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Chapter 5
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Charlotte Temple, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Temptation and Vice
Regret, Guilt, and Shame
Deceit and Manipulation
Kindness, Compassion, and Forgiveness
Honor, Reputation, and Social Status
Wealth, Poverty, and Happiness
Summary
Analysis
Madame Du Pont is very qualified to take good care of young women, but not all of the teachers she employs are quite as responsible. Mademoiselle La Rue is a good example: Madame Du Pont hired her even though she eloped from a convent and lived with multiple different men out of wedlock. Eventually, La Rue found herself in poverty, so she sought the help of a kind older woman, who sent her to Madame Du Pont. Du Pont assumed that La Rue was sorry for what she’d done and ready to make a change, so she agreed to hire her at the school. Soon enough, though, La Rue became restless and started spending time with local men.
Although the Temples undoubtedly think their daughter is in good hands when they send her to Madame Du Pont’s school, it becomes clear in this section that Mademoiselle La Rue might become a corrupting influence. She has a history of behaving in ways that 18th-century society deemed dishonorable, since she not only ran away from her convent but also lived with men out of wedlock. Considering that Captain Eldridge went to such great lengths to protect his daughter, Lucy, from living with a man out of wedlock, it’s clear that such things were greatly frowned upon at the time. In the world of the novel, then, La Rue emerges as an ominous, untrustworthy character.
Active
Themes
One day, Mademoiselle La Rue plans to sneak out to meet a group of men. Charlotte is her favorite student, so she invites her to come along. Although she should know better than to accompany La Rue, Charlotte is enticed by the idea of meeting interesting young men; the author interjects to say that the prospect of “pleasure” often overrides everything else in a young person’s mind, which is why Charlotte agrees to sneak out with La Rue. On their way, they encounter Montraville, but Charlotte doesn’t read the letter he slips into her hand. Still, she’s overcome by curiosity, even as she spends the evening with La Rue and the young men. She’s shocked by how the young men behave, but she’s even more shocked by La Rue’s uninhibited way of talking to them.
The author’s voice becomes prominent in this moment, as she interrupts the story to meditate on the dangers of chasing pleasure. She doesn’t necessarily condemn pleasure in and of itself, but rather the tendency people often have of pursuing pleasure over all else. The novel frames desire as deeply irrational, since it can drive people to contradict their own moral convictions, which is what Charlotte does when she agrees to spend time with La Rue and the young men she knows. The author’s interjection serves as a reminder that Charlotte Temple is a cautionary tale that frames giving into vice as a slippery slope. Indeed, it’s arguable that all of the misery Charlotte experiences can be traced back to this moment, when she gives into La Rue and goes against her own better judgment.
Active
Themes
Charlotte regrets accepting La Rue’s invitation. She also looks forward to reading Montraville’s letter in private. The author notes that love letters can be very enticing, but she also mocks young women who let themselves be deceived by such grand—but ultimately hollow—romantic gestures. Noting that she’s primarily writing this novel for young women, she urges her readers to stand strong against temptation, which can be very hard to resist, especially since men try so hard to seduce otherwise innocent women. She hopes that her readers can avoid temptation altogether and, if they’re unable to do this, that they’ll have the strength to stand strong when they do come face to face with charming seducers.
