Lady Susan

by

Jane Austen

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Prior to the events of the novella, Lady Susan was staying with the married Mr. Manwaring, his wife Mrs. Manwaring, and their family at their home. While she was there, she seduced Mr. Manwaring, causing enough chaos that she had to leave abruptly. However, Mr. Manwaring—who is both unfaithful and jealous—continues to pursue her from afar, and when Lady Susan returns to London after her stay with Charles Vernon and Catherine Vernon, Mr. Manwaring finds her there. Because Lady Susan is planning to marry her current paramour, Reginald De Courcy, she has to find a way to get rid of Mr. Manwaring. But Lady Susan seems to genuinely like him: she negatively compares Reginald to him and says that if Mr. Manwaring were able to marry her, she would agree to it. Reginald eventually leaves Lady Susan after he learns of her affair with Mr. Manwaring.

Mr. Manwaring Quotes in Lady Susan

The Lady Susan quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. Manwaring or refer to Mr. Manwaring. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Gender, Power, and Manipulation Theme Icon
).
Letters 1–10 Quotes

But I was determined to be discreet, to bear in mind my being only four months a widow, and to be as quiet as possible,—and I have been so; my dear creature, I have admitted no one's attentions but Manwaring's, I have avoided all general flirtation whatever, I have distinguished no creature besides of all the numbers resorting hither, except Sir James Martin, on whom I bestowed a little notice in order to detach him from Miss Manwaring. But if the world could know my motive there, they would honour me. I have been called an unkind mother, but it was the sacred impulse of maternal affection, it was the advantage of my daughter that led me on; and if that daughter were not the greatest simpleton on earth, I might have been rewarded for my exertions as I ought.—Sir James did make proposals to me for Frederica—but Frederica, who was born to be the torment of my life, chose to set herself so violently against the match, that I thought it better to lay aside the scheme for the present.

Related Characters: Lady Susan (speaker), Frederica Vernon, Alicia Johnson, Sir James Martin, Mr. Manwaring, Miss Manwaring
Related Symbols: Letters
Page Number: 4
Explanation and Analysis:

I congratulate you and Mr Vernon on being about to receive into your family, the most accomplished coquette in England. As a very distinguished flirt, I have always been taught to consider her; but it has lately fallen in my way to hear some particulars of her conduct at Langford, which prove that she does not confine herself to that sort of honest flirtation which satisfies most people, but aspires to the more delicious gratification of making a whole family miserable. By her behaviour to Mr Manwaring, she gave jealousy and wretchedness to his wife, and by her attentions to a young man previously attached to Mr Manwaring's sister, deprived an amiable girl of her lover.

Related Characters: Reginald De Courcy (speaker), Lady Susan, Catherine Vernon, Sir James Martin, Mr. Manwaring, Mrs. Manwaring, Miss Manwaring
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 7
Explanation and Analysis:
Letters 21–30 Quotes

For an hour or two, I was even staggered in my resolution of marrying him—and though this was too idle and nonsensical an idea to remain long on my mind, I do not feel very eager for the conclusion of my marriage, or look forward with much impatience to the time when Reginald according to our agreement is to be in town. I shall probably put off his arrival, under some pretence or other. He must not come till Manwaring is gone. I am still doubtful at times, as to marriage. If the old man would die, I might not hesitate; but a state of dependence on the caprice of Sir Reginald, will not suit the freedom of my spirit.

Related Characters: Lady Susan (speaker), Catherine Vernon, Reginald De Courcy, Alicia Johnson, Mr. Manwaring, Sir Reginald De Courcy
Page Number: 55
Explanation and Analysis:
Letters 31–41 Quotes

Why would you write to me? Why do you require particulars? But since it must be so, I am obliged to declare that all the accounts of your misconduct during the life and since the death of Mr Vernon which had reached me in common with the world in general, and gained my entire belief before I saw you, but which you by the exertion of your perverted abilities had made me resolve to disallow, have been unanswerably proved to me. Nay, more, I am assured that a connection, of which I had never before entertained a thought, has for some time existed, and still continues to exist between you and the man, whose family you robbed of its peace, in return for the hospitality with which you were received into it! That you have corresponded with him ever since your leaving Langford—not with his wife—but with him—and that he now visits you every day. Can you, dare you deny it?

Related Characters: Reginald De Courcy (speaker), Lady Susan, Mr. Manwaring, Mrs. Manwaring
Related Symbols: Letters
Page Number: 61
Explanation and Analysis:

My dear Alicia,

I yield to the necessity which parts us. Under circumstances you could not act otherwise. Our friendship cannot be impaired by it; and in happier times, when your situation is as independent as mine, it will unite us again in the same intimacy as ever. For this I shall impatiently wait; and meanwhile can safely assure you that I never was more at ease, or better satisfied with myself and everything about me, than at the present hour. Your husband I abhor—Reginald I despise—and I am secure of never seeing either again. Have I not reason to rejoice? Manwaring is more devoted to me than ever; and were we at liberty, I doubt if I could resist even matrimony offered by him. This event, if his wife live with you, it may be in your power to hasten.

