Objections of the coquette The Coquette novel by Hannah W. Foster is about a woman named Eliza Wharton. It is a cautionary tale of the combination of Eliza’s character and the fate she meets. The unfamiliar freedom Eliza seeks during her life was the cause of her guilt and shame. Each mode of freedom she seeks is foreclosed and have changed her life dramatically. This essay will focus on the subject of freedom Eliza seeks in the 18th century, the question of freedom, its meanings and limits, and what are the consequences on Eliza’s life. Eliza is the main character within the book, she is young, intelligent and attractive girl. She is full of life and joy. Eliza’s free spirit and lack of commitment to the male sex bestow her
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At the time women have no right of their own, they are their husband’s property. The pressure women like Eliza felt in the 18th century had affected them in many ways. Lucy sends Eliza letter explaining to her the main value of women, “No female, whose mind is uncorrupted, can be indifferent to reputation. It is an inestimable jewel, the loss of which can never be repaired. While retained, it affords conscious peace to our own minds, and ensure the esteem and respect of all around us” (133). Lucy articulates the main value women have is their virtue. Their virtue was to be guarded, celebrated and renounce only in the confines of marriage. Women were watched and judged for any laps in virtuous behavior, whereas men, who were rarely privy to the variation of reputation, were free to make mistakes and do with women as they pleased. Women at that period of time were supposed to navigate a very fine line, which was to be attractive and flirtatious, but never suspected as …show more content…
She wants to be free and happy, while society wants her to be submissive and to marry. Eliza break all the social standards and norms by being different and not as everyone else expects her to be. The only way for women to be heard in Eliza’s society is through their husbands. Marriage was an avenue for women to get out of their family sphere. For the society marriage is necessity rather than a pleasure. According to her society standards, Eliza is coquettish, and therefore she is not virtuous enough to raise good republican children. Her independence and free spiritedness wouldn’t pass the value of her society. Freedom in The Coquette also took an economic aspect. Marriage was the desire of all women, because it provides security and protection. The husband would support and provide economic power to the women and would take them to a higher social rank. Major Sanford refuses to marry Eliza because she is poor and he needs money, he is looking for a rich woman to marry. He used to seduce women around him with no intention of furthering the relationship. He is the male version of the coquette. He feels if he can’t get something then no one
At the time women have no right of their own, they are their husband’s property. The pressure women like Eliza felt in the 18th century had affected them in many ways. Lucy sends Eliza letter explaining to her the main value of women, “No female, whose mind is uncorrupted, can be indifferent to reputation. It is an inestimable jewel, the loss of which can never be repaired. While retained, it affords conscious peace to our own minds, and ensure the esteem and respect of all around us” (133). Lucy articulates the main value women have is their virtue. Their virtue was to be guarded, celebrated and renounce only in the confines of marriage. Women were watched and judged for any laps in virtuous behavior, whereas men, who were rarely privy to the variation of reputation, were free to make mistakes and do with women as they pleased. Women at that period of time were supposed to navigate a very fine line, which was to be attractive and flirtatious, but never suspected as …show more content…
She wants to be free and happy, while society wants her to be submissive and to marry. Eliza break all the social standards and norms by being different and not as everyone else expects her to be. The only way for women to be heard in Eliza’s society is through their husbands. Marriage was an avenue for women to get out of their family sphere. For the society marriage is necessity rather than a pleasure. According to her society standards, Eliza is coquettish, and therefore she is not virtuous enough to raise good republican children. Her independence and free spiritedness wouldn’t pass the value of her society. Freedom in The Coquette also took an economic aspect. Marriage was the desire of all women, because it provides security and protection. The husband would support and provide economic power to the women and would take them to a higher social rank. Major Sanford refuses to marry Eliza because she is poor and he needs money, he is looking for a rich woman to marry. He used to seduce women around him with no intention of furthering the relationship. He is the male version of the coquette. He feels if he can’t get something then no one