Women’s reputations are portrayed as extremely important and fragile in Evelina. Society prized female virginity in the 18th century, when Evelina is set, and any doubt about a woman’s purity could damage her reputation. However, 18th-century British society was also misogynistic, and even if an innocent woman was accused of sexual promiscuity, she was unlikely to be believed if she tried to defend herself. Outside of the fragility of their reputations, women were generally viewed as commodities, and men often sought to marry women for their family’s wealth—which made women even more vulnerable to abuse. As a woman herself, Burney suggests that because 18th-century women have few rights, they have little choice but to look for a husband to protect and provide for them, as this is the only way for women to prosper in society.
Men have the power to ruin women’s reputations because 18th-century society views men as inherently trustworthy and women as inherently suspect. The most explicit example of this is the plight of Evelina’s mother, Caroline Belmont. As a young woman, Caroline is seduced by a libertine, Sir John Belmont, and the pair get married. Sir John then denies that the marriage ever took place and abandons Caroline, who is pregnant with Evelina. Although Caroline tries to defend herself, people believe Sir John over her, and her reputation is destroyed. Sir John, however, retains his prominent place in society. That this situation is so destructive for Caroline and not for Sir John highlights the misogyny underpinning 18th-century British society and how women were viewed as inherently less truthful than men. Even after Caroline’s death, her reputation cannot be salvaged unless proof of her marriage surfaces. This demonstrates that women’s reputations could be easily, and lastingly, destroyed. Caroline’s reputation also affects Evelina, as Evelina worries that people will discover her illegitimate status and change their opinions of her. This supports the idea that, for a woman, a ruined reputation is a burden that can be passed down to the next generation. Evelina experiences firsthand the difficulties of maintaining one’s reputation while she is in London. When she attends an opera and loses her companions, she runs into Sir Clement Willoughby, a nobleman Evelina previously met at a ball. Sir Clement wants to escort her home, but Evelina is concerned that if she is seen alone with him, her reputation will be compromised. Despite this, Sir Clement forces her into his carriage and makes advances toward her. Evelina rightly assumes that people will judge her based on this conduct (even though she is not to blame), given the way that her society unfairly blames women for men’s behavior toward them.
Burney suggests that, in 18th-century society, a young woman’s primary goal is marriage and a bad reputation could impact a woman’s ability to attract a husband. The aim of all the young women in the novel is to find a husband, which is why Evelina’s story ends with her marriage to Lord Orville. Upper-class women, like Evelina, could not earn money, so it was necessary to find a husband to financially support them. Society also primarily judged women on their suitability for marriage, which was based on their looks and social status. This is demonstrated when an anonymous poem surfaces, ranking Evelina as the most eligible young lady in town. Although the poem intends to be flattering, it demonstrates that women must compete with each other to secure men’s affections, as they have no other way to provide for themselves. Although Evelina ultimately marries Lord Orville for love, her marriage also marks the conclusion of her own adventures and points back to Burney’s bleak suggestion that marriage is required to be a woman’s ultimate goal if she wants financial protection and to keep her reputation intact. Evelina’s marriage signals her removal from the exciting town to the countryside, where she will live quietly as Lord Orville’s wife. This ending demonstrates that women had no autonomous place in society and that a woman’s only reason for venturing into society was to find a husband to take them out of it again.
Furthermore, women in Evelina’s society lack personal rights and are viewed as commodities, which puts them at risk of abuse and increases the necessity of finding a husband to protect them. It is not just damage to her reputation that Evelina fears—she also worries about her physical safety. Historically, women generally didn’t have rights over their own bodies and were viewed as their husbands’ property. This meant that men could take advantage of unmarried women without facing consequences. Evelina experiences this when a group of men physically accost her in the Ranelagh Gardens. Although this incident is upsetting for Evelina, the men involved face no consequences. The idea of women as commodities is also highlighted during Evelina’s stay at Bristol, when two visiting noblemen, Lord Merton and Mr. Lovel, pay two old women to race each other for entertainment. The women are seriously hurt during this incident, but Mr. Lovel and Lord Merton view the women as things they have paid for and can use as they please—a callous attitude that shows how commodifying women is dehumanizing and can lead to physical abuse. Furthermore, Captain Mirvan, who is married to Evelina’s chaperone, Mrs. Mirvan, sees violence against women as a joke and physically assaults Madame Duval (a widow) during a prank. This suggests that unmarried women’s safety was not taken seriously, as women did not have power to defend themselves and had to rely on their husbands for protection. This supports Burney’s suggestion idea that marriage was unfortunately essential to women in this period for the financial and physical protection that it afforded. However, women’s lack of rights also perpetuated the idea that women were their husband’s property—rather than people who should be respected in their own right—and, therefore, contributed to women’s mistreatment and commodification in society.
Related Themes from Other Texts
Gender, Reputation, and Marriage ThemeTracker
Gender, Reputation, and Marriage Quotes in Evelina: or, The History of a Young Lady’s Entrance into the World
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.
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.
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.
The gentlemen, as they passed and repassed, looked as if they thought we were quite at their disposal, and only waiting for the honor of their commands; and they sauntered about, in a careless indolent manner, as if with a view to keep us in suspense.
But falsehood is not more unjustifiable than unsafe.
The more forcibly you are struck with improprieties and misconduct in another, the greater should be your observance and diligence to avoid even the shadow of similar error.
He addressed us with his usual ease, and joined us for the whole evening. I felt myself very uneasy in his presence; for I could not look at him, nor hear him speak, without recollecting the chariot adventure; but to my great amazement, I observed that he looked at ne without the least apparent discomposure, though certainly he ought not to think of his behavior without blushing.
Lordship!—how extraordinary! that a nobleman, accustomed, in all probability, to the first rank of company in the kingdom, from his earliest infancy, can possibly be deficient in good manners, however faulty in morals and principles!
Alas, my child, the artlessness of your nature, and the simplicity of your education, alike unfit you for the thorny paths of the great and busy world. The supposed obscurity of your birth and situation, makes you liable to a thousand disagreeable adventures. Not only my views, but any hopes for your future life, have ever centered in the country.
To follow the dictates of my own heart, I should instantly recall you to myself, and never more consent to your being separated from me; but the manners and opinion of the world demand a different conduct.
You will have occasion, in the course of the month you are to pass with Madame Duval, for all the circumspection and prudence you can call to your aid: she will not, I know, propose any thing to you which she thinks wrong herself; but you must learn not only to judge but to act for yourself if any schemes are started, any engagements made, which your understanding represents to you as improper, exert yourself resolutely in avoiding them, and do not, by a too passive facility, risk the censure of the world, or your own future regret.
Remember, my dear Evelina, nothing is so delicate as the reputation of a woman: it is, at once, the most beautiful and most brittle of all human things.
It is true, no man can possibly pay me greater compliments, or make more fine speeches, than Sir Clement Willoughby, yet his language, though too flowery, is always that of a gentleman, and his address and manners are so very superior to those of the inhabitants of this house, that to make any comparison between him and Mr. Smith would be extremely unjust.
“O Sir, you're vastly polite, all of a sudden! but I know what it's all for;—it's only for what you can get!—you could treat me like nobody at Howard Grove—but now you see I've a house of my own you've a mind to wheedle yourself into it[.]”
If, as I am very ready to acknowledge, I erred in writing to Lord Orville, was it for him to punish the error? If he was offended, could he not have been silent? If he thought my letter ill-judged, should he not have pitied my ignorance? have considered my youth, and allowed for my inexperience?
Once, indeed, I thought there existed another,—who, when time had wintered over his locks—would have shone forth among his fellow creatures, with the same brightness of worth which dignifies my honored Mr. Villars
Yet, when I reflected upon his peculiar situation, his poverty, his sadness, and, more than all the rest, the idea I knew he entertained of what he calls his obligations to me, I could not resolve upon a breach of promise, which might be attributed to causes of all other the most offensive to one whom misfortune has made extremely suspicious of slights and contempt.
My reluctance to this step, gives way to my conviction of its propriety, since the reputation of your dear and much-injured mother must now either be fully cleared from blemish, or receive its final and indelible wound.
What a strange letter! How proud and how piqued does its writer appear! To what alternate meanness and rashness do the passions lead, when reason and self-denial do not oppose them! Sir Clement is conscious he has acted dishonorably, yet the same unbridled vehemence which urged him to gratify a blamable curiosity, will sooner prompt him to risk his life, than confess his misconduct.
Every wish of my soul is now fulfilled—for the felicity of my Evelina is equal to her worthiness!
