<論文>Mansfield Parkにおける田園主義的イングリッシュネス --Principlesの判断基準として

Abstract

This paper explores how the idea of "pastoral Englishness" is represented in Jane Austin's novel, Mansfield Park (1814). A common feature of the author's novels is their English pastoral settings, as well as endings featuring their protagonists'happy marriages. In Mansfield Park, Fanny and Edmund are portrayed as characters whose love of the countryside and adherence to conventional morality are finally rewarded. Therefore the novel can be interpreted as a romance with a traditional lesson woven into it. This paper analyses the code of principles the main characters unconsciously subscribe to from the perspective of pastoral Englishness in order to elucidate how love for rural landscapes is an integral part of the plot. The four key episodes under investigation in the story include: the visit to Southern Court, private theatricals, the ball for Fanny, and Fanny's return home. It is revealed that in each of these episodes Fanny and Edmund share an appreciation for untouched nature, quiet recreation in the countryside, simple heartfelt gifts, and the quiet countryside. Significantly, each of these aspects represents values of pastoral Englishness. It is also critical for the main characters to further uphold such principles of pastoral Englishness as simplicity and tranquility; how successful they are in maintaining such values becomes central to the novel's plot resolution.