The Absence of a Hero

The ending of Mansfield Park left me with a sense of dryness and disappointment. I realized Fanny did not marry her hero, instead she had to settle for her cousin.  The awkward ending of the novel affirms to the reader−how the novel lacks a hero.  Edmund doesn’t seem to ever embody the characteristics that make a hero, which Mr. Darcy epitomizes.  Mary Crawford to a certain degree speaks for the reader’s frustration by constantly arguing with Edmund about his future in proclaiming that becoming a minister is “stepping out of his place to appear what he ought not to appear”. I completely agree with her statement, although her opinion seems to be out of place because she is not talking to the hero of the story. The audience analyzes Mary and Edmund’s heated discussion as ironic, because they believe Edmund to be the hero of the story with the expectations for his character development to exceed as the story progresses which actually takes a downturn for the worse (in contrast to what we expect of the stereotypically hero). To a certain extent, the scene is very reminiscent of Edward’s frustration to become someone high and mighty in order to oblige the wishes of his Mother and sister; the only difference being here that Edmund’s passion for the church is consistent throughout the novel.  Another instance, the absence of the hero is felt becomes quite obvious when Edmund remains passive (to a certain degree encourages the marriage plot to become real) as Henry Crawford proclaims his love for Fanny. Fanny seems to understand exactly, who she wants as a husband while Edmund continues to be captivated by the illusion he has created over Mary’s appearance.  The lack of power in Edmund is visible when he tries to stop the play from becoming a reality; the secondary male figures in the novel override his vacant authority. Can it be due to Edmund’s high regard for his father’s authority ? Do you believe a hero is never present in the Mansfield Park? Can it be due to the role the church has played in his life?