Description
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.