Edmund Bertram
| Edmund Bertram | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Gender | Male |
| Age | 25 |
| Occupation | Clergyman |
| Income | £700 per annum after becoming a clergyman |
| Rank | the second son of an English baronet |
| Primary residence | Mansfield Park mansion; after ordination, Thornton Lacey parsonage |
| Family | |
| Romantic interest(s) | Miss Mary Crawford, Fanny Price |
| Parents | Lady Maria Ward Bertram and Sir Thomas Bertram |
| Sibling(s) | Maria Bertram, Julia, and Thomas Bertram |
Edmund Bertram is a lead character in Jane Austen's 1814 novel Mansfield Park. He is Sir Thomas's second son and plans to be ordained as a clergyman.
Edmund is a naturally kind and compassionate person, as demonstrated by his conduct toward Fanny Price, an impoverished cousin who has come to live with Edmund's family from her impoverished home and family in Portsmouth. Edmund's kindness and generosity to Fanny distinguish him from the rest of his family, who tend to exploit Fanny's good nature or mock her for her less privileged upbringing. For instance, Edmund's brother Tom teases Fanny, his sisters, Maria and Julia, condescend to give Fanny toys of the least value to them, and their aunt Norris refuses to allow a fire to be lit in Fanny's room. However, Edmund remains friendly and encouraging to Fanny and she gradually falls in love with him as she grows up.
Edmund wishes to become a clergyman, for he is a second son, without prospect of inheriting a large fortune. Edmund was to be given the living of the local parish when his uncle died. This plan is foiled, however, when his dissolute elder brother, Thomas Bertram, accumulates debts due to extravagance and gambling, leading his father to sell the living to Dr. Grant to get money to pay off Tom's debts. All that remains is a smaller, poorer parish, which Edmund is promised. Mr. Grant and his wife move into the living, and are soon joined by Mrs. Grant's young half-brother and sister, Henry and Mary Crawford. Shortly afterwards, Edmund's father and his brother Tom have to travel to the family's estates in Antigua to settle some problems with the estate. Sir Thomas places Edmund in charge of the English household in his absence.
Henry and Mary Crawford prove to be a disruptive influence; they are both wealthy and attractive and both the Bertram sisters become infatuated with Henry, while Edmund falls in love with Mary, even neglecting Fanny sometimes in his attempts to please Mary.
Tom Bertram returns from Antigua before his father but Edmund still seems to be in charge of the estate while Tom amuses himself visiting people and taking part in horse races. When Tom comes up with the plan of putting on a play, Lovers' Vows at Mansfield Park, both Edmund and Fanny are opposed. Eventually, Edmund is persuaded that bringing in a person from another family would be worse than his participating in a rather suggestive scene with Mary as Anhalt to her Amelia. Sir Thomas returns just before the play is due to be staged and is greatly displeased. Edmund admits his culpability and emphasises Fanny's constant opposition to the play.
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