Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Evelina: or, The History of a Young Lady’s Entrance into the World, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Sensibility, Etiquette, and Appearances
Gender, Reputation, and Marriage
Inheritance, Class, and Nobility
Innocence, Guidance, and Experience
Summary
Analysis
Lady Howard writes to Mr. Villars and tells him about Madame Duval’s plan to sue Sir John, Evelina’s father, for the inheritance he owes Evelina. Lady Howard writes that, although she opposed the idea at first, on deeper reflection she believes that it would be good for Evelina to meet her father. Furthermore, Evelina is charming and kind, and it would be sad if she did not receive her rightful title or inheritance because of her father’s wrongs.
Upper-class women in the 18th century could not earn their own money—instead, they relied on their inheritance or their husband’s wealth to support them. Lady Howard feels that Evelina deserves her noble title and recognition by Sir John because Evelina is a virtuous person—and without these things, people will think she is illegitimate. People considered illegitimate children unworthy and innately corrupt, though Evelina is neither of these. Sir John has wronged Evelina because he destroyed her mother, Caroline’s, reputation: he denied his marriage to Caroline after she became pregnant. This damage also impacts Evelina’s social status as, in society’s eyes, she’s inherited her mother’s wrongs.
Themes
Lady Howard also writes that Evelina proved extremely popular in London. Mrs. Mirvan says that, if Evelina’s true rank and title had been widely known, Evelina could have easily found a noble husband in London—but her unknown origins put people off. Lady Howard hopes that Mr. Villars will look at the situation rationally. She adds that they may not have long to take legal action against Sir John because he leads a debauched lifestyle and, therefore, may not live to old age.
Eighteenth-century Britain was strictly organized by class, and people’s virtue and worth was judged based on the class they were born into. People generally believed nobility signified virtue—even though nobles, like Sir John, were often immoral. Evelina’s unknown origins could put suitors off, as they might worry that she has lower-class roots that could lower her husband’s social status. Upper-class women could not earn money in this period and relied on inheritance or attracting a wealthy husband to provide for them.
Themes
