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 back to Evelina and says that, although he hoped she would work this out for herself, he cannot hide the truth from her any longer. Mr. Villars suspects that Evelina is in love with Lord Orville and fears that she will get her heart broken. He feels that it is understandable Evelina should think highly of Lord Orville, as he is kind and charming. However, Mr. Villars is afraid because Evelina is very innocent, and appearances can sometimes be deceiving. Furthermore, since Evelina is not considered a noble, she cannot hope to marry Lord Orville. Mr. Villars wants her to leave Bristol as soon as possible.
Although Mr. Villars wants to allow Evelina to learn for herself and gain experience, he also wisely understands that, sometimes, young people need guidance to save them from making dangerous mistakes. Mr. Villars does not want Evelina to pin her marriage hopes on Lord Orville. Although Lord Orville seems kind, it was common at this time for men to seduce women without intending to marry them—something that could seriously damage the woman’s reputation. Furthermore, 18th-century society was strictly ordered by class, meaning that nobles like Lord Orville did not often marry beneath their social rank. Although Evelina is a noble—her father is nobility—she is estranged from him, so her origins are not widely known.
Themes
Literary Devices
