What does Edmund want to be in Mansfield Park?

Edmund wants to be a clergyman, a minister in a country church. Later in the book he is ordained and takes charge of a parish called Thornton Lacey.

How is Edmund related to Fanny?

He is her first cousin. Fanny’s mother and Edmund’s mother, Lady Bertram, are sisters.

Who does Edmund marry in Mansfield Park?

After he sees the truth about Mary Crawford, Edmund realizes how much he loves Fanny, and they marry.

From Mansfield Park

Edmund Bertram

The kind cousin • Caring and thoughtful

Fanny’s thoughtful cousin, who dreams of becoming a country clergyman and is the first at Mansfield to show her real kindness.

Who is Edmund Bertram?

Edmund Bertram is Fanny’s kind cousin, the younger son of Sir Thomas, who plans to become a country clergyman. On Fanny’s very first lonely day at Mansfield Park, he finds her crying on the stairs and helps her write to her brother William. He is thoughtful and good, though for a long time he is dazzled by the lively Mary Crawford.

Edmund Bertram is a character in Mansfield Park, the 1814 novel by Jane Austen, retold for ages 6–9 by Sean Lee.

What is Edmund Bertram like?

kind
thoughtful
earnest

Edmund Bertram’s story

Edmund is the second son of Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram, so he will not inherit Mansfield Park. He means to become a clergyman, a minister in a country church. When ten-year-old Fanny arrives, frightened and homesick, he is the only cousin who takes real trouble over her. He talks with her, helps her write to William, and later makes sure she has a horse to ride for her health.

When Henry and Mary Crawford come to stay at the nearby Parsonage, Edmund falls in love with Mary’s wit, beauty and harp playing, and he lends her Fanny’s horse. He argues against Tom’s plan to put on a play while their father is away, but in the end he agrees to act opposite Mary, telling himself it keeps a stranger out of the house. Fanny is hurt, but she never stops being his friend.

At Fanny’s ball, Edmund gives her a plain gold chain for William’s amber cross. Later he is ordained, and he urges Fanny to think again about Henry’s proposal. When the family is struck by disgrace, he sees at last that Mary does not truly care about right and wrong. He brings Fanny home from Portsmouth, comes to love her, and marries her.

“Would it make you happy to write to William?”

Edmund Bertram, comforting ten-year-old Fanny on her first lonely days at Mansfield Park. From the original 1814 novel by Jane Austen.

A moment to remember

Edmund sits beside little Fanny on the cold stone steps, hands her his clean white handkerchief and fetches pen and paper so she can write to William.

Fanny Price: cousin and dearest friend
Mary Crawford: lively friend who dazzles him
Henry Crawford: friend he hopes Fanny will accept
William Price: Fanny’s brother, who he helps her write to

Talk about it

Edmund noticed when Fanny was sad and helped her. How can you tell when a friend needs cheering up?

Questions about Edmund Bertram

What does Edmund want to be in Mansfield Park?: Edmund wants to be a clergyman, a minister in a country church. Later in the book he is ordained and takes charge of a parish called Thornton Lacey.
How is Edmund related to Fanny?: He is her first cousin. Fanny’s mother and Edmund’s mother, Lady Bertram, are sisters.
Who does Edmund marry in Mansfield Park?: After he sees the truth about Mary Crawford, Edmund realizes how much he loves Fanny, and they marry.