Selfish people everywhere

Fanny's passiveness seems to make the selfishness of the other characters even more apparent. The only character to have any remorse for not considering her is Edmund after he realizes that since he had taken her horse, she had no way of exercising or avoiding his aunts' unreasonable demands. Later, when the other cousins are planning the play, "Fanny looked on and listened, not unamused to observe the selfishness, which more or less disguised, seemed to govern them all" (p 153). After they have trouble picking a play and casting so that everyone is reasonably satisfied, they accuse Fanny of being the selfish one for not agreeing to play the part no one wants because she cannot act. It seems that although the characters in other novels have been selfish, such as Marianne in Sense and Sensibility, what makes these characters different is that it becomes more obvious in their reactions with Fanny. She is so passive and agreeable, that she will not say what she wants or even what is best for her health. For example, it is so easy for Edmund to disregard her need for exercise and leave her with his aunts because she says she doesn't plan on riding the next day when he asks about her horse. Had Fanny been more assertive, these characters may not have seemed as obviously self centered.