Related Characters: Lady Susan (speaker), Reginald De Courcy, Alicia Johnson, Mr. Manwaring, Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Manwaring
Page Number: 63
Explanation and Analysis:
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Mr. Manwaring Quotes in Lady Susan

The Lady Susan quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. Manwaring or refer to Mr. Manwaring. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Gender, Power, and Manipulation Theme Icon
).
Letters 1–10 Quotes

But I was determined to be discreet, to bear in mind my being only four months a widow, and to be as quiet as possible,—and I have been so; my dear creature, I have admitted no one's attentions but Manwaring's, I have avoided all general flirtation whatever, I have distinguished no creature besides of all the numbers resorting hither, except Sir James Martin, on whom I bestowed a little notice in order to detach him from Miss Manwaring. But if the world could know my motive there, they would honour me. I have been called an unkind mother, but it was the sacred impulse of maternal affection, it was the advantage of my daughter that led me on; and if that daughter were not the greatest simpleton on earth, I might have been rewarded for my exertions as I ought.—Sir James did make proposals to me for Frederica—but Frederica, who was born to be the torment of my life, chose to set herself so violently against the match, that I thought it better to lay aside the scheme for the present.

Related Characters: Lady Susan (speaker), Frederica Vernon, Alicia Johnson, Sir James Martin, Mr. Manwaring, Miss Manwaring
Related Symbols: Letters
Page Number: 4
Explanation and Analysis:

I congratulate you and Mr Vernon on being about to receive into your family, the most accomplished coquette in England. As a very distinguished flirt, I have always been taught to consider her; but it has lately fallen in my way to hear some particulars of her conduct at Langford, which prove that she does not confine herself to that sort of honest flirtation which satisfies most people, but aspires to the more delicious gratification of making a whole family miserable. By her behaviour to Mr Manwaring, she gave jealousy and wretchedness to his wife, and by her attentions to a young man previously attached to Mr Manwaring's sister, deprived an amiable girl of her lover.

Related Characters: Reginald De Courcy (speaker), Lady Susan, Catherine Vernon, Sir James Martin, Mr. Manwaring, Mrs. Manwaring, Miss Manwaring
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 7
Explanation and Analysis:
Letters 21–30 Quotes

For an hour or two, I was even staggered in my resolution of marrying him—and though this was too idle and nonsensical an idea to remain long on my mind, I do not feel very eager for the conclusion of my marriage, or look forward with much impatience to the time when Reginald according to our agreement is to be in town. I shall probably put off his arrival, under some pretence or other. He must not come till Manwaring is gone. I am still doubtful at times, as to marriage. If the old man would die, I might not hesitate; but a state of dependence on the caprice of Sir Reginald, will not suit the freedom of my spirit.

Related Characters: Lady Susan (speaker), Catherine Vernon, Reginald De Courcy, Alicia Johnson, Mr. Manwaring, Sir Reginald De Courcy
Page Number: 55
Explanation and Analysis:
Letters 31–41 Quotes

Why would you write to me? Why do you require particulars? But since it must be so, I am obliged to declare that all the accounts of your misconduct during the life and since the death of Mr Vernon which had reached me in common with the world in general, and gained my entire belief before I saw you, but which you by the exertion of your perverted abilities had made me resolve to disallow, have been unanswerably proved to me. Nay, more, I am assured that a connection, of which I had never before entertained a thought, has for some time existed, and still continues to exist between you and the man, whose family you robbed of its peace, in return for the hospitality with which you were received into it! That you have corresponded with him ever since your leaving Langford—not with his wife—but with him—and that he now visits you every day. Can you, dare you deny it?

Related Characters: Reginald De Courcy (speaker), Lady Susan, Mr. Manwaring, Mrs. Manwaring
Related Symbols: Letters
Page Number: 61
Explanation and Analysis:

My dear Alicia,

I yield to the necessity which parts us. Under circumstances you could not act otherwise. Our friendship cannot be impaired by it; and in happier times, when your situation is as independent as mine, it will unite us again in the same intimacy as ever. For this I shall impatiently wait; and meanwhile can safely assure you that I never was more at ease, or better satisfied with myself and everything about me, than at the present hour. Your husband I abhor—Reginald I despise—and I am secure of never seeing either again. Have I not reason to rejoice? Manwaring is more devoted to me than ever; and were we at liberty, I doubt if I could resist even matrimony offered by him. This event, if his wife live with you, it may be in your power to hasten.

Related Characters: Lady Susan (speaker), Reginald De Courcy, Alicia Johnson, Mr. Manwaring, Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Manwaring
Page Number: 63
Explanation and Analysis: