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 and Lord Orville go out for a drive to Bath with Louisa, Lord Merton, Mr. Lovel, and Mrs. Selwyn. On the road, they bump into Captain Mirvan who, to Evelina’s amazement, tells her that Maria is in the coach he’s driving. Evelina and Maria are joyfully reunited, and the group goes to a hotel together. While they are there, Captain Mirvan recognizes Mr. Lovel from London—the pair met at a play, and Captain Mirvan made fun of Mr. Lovel because Mr. Lovel claimed he did not know what the play was and only came to the theater to be seen. Mr. Lovel seems embarrassed and Captain Mirvan begins to tease him about this incident.
Captain Mirvan mocks Mr. Lovel because he finds his behavior petty and shallow; he thinks that Mr. Lovel is obsessed with his public image. Like many nobles in this period, Mr. Lovel is more interested in appearing fashionable than actually living a virtuous and meaningful life, and Captain Mirvan points this out. Although Captain Mirvan’s behavior is also rude, he does not care because he lives outside English upper-class society (he is a naval officer) and doesn’t feel the need to follow etiquette conventions.
Themes
When Louisa has rested, the group goes out to tour Bath. Captain Mirvan is disappointed that Madame Duval is not there, since he loves making fun of her. Captain Mirvan begins to tease Mr. Lovel instead, threatening to throw him in the public baths. Mr. Lovel is shocked by Captain Mirvan’s violent humor. Later, the group returns to Mrs. Beaumont’s house for dinner. During dinner, Captain Mirvan is annoyed by Lord Merton and Mr. Lovel’s simpering conversation, and he continues to make inappropriate comments.
Sensibility (an 18th-century term associated with empathy and emotional sensitivity) was fashionable in this period. Many nobles, like Mr. Lovel, pretended to be delicate and emotionally refined to fit in with this ideal. They are, therefore, shocked by Captain Mirvan’s rough behavior, although the Captain rightfully points out that nobles like Mr. Lovel are often petty and shallow.
Themes
Literary Devices
After dinner, Captain Mirvan gives Evelina two letters: one from Mrs. Mirvan, which wishes her well in her marriage, and one from Madame Duval. Madame Duval writes that she has a cold and cannot come to Evelina’s wedding but that she has broken up with Monsieur Du Bois and, therefore, will leave her whole inheritance to Evelina. Captain Mirvan then leaves with Maria to go to his hotel but returns not long after and says that he has found Mr. Lovel’s twin. Mr. Lovel is confused, and the party is amazed when Captain Mirvan brings in a monkey dressed in fashionable clothes.
Madame Duval wants to leave her inheritance to Evelina because Evelina has now claimed her rightful place as Sir John’s daughter and is, therefore, now a noblewoman. Madame Duval’s attitude demonstrates the idea that social mobility was often impossible in this period; wealthy people left their money to other wealthy people and not to their poorer relatives. Meanwhile, Captain Mirvan suggests that Mr. Lovel is like a monkey because he is a silly, senseless man who only cares about his fashionable appearance.
Themes
The ladies are very alarmed by the monkey, and Mr. Lovel tremulously tries to fight it. The monkey then attacks him and bites his ear, which Captain Mirvan finds hilarious. Mr. Lovel cries out that he will die, but he soon realizes that it is only a small cut. The blood has ruined his clothes, however, and he is extremely annoyed with the Captain. Mrs. Selwyn jokes that the scar will make Mr. Lovel look tough, and Captain Mirvan says that Mr. Lovel wears a wig.
Eighteenth-century nobles, like Mr. Lovel, often pretended to be very fragile and emotionally dramatic just to enhance their reputations. This is why Mr. Lovel reacts so theatrically to the monkey, and why Captain Mirvan says that Mr. Lovel wears a wig—an ongoing symbol of vanity, deceit, and shallowness.
Themes
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Lord Merton and Mr. Coverley say that Mr. Lovel must fight Captain Mirvan, as he cannot let himself be insulted. Mr. Lovel looks worried, however, and quickly makes an excuse to leave. Captain Mirvan is extremely pleased with his joke. That evening, the group plays cards. Evelina receives her letter from Mr. Villars, which gives her permission to marry Lord Orville. She is very touched by Mr. Villars’s kind words and grateful to have him as her guardian. She and Lord Orville will be married in a few days, and Mr. Macartney and Miss Belmont will attend the wedding.
Mr. Lovel is afraid of Captain Mirvan because the Captain lives outside upper-class British society and does not follow the strict etiquette conventions of the period. Meanwhile, Mr. Villars wants Evelina to be happy and is pleased that she has grown into a mature and sensible young woman, as evidenced by her selection of a good partner in Lord Orville.
Themes
