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
The next day, Evelina receives a letter from Sir Clement. He has heard about her engagement to Lord Orville and admits that he wrote the insulting letter to Evelina, which he signed with Lord Orville’s name several weeks ago. Sir Clement confesses that, when he wrote the letter, he believed that Lord Orville did not love Evelina. Sir Clement does not apologize and says that Evelina can show Lord Orville this letter if she wants. Sir Clement will go abroad soon and does not care what Lord Orville thinks of him. Evelina thinks that this is a strange letter and that Sir Clement is extremely proud.
Although Sir Clement is a nobleman, and nobility was associated with virtue in this period, Sir Clement proves that he is rude and entitled, and that he will not admit or learn from his mistakes. Instead of apologizing for trying to frame Lord Orville, Sir Clement refuses to admit that he was wrong to do this and fails to grow or learn from his misdeed.
Themes
Evelina writes a short note back to Sir Clement and tells him that she does not want to hear from him again. Mr. Macartney then comes to see Evelina and gives her a note from Sir John that contains details of her inheritance. Evelina feels she must get used to the idea that her status in life is about to change. She wishes that she could make Sir John accept her forgiveness.
Evelina’s upward mobility—she was raised middle-class but has now been recognized as the nobleman, Sir John’s daughter—is unusual given the rigid class hierarchy of 18th-century Britain. It does not reflect a genuine class change but a reclaiming of her rightful place among the nobility. Burney therefore suggests that true social mobility is impossible in this society.
Themes
