Evelina: or, The History of a Young Lady’s Entrance into the World

Evelina: or, The History of a Young Lady’s Entrance into the World

by

Fanny Burney

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Lady Howard Character Analysis

Lady Howard is Mr. Villars’s friend and Mrs. Mirvan’s mother. Lady Howard is a wealthy and respectable noblewoman who has been friends with Mr. Villars for a long time. Lady Howard knew Evelina’s grandfather Mr. Evelyn and her mother, Caroline. she believes that Evelina should receive her full inheritance from her father, Sir John. (Although Evelina is Sir John’s child, Sir John disowned her and denied his marriage to Caroline.) Lady Howard tries to help Evelina claim her inheritance by writing to Sir John and telling him about Evelina. Lady Howard does not do this for personal gain or any self-interested motive, but simply to help Evelina and secure her financial future. Lady Howard is a loyal friend to Mr. Villars and understands his protectiveness over Evelina, though she subtly encourages him to let Evelina out into the world because she knows that this will be the best thing for them both. Lady Howard welcomes Evelina as one of her own family when Evelina comes to stay, and she appreciates Evelina’s virtuous and considerate temperament.

Lady Howard Quotes in Evelina: or, The History of a Young Lady’s Entrance into the World

The Evelina: or, The History of a Young Lady’s Entrance into the World quotes below are all either spoken by Lady Howard or refer to Lady Howard. 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:
Sensibility, Etiquette, and Appearances  Theme Icon
).
Volume 1, Letter 2 Quotes

How often have I since regretted that I did not accompany her thither! protected and supported by me, the misery and disgrace which awaited her, might, perhaps, have been avoided.

Related Characters: Mr. Villars (speaker), Evelina, Madame Duval, Sir John Belmont, Caroline Belmont, Lady Howard, Mr. Evelyn
Page Number: 4
Explanation and Analysis:

She flew to me for protection. With what mixed transports of joy and anguish did I again see her! By my advice she endeavored to produce proofs of her marriage;—but in vain: her credulity had been no match for his art.

Related Characters: Mr. Villars (speaker), Evelina, Madame Duval, Sir John Belmont, Caroline Belmont, Lady Howard
Page Number: 5
Explanation and Analysis:
Volume 1, Letter 3 Quotes

When young people are too rigidly sequestered from it, their lively and romantic imaginations paint it to them as a paradise of which they have been beguiled; but when they are shewn it properly, and in due time, they see it such as it really is, equally shared by pain and pleasure, hope and disappointment.

Related Characters: Lady Howard (speaker), Evelina, Mr. Villars, Mrs. Mirvan
Page Number: 7
Explanation and Analysis:
Volume 1, Letter 4 Quotes

Destined, in all probability, to possess a very moderate fortune, I wished to contract her views to something within it. The mind is but too naturally prone to pleasure, but too easily yielded to dissipation: it has been my study to guard her against their delusions, by preparing her to expect, —and to despise them. But the time draws on for experience and observation to take place of instruction: if I have, in some measure, rendered her capable of using one with discretion, and making the other with improvement, I shall rejoice myself with the assurance of having largely contributed to her welfare.

Related Characters: Mr. Villars (speaker), Evelina, Sir John Belmont, Caroline Belmont, Mrs. Mirvan, Lady Howard
Page Number: 8
Explanation and Analysis:
Volume 1, Letter 6 Quotes

You have no reason to regret the retirement in which she has lived; since that politeness which is acquired by an acquaintance with high life, is in her so well supplied by a natural desire of obliging, joined to a deportment infinitely engaging.

Related Characters: Lady Howard (speaker), Evelina, Mr. Villars
Page Number: 11
Explanation and Analysis:
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Lady Howard Quotes in Evelina: or, The History of a Young Lady’s Entrance into the World

The Evelina: or, The History of a Young Lady’s Entrance into the World quotes below are all either spoken by Lady Howard or refer to Lady Howard. 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:
Sensibility, Etiquette, and Appearances  Theme Icon
).
Volume 1, Letter 2 Quotes

How often have I since regretted that I did not accompany her thither! protected and supported by me, the misery and disgrace which awaited her, might, perhaps, have been avoided.

Related Characters: Mr. Villars (speaker), Evelina, Madame Duval, Sir John Belmont, Caroline Belmont, Lady Howard, Mr. Evelyn
Page Number: 4
Explanation and Analysis:

She flew to me for protection. With what mixed transports of joy and anguish did I again see her! By my advice she endeavored to produce proofs of her marriage;—but in vain: her credulity had been no match for his art.

Related Characters: Mr. Villars (speaker), Evelina, Madame Duval, Sir John Belmont, Caroline Belmont, Lady Howard
Page Number: 5
Explanation and Analysis:
Volume 1, Letter 3 Quotes

When young people are too rigidly sequestered from it, their lively and romantic imaginations paint it to them as a paradise of which they have been beguiled; but when they are shewn it properly, and in due time, they see it such as it really is, equally shared by pain and pleasure, hope and disappointment.

Related Characters: Lady Howard (speaker), Evelina, Mr. Villars, Mrs. Mirvan
Page Number: 7
Explanation and Analysis:
Volume 1, Letter 4 Quotes

Destined, in all probability, to possess a very moderate fortune, I wished to contract her views to something within it. The mind is but too naturally prone to pleasure, but too easily yielded to dissipation: it has been my study to guard her against their delusions, by preparing her to expect, —and to despise them. But the time draws on for experience and observation to take place of instruction: if I have, in some measure, rendered her capable of using one with discretion, and making the other with improvement, I shall rejoice myself with the assurance of having largely contributed to her welfare.

Related Characters: Mr. Villars (speaker), Evelina, Sir John Belmont, Caroline Belmont, Mrs. Mirvan, Lady Howard
Page Number: 8
Explanation and Analysis:
Volume 1, Letter 6 Quotes

You have no reason to regret the retirement in which she has lived; since that politeness which is acquired by an acquaintance with high life, is in her so well supplied by a natural desire of obliging, joined to a deportment infinitely engaging.

Related Characters: Lady Howard (speaker), Evelina, Mr. Villars
Page Number: 11
Explanation and Analysis: