Mansfield Park · Character

William Price

Fanny's sailor brother, whose warm visits and hard-won prospects give her a glimpse of home and hope amid Mansfield's chill.

supporting

Also known as William, Poor William, Mr. Price, XXVI William, Mr. William Price, Price

First appearance: i

As a supporting figure in Mansfield Park, William Price is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Visits Mansfield Park after seven years at sea; shares his adventures and rekindles a close bond with Fanny.

In the storyChapter XXIVOpen this moment free

See William Price in Chapter XXIV Book page

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William Price is the brother Fanny loves best among the Portsmouth siblings, a young midshipman whose letters and rare visits are the brightest events of her life at Mansfield. His affection is uncalculating and his prospects uncertain, and his presence reminds Fanny of the family she was taken from and the world of honest effort she still belongs to. When his career and his friendship with the Bertrams intersect, he becomes a link between Fanny's two lives and a quiet test of how Mansfield values those without fortune.

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The fuller portrait of William Price sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See William Price in i

Character Web

20 connections

A slice of how William Price sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Family
Other

Character groups

Mansfield Park Household
Minor Acquaintances and Servants
Protagonist

+15 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point

This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological peak where Fanny Price's…

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Relationships

Fanny Price
family · positive
William is Fanny's beloved brother, a naval officer, and her closest emotional support… How this plays out →
Fanny Price
family · positive
William is Fanny's beloved brother, a naval officer, and her closest emotional support… How this plays out →
Fanny Price
family · positive
William is Fanny's beloved brother, a naval officer, and her closest emotional support… How this plays out →

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See William Price in i

In the story

William Price appears across 8 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter XXIV
Visits Mansfield Park after seven years at sea; shares his adventures and rekindles a close bond with Fanny.
Chapter XXV
William Price expresses his frustrations about his naval career and his desire to see Fanny dance. He recalls their childhood dancing together and feels the sting of social snobbery from Portsmouth girls.
Chapter XXVII
William is delighted by Henry Crawford's offer to travel together to London, and Fanny is happy he will be spared a fatiguing journey.
XXIX
Departs after the ball; his absence deeply affects Fanny.
XXXVII
William is delighted about Fanny's visit to Portsmouth and looks forward to showing her his ship, the Thrush, before he sails.
Chapter XXXVIII
William accompanies Fanny to Portsmouth, full of high spirits and talk of the Thrush, but leaves soon after to join his ship.
Chapter XXXIX
William has already sailed on the Thrush within days of Fanny's arrival, leaving her with only a brief farewell and a charge to their mother to care for her.
XLI
Meets the group in the High Street; his appearance is ungentlemanlike but his behavior to Crawford is passable and grateful.

Chapter companion notes

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See William Price in i

See William Price in Chapter XXIV