Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

Every time I read this book, it seems to relate to a fairy tale. The fairy tale in particular that I think of is Cinderella. But instead of Prince Charming, this tale features Edmund, a very complex character. Out of all Fanny's relatives, Edmund is the only person who treats her like a person, and she relies on this throughout the story. Everyone else, especially Mrs. Norris, treats her like a servant or someone far below their status. The characters are similar to fairytale characters, especially Fanny, the good and sweet girl who never does anything wrong. Edmund however, does many things wrong and he judges people, talking with Fanny about his opinion as if it was unbiased fact. Fanny, always reliant on Edmund's support agrees with him and both decide that they view the world in a similar way. The only things they cannot agree on are the Crawfords.  The Crawfords are obstacles that challenge Fanny's character and Edmund's judgement. Fanny feels intimidated by Mary Crawford and she constantly compares herself to Mary's behavior and manner. Edmund on the other hand, is oblivious and ignorant of Mary Crawford's faults but he slowly begins to understand how much Fanny means to him.
I have heard many different opinions on this novel. When we read this in my novel class, we talked about how passive Fanny is, and that passivity makes her an unsympathetic character, but if that is true, why do we see Cinderella as a hero and Fanny as a failure? Fanny's story relates to the popular Cinderella story arc that is still featured in many successful films today. Many superhero tales feature the underdog becoming the hero. I imagine that Fanny is a heroine in Jane Austen's eyes because she leaves her underdog status and rises to a more appreciated and cared for member of the family. Her views and morality, shared with Edmund, are her strengths compared to the deceit and vanity that Mary Crawford uses to win Edmund's heart.
Though she is not a favorite Austen character of mine, Fanny is a strong character because she never wavers from her true self.