Edmund Bertram

Edmund Bertram
Blake Ritson starring as Edmund Bertram in the 2007 television drama, Mansfield Park by BBC
Gender	Male
Age	25
Occupation	Clergyman
Income	£700 per annum after becoming a clergyman
Rank	the second son of an English baronet
Primary residence	Mansfield Park mansion; after ordination, Thornton Lacey parsonage
Family
Romantic interest(s)	Miss Mary Crawford, Fanny Price
Parents	Lady Maria Ward Bertram and Sir Thomas Bertram
Sibling(s)	Maria Bertram, Julia, and Thomas Bertram

Edmund Bertram is a major protagonist in Jane Austen's 1814 novel Mansfield Park. He is Sir Thomas's second son and plans to be ordained as a clergyman.

Character

Edmund is a naturally kind and compassionate person, as demonstrated by his conduct toward Fanny Price, an impoverished cousin who has come to live with Edmund's family from her lower middle class home and family in Portsmouth. Edmund's kindness and generosity to Fanny distinguishes him from the rest of his family, who tend to exploit Fanny's good nature or mock her for her less privileged upbringing. For instance, Edmund's brother Tom would deride Fanny, and his sisters, Maria and Julia, would condescend to give Fanny toys of the least value to them. However, Edmund remains friendly and encouraging to Fanny and she gradually falls in love with him as she grows up.

Adult life

Edmund's wishes to become a clergyman, for he is the second son without prospect of inheriting a large fortune. Edmund was to be given the living of the local parish when his uncle died. His father is unable to accommodate him as his elder brother, Thomas Bertram's extravagance requires his father to sell the living to Dr. Grant to raise some money to pay off Tom's debts. All that remains is a smaller, poorer parish which Edmund is promised. Dr. Grant is high living man and his wife. Mrs. Grant has a half-brother and sister, Henry and Mary Crawford. Edmund's father, Sir Thomas and his brother Tom have to travel to the family's estates in Antigua to settle some problems with the estate. Sir Thomas places Edmund in charge of the English estate in his absence.

Henry and Mary Crawford prove to be a disruptive influence on the Bertram family when they come to stay with their half-sister in the parsonage. They are both wealthy and attractive and both the Bertram sisters both become infatuated with Henry while Edmund falls in love with Mary, even neglecting Fanny sometimes in his attempts to please Mary.

Tom Bertram returns from Antigua before his father but Edmund still seems to be in charge of the estate while Tom amuses himself visiting people and taking part in horse races. When Tom comes up with the plan of putting on a play, Lovers' Vows at Mansfield Park, both Edmund and Fanny are opposed. Eventually Edmund is persuaded that bringing in a person from another family would be worse than his participating in a rather suggestive scene with Mary as Anhalt to her Amelia. Sir Thomas returns just before the play is due to be staged and is greatly displeased. Edmund admits his culpability and emphasises Fanny's constant opposition to the play.

Edmund with Mary

Edmund is infatuated with the beautiful and talented Mary Crawford. He tells Fanny of his love which affects her as she is in love with Edmund. At one point, Edmund even declares to Fanny that Mary was the only lady in the world whom he can think of as a wife. However, Edmund is also greatly upset when he discovers that Mary is opposed to him becoming a clergyman. Mary suggests to Edmund other possible professions. At a ball, Mary informs Edmund that they will never dance again, as she is soon to go away for a time and when she comes back, he will be ordained a clergyman and she never dances with clergymen. When Tom becomes dangerously ill, she rather callously hopes that Edmund will inherit the baronetcy and estate if his brother dies.

Meanwhile, Mary's brother Henry proposes to Fanny, who declines, both because she thinks him improper, and she is still in love with Edmund. Sir Thomas is infuriated at Fanny's "stupidity" and accuses her of being ungrateful, although he does not know Fanny's reasons for rejecting Henry. Sir Thomas decides to make Fanny experience the relative poverty of her own family in attempt to change her opinion of Mr. Crawford by sending her home to Portsmouth. Fanny then leaves for Portsmouth while Edmund goes to Peterborough to visit an old acquaintance and become ordained.

In London, Henry Crawford encounters Edmund's sister Maria, who is now married to the wealthy but stupid Mr Rushworth. They elope which brings disgrace and embarrassment on the Rushworths and the Bertrams. On a visit to Mary in London, Edmund finds that Mary is continually justifying her brother's actions and even blames Fanny for causing the situation by declining Henry's proposals. She also declares that if Fanny had not been so stupid and had accepted Henry, he would not have the time to behave in such a manner, and he would also be in too great a state of such felicity to attempt to indulge in lechery. Edmund, enraged at Mary's comments about Fanny, walks out and never returns to her.

Edmund tells Fanny about his disillusionment with Mary's character and she comforts him. Edmund is extremely grieved by what has occurred, but he eventually recovers and realizes that he has always loved Fanny. Sir Thomas gives his approval, and they marry. Edmund is given the parsonage at the nearby village of Thornton Lacey, and he and Fanny move there, shortly afterwards, Dr Grant receives a position in London, leaving the Mansfield parish available for them as well.

Portrayals

• Alex Lowe as the young Edmund and Nicholas Farrell as the grown Edmund in the 1983 British television drama serial Mansfield Park (1983 TV serial).

• Philip Sarson as the young Edmund and Johnny Lee Miller as the grown Edmund in the 1999 film Mansfield Park.

• Blake Ritson in the 2007 BBC production aired as The Complete Jane Austen (Mansfield Park (2007 TV drama)).