Mary has twenty thousand pounds, which now is equivalent to about two million pounds. When he first comes Mansfield Park, he is seen as a suitable match for Julia, the younger of the two daughters of the wealthy Bertram family, Maria Bertram
Maria Bertram
Maria Bertram is a fictional character in Jane Austen's 1814 novel, Mansfield Park.-Character:Maria Bertram is not depicted as a sympathetic character. She does not have her father's discipline nor her brother Edmund's compassion, especially for her cousin, Fanny Price. She is condescending and...
and Julia. However, both sisters are attracted to him despite Maria's engagement to their neighbour, the wealthy but unintelligent Mr Rushworth. Henry initially flirts with Julia, the younger one, but gradually gives his full attention to Maria. This causes dissension between the sisters. While Henry temporarily returns to his estate in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, Maria marries Mr. Rushworth, because she believes that Henry does not love her and she wants to leave her family home because she feels stifled there.
Henry and Fanny
When Henry returns to Mansfield Park, he decides to amuse himself by making Fanny PriceFanny Price
Fanny Price is the heroine in Jane Austen's 1814 novel Mansfield Park. Austen describes Fanny Price as "extremely timid and shy, shrinking from notice", and repeatedly reinforces that Fanny is shy, timid, and afraid of everyone and everything....
, the poor cousin of the Bertrams, fall in love with him. However, because of Fanny's sweet conduct and forbearance, Henry gradually falls genuinely in love with her. To try and make himself seem better in her eyes, he intercedes with his uncle, an admiral, to use his influence in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
to obtain a promotion for Fanny's brother William from midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
to lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
. He then proposes to Fanny, but to his surprise, she refuses him, for several reasons. She is secretly in love with her cousin Edmund Bertram
Edmund Bertram
Edmund Bertram is a major protagonist in Jane Austen's 1814 novel Mansfield Park. He is Sir Thomas's second son and plans to be ordained as a clergyman.-Character:...
and she believes Crawford to be improper in his conduct with Maria Bertram and that he would not be a serious and constant lover. Fanny's uncle, Sir Thomas, is very displeased and demands that she marry Crawford as he believes that this would be a most advantageous marriage for her. Fanny remains resolutely opposed to the marriage although her uncle reproaches her very severely. However, Henry is not discouraged. He continues to solicit her love. Sir Thomas Bertram decides to send Fanny back to her own family who live in relatively poor circumstances in Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
so that she might see how marriage to Crawford would be a better option. While she is there Henry visits her and proves that he is more constant than she believed as well as demonstrating his acceptance of her family's state.
Henry with Maria
Henry returns to London where he meets the now married Maria and persuades her to elope with him, bringing shame and disgrace on her and irrevocably destroying any good impression he had made with Fanny during his courtship. At the end of the book, the narrator speculates that if Henry had been more patient, Fanny would most likely have accepted him, for Fanny's lover, her cousin Edmund BertramEdmund Bertram
Edmund Bertram is a major protagonist in Jane Austen's 1814 novel Mansfield Park. He is Sir Thomas's second son and plans to be ordained as a clergyman.-Character:...
, would have married Mary if she had not attempted to justify her brother's scandalous affair with Maria.
Portrayals
- Robert Burbarge in the 1983 television serial Mansfield ParkMansfield Park (1983 TV serial)Mansfield Park is a 1983 British television drama serial, made by the BBC, and adapted from Jane Austen's novel of the same name, originally published in 1814. The serial was the first screen adaptation of the novel...
.
- Alessandro NivolaAlessandro NivolaAlessandro Antine Nivola is an American actor, perhaps best known for his roles in the films Best Laid Plans, Jurassic Park III, Face/Off, and the first two films of the Goal! trilogy.-Personal life:...
in the 1999 film adaptationMansfield Park (film)Mansfield Park is a 1999 British romantic comedy-drama film loosely based on Jane Austen's novel of the same name, written and directed by Patricia Rozema. The film differs sharply from the original novel in many respects. For example, the life of Jane Austen is incorporated into the film and the...
.
- Joseph BeattieJoseph BeattieJoseph Beattie is an English actor, known for portraying Malachi in the second season of Hex and Henry Crawford in Mansfield Park.-Background:...
in the 2007 BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television drama Mansfield ParkMansfield Park (2007 TV drama)Mansfield Park, an adaptation of the classic Jane Austen novel of the same name, premiered on 18 March 2007 on the UK network ITV at 9 p.m., as part of their Jane Austen Season. It was filmed at Newby Hall, North Yorkshire, England. It made its TV debut in Canada on 23 December 2007 and in the...
.