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 morning, Evelina and Mrs. Selwyn are invited to visit Mrs. Beaumont. Mrs. Selwyn complains that, because Mrs. Beaumont is from an ancient noble family, she believes that morality and nobility are the same thing, and that noble people can do no wrong. Mrs. Beaumont further believes that it is a noble’s job to be courteous to everyone, although this often comes across as condescending rather than genuine. Mrs. Beaumont is only friends with Mrs. Selwyn because of a misunderstanding—Mrs. Beaumont thought Mrs. Selwyn was from a noble family but she is not. Still, Mrs. Selwyn accepts Mrs. Beaumont’s invitation.
Fashionable nobles, like Mrs. Beaumont, judge people based on their family connections rather than on their own merit. They assume that if someone is noble, this necessarily means they are virtuous. Mrs. Selwyn mocks this attitude and points out that Mrs. Beaumont’s naïve beliefs that she is better than everyone else, and that nobles are always virtuous, leave her open to being taken advantage of—she may be tricked by people who pretend to be nobles but who really are not, or by nobles who pretend to be virtuous when really they are not.
Themes
During their visit, Mrs. Beaumont questions Evelina about her family heritage. Mr. Lovel then arrives, followed by Louisa. They both ignore Evelina and only greet Mrs. Beaumont. Lord Merton then arrives and does the same. He asks Louisa how she is feeling, and Louisa replies that her nerves are very fragile. Lord Orville arrives next and, unlike the others, greets Evelina courteously. He even tries to formally introduce her to Louisa, but Louisa responds coolly and goes back to Lord Merton and Mr. Lovel. Mr. Coverley then arrives, and the group sits down to eat.
Although nobles followed strict etiquette codes with one another, Mr. Lovel, Lord Merton, and Louisa, rudely ignore Evelina because they do not know her and assume that she is not a noble. Nobility was also associated with virtue and sensibility (an 18th-century term for empathy, emotional sensitivity, and kindness)—but while Louisa pretends to be highly sensitive, she is only interested in appearing sensible and does not care about being kind to Evelina. Lord Orville, in contrast, is extremely sensible and polite to Evelina, which shows that virtue exists in all classes.
Themes
During lunch, Lord Merton and Mr. Coverley argue over who can drive the fastest, and they agree to have a race. Louisa makes a show of being very alarmed, and Lord Orville suggests that they make a wager over something less hazardous. After lunch, they sit in the drawing room, and Lord Orville slips out. Lord Merton, Louisa, Mr. Lovel, and Mr. Coverley completely ignore Evelina, so she sits near the window by herself. When Lord Orville returns, he is shocked to see this and immediately joins Evelina and talks with her for a long time.
People believed that nobility was synonymous with virtue in 18th-century Britain. However, nobles like Lord Merton and Mr. Lovel gamble—something that people considered sinful during this period. Furthermore, the noble characters are openly rude to Evelina because they do not think she is a noble, and they’re insensible to her feelings. Lord Orville, in contrast, is genuinely polite and concerned about how Evelina feels, which again shows that virtue and sensibility exist in all classes.
Themes
Not long after this, the group agrees that they must decide on a wager for Lord Merton and Mr. Coverley. Mrs. Selwyn suggests a battle of wits, but they all seem rather uncomfortable with this idea. Mrs. Beaumont then suggests that they have a bowing competition, and the men agree enthusiastically and begin to practice. When it comes to Lord Orville’s turn to suggest something, he gravely replies that, instead of betting, they should decide among themselves which one of them most deserves the money they would win. Evelina is impressed, but Mr. Coverley simply thinks it is an odd thing to say, and the party moves on.
Burney parodies the shallow nobility here as: although they do not know enough to have a “battle of wits,” they know a great deal about fashionable etiquette—something that Burney suggests is practically useless. Lord Orville, who is a noble but is also virtuous and sensible, tries to make the other nobles consider their actions more deeply, but he’s unsuccessful.
Themes
Get the entire Evelina LitChart as a printable PDF.
Evelina feels ashamed that she participated in Lord Merton and Mr. Lovel’s foolish gambling, and she says so privately to Lord Orville. Lord Orville replies kindly that it is he who should be ashamed, as he made things uncomfortable, whereas Evelina tried to join in with the group and make everyone feel at ease. During their ride home, Mrs. Selwyn asks Evelina if she feels well enough to stay with Mrs. Beaumont for the rest of their visit, and Evelina says that she does. Although Evelina dislikes being ignored by the others, she is glad that she has Lord Orville to speak to.
Lord Merton and Mr. Lovel’s gambling suggests they are not truly virtuous. Meanwhile, Lord Orville suggests that sometimes being sensible (empathetic or considerate) involves making oneself uncomfortable so that other people can be comfortable.
Themes
