Amber Cross
Accessories
Fanny’s brother William gives her an amber cross as a gift, but she is distressed about wearing it to his ball because she has no chain to wear it on. William could not afford the gold chain to wear it with, illustrating the struggle for both siblings to fit in with their more fashionable and wealthy relations. They can come close, but they are dependent on others’ generosity. Both Edmund and Henry (though Mary) offer Fanny a chain or necklace to wear with the cross, marking them as the men most likely to provide for Fanny by marrying her. It is symbolic that Harry’s fancier chain does not fit while Edmund’s is picked more carefully to suit Fanny’s needs.
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Mansfield Park, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel
Edward Ferrars’s Ring
Accessories
Edward’s ring is distinguished by the plait of hair at its center. Marrianne is the first to mention it, and though believing that her sister, Elinor, gave the ring to Edward as a token of love, she politely asks Edward if it is from his sister, Fanny. Not wanting to reveal that it is actually from Lucy, to whom he is secretly engaged, Edward claims that it is indeed from Fanny. Both Marrianne and Elinor privately believe it to be Elinor’s hair, though Elinor knows it must have been taken without her knowledge. When Lucy reveals to Elinor that she gave Edward a ring with a lock of her hair, Elinor’s memory of the ring proves to her that Lucy is telling the truth about her engagement to Edward. The revelation of the ring is a turning point in Elinor’s romantic hopes toward Edward.
Lucy (Steele) Ferrars
Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel
Fanny Dashwood’s Screens
Decorations
Elinor painted a set of screens for her sister-in-law, Fanny. Fanny had them put into frames and mounted in her drawing room to shield between a person and the fireplace. When John draws attention to the screens, the reactions of the group reveal their attitudes toward Elinor. John wants Colonel Brandon to admire them to convince him of Elinor’s suitability as a wife. Brandon admires them out of friendship. Fanny warns Mrs. Farrars that they are Elinor’s work so she dismisses them unkindly, illustrating her dislike of Elinor and her own bad manners. This leads to an outburst of emotion from Marrianne who feels Elinor’s pain as strongly as her own. The screens, which were a kind gift from Elinor to her sister-in-law, are used against her by Fanny and Fanny’s mother.
Elinor (Dashwood) Farrars
Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel
Fanny Price’s Dress
Clothing
The Bertram’s give Fanny a new white dress on the occasion of her cousin Maria’s wedding. She next wears the dress to the Grant’s dinner party, the first dinner party she is invited to attend. The dress symbolizes her new status now that Maria and Julia have left Mansfield Park due to Maria’s marriage. Fanny is now “out,” and she begins to receive her due attention. Her family and acquaintances are surprised by how lovely she looks in the dress because she had faded into the background for so many years while her cousins were at home. Because the dress is a gift from Sir Bertram, it also illustrates her depended on the Bertrams for the means to be in fashionable society.
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Mansfield Park, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel
Fanny Price’s Writing Paper
Materials
The gift of writing paper is Edmund Bertram’s first act of kindness toward Fanny Price. When she arrives at the Bertram’s home, she is too shy to ask for paper to write to her brother, though she desperately misses her family. Edmund is the only member of the family to look past her reserve and discover why she is so solemn. The kindness he shows by offering her writing paper is only the beginning. He watches over Fanny as she grows up in his home, and she loves him for it.
Unknown
Mansfield Park, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel
Georgiana’s Piano-Forte
Instruments
Mr. Darcy gives his younger sister Georgiana a new piano-forte as a gift. This demonstrates his caring attentions as her guardian and Georgiana’s accomplishment. She practices much of the day and is regarded for her skill. Georgiana’s accomplishment is subtly compared to both Elizabeth’s and Jane’s accomplishment by Lady Catherine and Miss Bingly.
Unknown
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel
Jane Fairfax’s Piano
Instruments
Jane Fairfax’s piano is an anonymous gift, leading all her acquaintance to speculate on the giver. Frank encourages Emma to believe that Mr. Dixon gave it to Jane, evidence of an improper attachment, but Frank was her actual benefactor. The piano demonstrates the pains that Frank goes through to keep his and Jane’s engagement a secret, even to the point of hurting her feelings and reputation. The gift also revels Frank’s impulsivity and lack of foresight, because Jane does not have the resources to maintain it. Throughout the novel, Jane’s accomplishment on the piano is compared to Emma’s, which wounds Emma’s pride.
Unknown
Emma, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel
Lock of Marrianne’s Hair
Personal Memorabilia
During a trip to Barton Cottage, Willoughby cuts a long lock of Marrianne’s hair from her head and puts it into his pocket-book. Margaret spies this action and the Dashwood women consider it as further proof that Marrianne and Willoughby are secretly engaged. As this is not the case, the gift is an illustration of Marrianne’s impropriety in her affection for Willoughby. Such a token is only appropriate for an engaged couple. When Willoughby returns the hair to her, it signifies the end of his and Marrianne’s attachment.
Marrianne (Dashwood) Brandon
Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen
Brianna Sumption
Novel
Silver Knife
Tools
Susan’s silver fruit knife is a gift from her late sister, Mary. Susan treasures it for its sentimental value, but her younger sister Betsy is constantly taking it for its material value. The two sisters frequently fight over the knife, illustrating the failures of propriety at the Prices’ home. For the first time, Fanny is able to materially assist her family by purchasing a new silver knife for Betsy, who has no attachment to Susan’s knife. This foreshadows Fanny’s ability to remove Susan to Mansfield Park to bring her more permanent peace.
Unknown
Brianna Sumption
Novel