“I shall be most happy to play to you both,” said Miss Crawford; “at least as long as you can like to listen: probably much longer, for I dearly love music myself, and where the natural taste is equal the player must always be best off, for she is gratified in more ways than one."
- Mansfield Park, Chapter VI
- We're left wondering how many other ways the player is gratified beyond the pleasure that comes from playing and listening. The pleasure of attracting mates. Of affirming identity through a talent. Of become the object of aural attention. More answers could be made. Which answer plays into Mary's character in the rest of the novel?
- Mary accidentally puts her musical discipline into question. Is she only going to play as long as long as she enjoys what she hears? How's she ever going to learn anything new? I'm curious to see if she's actually a good harpist.
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