Tom Bertram Character Analysis in Mansfield Park

Tom Bertram is the oldest son and heir of Sir Thomas, and is Fanny’s cousin. Tom, although exuberant and jovial, is extremely irresponsible, especially when it comes to money. Tom is a big gambler and drinker, and ends up with significant debts, necessitating him to dip into the fortune set aside for Edmund as a result. Tom spends some time with his father in Antigua in order for Sir Thomas to keep an eye on him.

Tom Bertram Quotes in Mansfield Park

The Mansfield Park quotes below are all either spoken by Tom Bertram or refer to Tom Bertram. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Manners as well as appearance are…so totally different…A girl not out has always the same sort of dress: a close bonnet, for instance; looks very demure, and never says a word… The most objectionable part is, that the alteration of manners on being introduced into company is frequently too sudden. They sometimes pass in such very little time from reserve to quite the opposite— to confidence!

Related Characters: Mary Crawford (speaker), Edmund Bertram, Tom Bertram, Fanny Price

Page Number and Citation: 33

Explanation and Analysis:

Tom Bertram Character Timeline in Mansfield Park

The timeline below shows where the character Tom Bertram appears in Mansfield Park. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Fanny meets the Bertram children: two teenaged sons, Edmund and Tom, aged sixteen and seventeen, and two daughters, Maria and Julia, three and two years older... (full context)

...She plays with Maria and Julia. Edmund continues to be extra kind to her, while Tom, the oldest, teases her jovially and brings her presents. (full context)

Edmund is supposed to be entitled to inherit his uncle’s wealth upon his death. However, Tom, who has a gambling habit, needs to pay back his debts, and Edmund uses his... (full context)

...Thomas, needing to settle business matters in Antigua, decides to go there himself, and takes Tom with him in an attempt to set the young man straight. They leave England for... (full context)

...she breaks the news to the others. When the family learns that Sir Thomas and Tom have arrived in Antigua safely, Mrs. Norris is sad her imaginings are ruined. (full context)

...in September, sends word that he must stay in Antigua longer, but will be sending Tom home. Tom arrives back in England and reports that Sir Thomas is in good health,... (full context)

Mary considers her romantic options in the Bertram brothers, deciding she prefers Tom, since he has been to London more often and is older, and so stands to... (full context)

Mary is puzzled by Fanny’s reserve and lack of interest in Henry, commenting to Tom and Edmund that she does not understand whether Fanny has debuted in society yet or... (full context)

Tom leaves Mansfield. Mary anticipates that, with Edmund as the head of the household, their social... (full context)

...to very much. Mary offers to play for them. Mary tells Edmund to write to Tom and tell him the harp has arrived. (full context)

Though Sir Thomas intends to return to Mansfield in November, Tom comes back at the end of August. Mary, who used to enjoy hearing his stories... (full context)

Tom appears. Fanny hopes he will ask her to dance, but instead he pulls up a... (full context)

Tom’s friend John Yates is also at the ball. Yates came to Mansfield Park on Tom’s... (full context)

Tom suggests that they put on a play at Mansfield Park, with Yates as manager. Tom... (full context)

Later that night, Edmund determines to stop the production from happening. Edmund confronts Tom with his reservations about the play in the drawing room, saying that he thinks it... (full context)

As Tom speaks of Lady Bertram, he and Edmund look over to see that she is exceptionally... (full context)

...that Mrs. Norris might side with him. Edmund agrees, but doubts that she could convince Tom, Maria, and Julia either. (full context)

...speaks to Maria and Julia, who are just as unwilling to listen to him as Tom. As Edmund is trying to convince them, Henry enters the room, declaring that he and... (full context)

...picked. Julia, Maria, Henry, and Mr. Yates want the play to be a tragedy, while Tom and Mary prefer comedy. They vet various options, but find all of them imperfect for... (full context)

Tom declares that they are wasting time and must choose something. He proposes another play, which... (full context)

