Mansfield Park's "Fools"
Mrs. Norris
Mrs. Norris: One of Austen's most hateful fools. She is shrewd and spiteful, but instead of projecting her good sense upon leading the young people toward moral propriety she is preoccupied with petty issues. For instance, instead of noticing the impropriety of holding a play at Mansfield Park, she instead becomes delighted in busying herself in keeping the cost of the play at a minimum, in addition to making sure Fanny's level enjoyment does not wander anywhere near the realm of happiness. Mrs. Norris's presence in the novel is to merely create obstacles for Fanny, spoil the Bertram sisters rotten, and invoke spite from the readers. One good thing she did in fact unwittingly cause was Edward taking notice of Fanny, had she not induced a general misery in Fanny's life, Edward's sympathy and affection may not have arisen. (Lauber 518-520)
Lady Bertram: Where Mrs. Norris plays the role of an active busy body, Lady Bertram remains on the couch. Although she is far better natured than Mrs. Norris and does not seek to create a difficult atmosphere for Fanny, her indolence keeps her from stopping Mrs. Norris from doing so. She is also very much involved in the blame of lack of moral education of the Bertram sisters and Tom, due to her absence. Austen states at the beginning of the novel that she is far more involved with the affairs of needlework and her pug than her children. Because of her passivity she plays no role in the plot line and is rather a mere ornament of satire every now and then.
Lady Bertram: Where Mrs. Norris plays the role of an active busy body, Lady Bertram remains on the couch. Although she is far better natured than Mrs. Norris and does not seek to create a difficult atmosphere for Fanny, her indolence keeps her from stopping Mrs. Norris from doing so. She is also very much involved in the blame of lack of moral education of the Bertram sisters and Tom, due to her absence. Austen states at the beginning of the novel that she is far more involved with the affairs of needlework and her pug than her children. Because of her passivity she plays no role in the plot line and is rather a mere ornament of satire every now and then.