#i want to say fanny is stronger than i because i find witty people very likeable

[constantvigilante]

"Such was the origin of the sort of intimacy which took place between them within the first fortnight after the Miss Bertrams' going away, an intimacy resulting principally from Miss Crawford's desire of something new, and which had little reality in Fanny's feelings. Fanny went to her every two or three days; it seemed a kind of fascination; she could not be easy without going, and yet it was without loving her, without ever thinking like her, without any sense of obligation for being sought after now when nobody else was to be had; and deriving no higher pleasure from her conversation than occasional amusement, and that often at the expense of her judgement, when it was raised by pleasantry on people or subjects which she wished to be respected."

Such a great description of those relationships of convenience we fall into where we have absolutely nothing in common.

#mansfield park #i want to say fanny is stronger than i because i find witty people very likeable #but mary cares so little for anything that fanny likes apart from edmund #she gives a long thoughtful speech about nature and humanity the next page #but miss crawford is untouched and inattentive and says nothing #she's NOT EVEN LISTENING #for all that she expresses liking for fanny she mainly values her because she's bored #and sees that she's good but has never really valued anything she said #she responds with jokes or nothing at all #and yet people think they're friends! #they're not! #they're pushed together by circumstance alone #not without seeing good in each other #but never really crossing that divide #and when someone doesn't care enough to listen and jokes about things you take seriously #yeah you're not going to be friends #even if you aren't also harboring secret jealousy #even if you typically are overwhelmed with gratitude at any kindness #a fanny that can't even love stern uncle despite all her pathetic gratitude #won't be forced into love that easily