# Mrs. Norris — Mansfield Park character guide > Mrs. Norris in Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Mrs. Norris, aunt Norris, Mr. and Mrs. Norris, Poor Mr. Norris, poor Mr. Norris **First appearance:** 0000-i ## Snapshot Fanny's officious aunt, forever reminding her of her good fortune and her place, a woman whose busy kindness always seems to cost someone else something. ## Who they are Mrs. Norris orchestrated Fanny's removal from Portsmouth and never lets her forget it, lecturing the child on gratitude while doing nothing to ease her misery. She manages everyone's business but her own, saving money at others' expense and taking credit for generosities she never performs. Her constant admonitions shape Fanny's early years and stand as the novel's sharpest portrait of self-serving benevolence. ## Relationships ### [Fanny Price](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/characters/fanny_price) _psychological_ Mrs. Norris is a cruel and domineering aunt who constantly belittles, exploits, and psychologically abuses Fanny. ### [Sir Thomas Bertram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/characters/sir_thomas_bertram) _family_ Mrs. Norris is Sir Thomas's sister-in-law, a sycophantic and meddling relative who tries to curry favor while mismanaging his household. ### [Julia Bertram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/characters/julia_bertram) _family_ Julia is Mrs. Norris's niece, and Mrs. Norris favors her with shallow praise, fostering Julia's vanity and rivalry with Maria. ### [Edmund Bertram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/characters/edmund_bertram) _family_ Edmund is Mrs. Norris's nephew, and he tolerates her meddling but often disagrees with her harsh treatment of Fanny. ### [Fanny Price](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/characters/fanny_price) _psychological_ Mrs. Norris is a cruel and domineering aunt who constantly belittles, exploits, and psychologically abuses Fanny. ### [Sir Thomas Bertram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/characters/sir_thomas_bertram) _family_ Mrs. Norris is Sir Thomas's sister-in-law, a sycophantic and meddling relative who tries to curry favor while mismanaging his household. ### [Fanny Price](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/characters/fanny_price) _psychological_ Mrs. Norris is a cruel and domineering aunt who constantly belittles, exploits, and psychologically abuses Fanny. ### [Edmund Bertram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/characters/edmund_bertram) _family_ Edmund is Mrs. Norris's nephew, and he tolerates her meddling but often disagrees with her harsh treatment of Fanny. ### [Julia Bertram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/characters/julia_bertram) _family_ Julia is Mrs. Norris's niece, and Mrs. Norris favors her with shallow praise, fostering Julia's vanity and rivalry with Maria. ### [Edmund Bertram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/characters/edmund_bertram) _family_ Edmund is Mrs. Norris's nephew, and he tolerates her meddling but often disagrees with her harsh treatment of Fanny. ### [Julia Bertram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/characters/julia_bertram) _family_ Julia is Mrs. Norris's niece, and Mrs. Norris favors her with shallow praise, fostering Julia's vanity and rivalry with Maria. ### [Sir Thomas Bertram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/characters/sir_thomas_bertram) _family_ Mrs. Norris is Sir Thomas's sister-in-law, a sycophantic and meddling relative who tries to curry favor while mismanaging his household. ## In the story ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/chapters/i) Formerly Miss Ward; active and persuasive, she proposes and argues for bringing Fanny to Mansfield Park. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/chapters/ii) Lectures Fanny on gratitude and good behavior during the journey, but shows little understanding of her distress. ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/chapters/iii) Mrs. Norris feigns poverty and ill health to avoid taking Fanny, while secretly planning to keep a spare room for herself. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/chapters/iv) Objects to Fanny having a horse of her own, deeming it unnecessary and improper, but tolerates it when the horse remains Edmund's property. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/chapters/vi) Mrs. Norris defends Sotherton Court, encourages Mr. Rushworth's improvements, and proposes a party to visit Sotherton. ### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/chapters/vii) Mrs. Norris defends her request for Fanny to run an errand in the heat, claiming she cannot do everything herself. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/chapters/viii) Mrs. Norris is vexed by Edmund's alteration of her plans for the Sotherton visit. She objects to Fanny's inclusion, citing propriety and her own arrangements, but ultimately yields with ill grace. ### [The Visit to Sotherton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/chapters/x) Mrs. Norris is self-absorbed and materialistic, boasting about the gifts she received from Mrs. Whitaker. She shows little concern for others' feelings. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/chapters/xiii) Delighted with the project, foreseeing bustle and importance, and offers to leave her own house to help. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/chapters/xv) Mrs. Norris scolds Fanny for not cooperating, calling her ungrateful and obstinate, which provokes Edmund's anger. ### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/chapters/xviii) Claims Fanny's help with needlework and criticizes her for not doing enough. ### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/chapters/xx) Mrs. Norris deflects Sir Thomas's criticism by boasting of her role in the Rushworth match and taking credit for the connection. ### [Chapter XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/chapters/xxi) Mrs. Norris spends the wedding day at the Park, drinking to the health of the couple and triumphantly claiming credit for making the match. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/chapters/xxii) Mrs. Norris sends Fanny on an errand into the village, leading to her visit to the Parsonage. ### [Chapter XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/chapters/xxiii) Visits on the day of the dinner and delivers a condescending lecture to Fanny, warning her not to put herself forward and reminding her of her inferior status. ### [Chapter XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/chapters/xxvi) Mrs. Norris is surprised and vexed that Sir Thomas planned the ball without consulting her, but she quickly resolves to manage the event. ### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/chapters/xxviii) Mrs. Norris busies herself with arranging the ball and takes credit for Fanny's advantages, though she is largely ignored by others. ### [Chapter XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/chapters/xxxi) Discusses the financial savings from William's promotion and boasts about her own contribution, while reddening at Lady Bertram's larger gift. ### [Chapter XXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/chapters/xxxiii) Mrs. Norris is bitterly angry that Fanny received such an offer, viewing it as an injury to Julia. She promises silence but shows her increased ill-will through her looks. ### [Chapter XXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/chapters/xxxix) Mrs. Norris is mentioned as a contrast to Mrs. Price: active and managing, though her irritations at Mansfield were trifling compared to Portsmouth's tumult. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/characters/mrs_norris - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mansfield_park_se/characters