Evelina is set in England in the late 18th century. As was true for much of European history, England and France are at war during this period. Burney hints at these political tensions via the strained relationship between Captain Mirvan and Madame Duval—the two dislike each other, in part, because Captain Mirvan is a patriotic English naval officer and Madame Duval lived in France for many years after marrying a French nobleman.
The novel moves between rural areas of England and London. Much of Evelina’s growth over the course of the novel comes from her decision to leave Berry Hill, the home in the countryside where she grew up. Her sheltered upbringing and resulting naïve nature leads her to make a few faux pas once she arrives in London society. For example, at the first ball she attends, Evelina denies Mr. Lovel a dance but then accepts when Lord Orville asks her. When Mr. Lovel reprimands Evelina, telling her that women may not dance at all after rejecting the first man who asks, she is distraught—she did not intentionally break the rules, she just didn’t know what they were in the first place.
Over the course of the novel, Evelina comes to understand the etiquette of city life but ultimately decides to settle down in the country after marrying Lord Orville. This reproduces the notion common amongst rural people in England at the time that London was a place to find a romantic partner but not a place to stay for long.
Another important element of the setting of Evelina is the strict class hierarchy in place in England at the time. Burney intentionally captures the tensions between wealthy aristocratic people (such as Lord Orville, Mrs. Mirvan, and Sir John Belmont) and self-made middle-class people (such as the Branghtons). Though the Branghtons strive to secure a place for themselves amongst the upper classes, their efforts are in vain, proving that class mobility is almost impossible in this time period.
Evelina also captures the gender norms of late-18th-century English society. Evelina’s constant fear of ruining her reputation (as seen in her rejection of Sir Clement’s lecherous advances, her distress after accidentally not acting with good manners, and her frustration with being seen with the uncultured Branghtons) captures the way that a woman’s reputation is her only currency. In order to find financial security, she as a woman must marry a wealthy man (as she cannot work herself), and, in order to marry a wealthy man, she must present herself as innocent and well-mannered. Though Evelina herself does not challenge these gender norms, Burney is subtly challenging them by showing how much effort Evelina has to put in so that she can maintain her reputation.