...forth. Henry tries to flatter Julia by telling her to take the part of Amelia. Tom objects and says that Mary is better suited for the part. Henry, though, continues to... (full context)

After a short silence, the conversation turns back to the play. Tom and Yates discuss the scenery while Maria talks with Henry. Eventually, Tom and Yates leave... (full context)

Tom leaves the room to answer a question posed by the carpenter, and Mr. Yates follows... (full context)

...the servant. They don’t discuss the play much, because of the tension between Edmund and Tom, Julia’s sourness about her part, and the fact that Mr. Rushworth’s repeated attempts to center... (full context)

After dinner, Tom, Maria, and Mr. Yates go into the drawing room to study the play. Henry and... (full context)

...the number of his speeches. Mr. Yates suggests that Edmund should take the part, but Tom refuses to ask him. (full context)

Tom tells Fanny that they need her to play the Cottager’s Wife. Fanny is shocked and... (full context)

Meanwhile, the others continue discussing the play. Eventually, Tom calls Mary away from Fanny to discuss the problematic lack of an Anhalt. Tom proposes... (full context)

...next morning, she is still unhappy about everything that happened the previous night, and how Tom tried to bully her into taking part in the play. Fanny dresses and goes into... (full context)

...the fact that Edmund shares her convictions. Still, Fanny looks around the room and sees Tom’s presents to her, and feels torn. (full context)

...he is glad the decision, which was torturing him, is made, and he will tell Tom at breakfast. Fanny, however, is so overwhelmed by the news that after he leaves she... (full context)

Tom and Maria are thrilled by Edmund’s concession to play Anhalt. They celebrate together privately, saying... (full context)

...because of this messy situation, but they do not discuss the matter. Neither Edmund, nor Tom, nor Mrs. Norris notices Julia’s distress because they are so distracted by the play. (full context)

Everyone is shocked by Sir Thomas’s sudden arrival. Julia, Edmund, Tom, Maria, and Mr. Rushworth go to meet their father, while Fanny stays with the guests.... (full context)

...that the young people have been acting, making everyone nervous that he will respond angrily. Tom navigates the explanation successfully and distracts his father with talk of hunting. However, a little... (full context)

Tom tells Henry that there is no chance that the play will be resumed. Henry says... (full context)

Fanny mentions the fact that Edmund, Tom, and Sir Thomas are going to eat at Sotherton with Mr. Rushworth tomorrow, and hopes... (full context)

...Maria’s marriage when Edmund appears with Mrs. Grant. Mary tells Fanny she is glad that Tom is gone so she can call Edmund “Mr. Bertram” again, and Fanny disagrees, saying the... (full context)

A few days later, Fanny receives a letter from Lady Bertram. She tells her that Tom has fallen gravely ill after a night of drinking in Newcastle, and returned home to... (full context)

By the end of the week, Fanny receives news from Lady Bertram that Tom’s fever breaks, but that the doctors continue to worry about his lungs. Edmund serves as... (full context)

...learns that Mansfield is her home. Fanny wishes she could comfort everyone at Mansfield through Tom’s illness and enjoy the spring weather. Fanny is astonished that Maria and Julia remain in... (full context)

After a long silence, Fanny receives a letter from Mary, saying that she hears that Tom may be dying, and asking Fanny whether this is true. Mary says she would be... (full context)

Mary’s unsavory hope that Tom will die disgusts Fanny. Likewise, she is skeptical of Henry’s relationship with Maria, which she... (full context)

...is extraordinarily disturbed by Maria’s scandal and the general disruption in the house due to Tom’s illness. Naturally, she is also furious that Fanny is back, and even less happy to... (full context)

...forgiveness, and Mr. Yates, wanting to be approved of, tries hard to appease the family. Tom regains his health, and following his illness he is much more considerate and responsible. Edmund’s... (full context)

Tom Bertram Character Analysis

Tom Bertram Quotes in Mansfield Park

Chapter 5 Quotes

Tom Bertram Character Timeline in Mansfield Park