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Volume 2, Letter 15
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, the Branghtons descend upon Evelina and Madame Duval at breakfast and demand to know who Sir Clement is. Tom thinks he must be a rich businessman because he dresses so well, and Mr. Branghton bets that he could guess what Sir Clement earns per year. Madame Duval announces that she hates Sir Clement because he and Captain Mirvan once tried to kill her. Amid this confusion, Sir Clement arrives. He tells Madame Duval that he is on his way to see the Mirvans and wonders if she has any messages for them that she’d like him to deliver.
The Branghtons are middle-class social climbers and constantly look for opportunities to ingratiate themselves with noble people, like Sir Clement. However, in 18th-century Britain, only people born into nobility could be considered noble. In contrast, the Branghtons have made their money through trade, and this shows in their assumption that Sir Clement is a businessman. In fact, Sir Clement does not work for his wealth but has inherited it. Although nobility was associated with virtue in this period, Sir Clement has treated Madame Duval poorly in the past and is two-faced, as he now acts as though nothing happened.
Themes
Madame Duval coldly replies that she does not have any messages for Sir Clement. Much to her amazement, he calmly sits down and begins to talk about the weather with the Branghtons. Madame Duval cries out that she sees through Sir Clement; although he pretends to be polite, he was rude to her and treated her “like nothing” when he was with Captain Mirvan at Howard Grove. Sir Clement looks embarrassed by this, and the Branghtons seem to relax.
Although Madame Duval’s outburst would be considered improper according to 18th-century British etiquette, she is right about Sir Clement. Although nobility was associated with virtue in this period, Sir Clement, who is a nobleman, is extremely bad-mannered and dishonest. He treated Madame Duval cruelly when it suited him—while he was with Captain Mirvan—and now pretends to be friendly with her when it suits him.
Themes
Sir Clement insists that Madame Duval must have him mixed up with somebody else, but Madame Duval replies that she knows about the prank Sir Clement and Captain Mirvan played on her, when they convinced her that Monsieur Du Bois was in prison. Tom and Mr. Smith start to laugh and Sir Clement angrily tells them to be quiet. Madame Duval says she wants nothing from Sir Clement and that he should leave. Sir Clement hastily says goodbye to Evelina and leaves. Madame Duval says that Sir Clement is the rudest Baronet she has ever encountered, and Mr. Smith immediately expresses regret that he laughed at a Baronet.
Eighteenth-century British society was strictly ordered by class, and only those born into the nobility were considered upper-class. Although nobility was associated with virtue in this period, Sir Clement, who is a nobleman, is immoral and unpleasant. Madame Duval, meanwhile, was not born noble but married into nobility. While Sir Clement was with other nobles, like Captain Mirvan, he cruelly abused Madame Duval because he felt that she was beneath him. However, now that he wants something from her (the chance to spend time with her granddaughter, Evelina), Sir Clement pretends to be polite and courteous toward her. In spite of this, Mr. Smith, who is a middle-class social climber, wants to impress Sir Clement because Sir Clement’s rank gives him so much social status.
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