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
Evelina writes to Mr. Villars and says that she is heartbroken by the cold response from her father, Sir John, who has rejected Mr. Villars’s claim that Evelina is his daughter. Although Evelina knows that Sir John worthier of pity in this situation than she is, she cannot help but feel sad because her father disowns her. Madame Duval is furious and intends to take Evelina to Paris with her—against Evelina’s will—to pursue a lawsuit against Sir John. Evelina is glad that Sir Clement left before these events unfolded, as she does not want him to know her true parentage. Madame Duval refuses to give up her plan to take Evelina away with her, so Evelina writes to Mr. Villars to ask what she should do.
Here, Evelina once again demonstrates her natural sensibility (an 18th-century term associated with empathy and genuine kindness toward others). Although Sir John has hurt her by rejecting her, she still feels sorry for him because he is cold and unloving—and, therefore, probably unhappy. This shows that Evelina thinks of others above herself—a sign of true sensibility. Young, unmarried women had few rights in this society and were considered their parents’ property. Madame Duval is Evelina’s grandmother and therefore her rightful guardian, so Evelina has no say over what Madame Duval chooses to do with her. Mr. Villars, in contrast, is Evelina’s adoptive father and is an excellent guardian because, although Evelina turns to him for advice, he also respects her decisions and lets her think for herself.
Themes
