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
Mr. Villars writes to Lady Howard to tell her that Madame Duval came to see him and rudely attacked him for refusing to let Evelina go with her to Paris. Madame Duval demands that Mr. Villars let Evelina stay with her in London for one month, until Sir John returns from abroad. Madame Duval says that if Mr. Villars refuses, she will not leave Evelina any money in her will.
In 18th-century Britain, upper-class women could not earn their own money, so they relied on what their inheritance (or on their husband’s wealth) to support them. Inheritance was especially important to unmarried women, as it could affect their marital prospects. Many men selected wives based on their family wealth and considered women to be useful commodities. Basically, the more inheritance Evelina has, the more likely she is to attract wealthy suitors.
Themes
Although Mr. Villars knows that Evelina does not care about money, he does not feel that it is his place to prevent Evelina from receiving Madame Duval’s fortune. Evelina’s future poverty may further impact who she marries and what society thinks of her, so Mr. Villars reluctantly agrees to let Madame Duval take Evelina to London. Madame Duval is very ungrateful, however, and storms out without thanking Mr. Villars. Mr. Villars thanks Lady Howard for her kindness toward Evelina and regrets that Evelina must now go to London with Madame Duval.
Eighteenth-century Britain was strictly organized around class, and social mobility was heavily restricted. Although inter-class marriages did happen, nobles tended to marry other wealthy nobles. Evelina is noble by birth but has been raised middle-class because she is estranged from her noble father. Although Evelina herself is not greedy or ambitious, Mr. Villars knows that to marry someone middle- or lower-class would be a social step down for her.
Themes
