Lady Louisa Larpent Character Analysis in Evelina: or, The History of a Young Lady’s Entrance into the World

Louisa is Lord Orville’s sister and Lord Merton’s fiancée. She’s is a cold, snobbish woman who rudely ignores Evelina while Evelina is also staying with Mrs. Beaumont (Louisa’s aunt) in Bristol. Although Louisa claims to be extremely delicate and sensitive, she is totally inconsiderate of other people and makes Evelina feel extremely unwelcome during her visit. Louisa is extremely shallow and only cares about social status and what other people think of her. She is only kind to Evelina when she learns that Evelina is actually the wealthy nobleman Sir John Belmont’s daughter.

Lady Louisa Larpent Character Timeline in Evelina: or, The History of a Young Lady’s Entrance into the World

The timeline below shows where the character Lady Louisa Larpent appears in Evelina: or, The History of a Young Lady’s Entrance into the World. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Gender, Reputation, and Marriage Theme Icon

Inheritance, Class, and Nobility Theme Icon

...a renowned “libertine,” but that he claims to be reformed. He is engaged to Lady Louisa Larpent, Lord Orville’s sister, although Lord Orville dislikes him. The shopkeeper says that Lord Orville... (full context)

Sensibility, Etiquette, and Appearances Theme Icon

Innocence, Guidance, and Experience Theme Icon

...to Clifton Hill to visit Mrs. Beaumont. While they were there, Lord Merton and Lady Louisa Larpent also arrived, and Lord Merton seemed surprised to see Evelina. (full context)

Louisa does not greet Evelina as she enters but flings herself down onto the couch and... (full context)

...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... (full context)

...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... (full context)

...care what Mr. Lovel thinks about her. She finds the group (Mr. Lovel, Mr. Coverley, Louisa, and Lord Merton) very rude again at Mrs. Beaumont’s, as they all continue to ignore... (full context)

...hire two poor old women to race for them. Evelina is surprised by this, and Louisa makes a rude comment toward her, which Lord Orville smoothly rebuffs. Evelina continues her letter... (full context)

Lord Orville offers to take Evelina inside; Louisa takes offense to this and is very moody about it. Once inside, Lord Orville apologizes... (full context)

The next evening, Evelina, Mrs. Selwyn, Lord Orville, Louisa, Mrs. Beaumont, Lord Merton, Mr. Lovel, and Mr. Coverley attend a ball together. Lord Orville... (full context)

...Clement, who tries to seduce her, and is relieved when Mrs. Beaumont, Mrs. Selwyn, and Louisa enter the room and invite them to come for a drive. Evelina says no, but... (full context)

Mrs. Beaumont and Louisa enter the room, and Sir Clement rushes away and storms from the house. Evelina guesses... (full context)

Lord Merton asks Louisa if she will walk with him in the garden, but Louisa says that her nerves... (full context)

The next morning, Mrs. Beaumont and Louisa invite Evelina to walk in the garden with them. Evelina has noticed that they treat... (full context)

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... (full context)

When Louisa has rested, the group goes out to tour Bath. Captain Mirvan is disappointed that Madame... (full context)