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Sir Philip Gardiner
Esther is Governor Winthrop’s 19-year-old niece who is living with the Winthrops in Boston. She has “a reserved, tender, and timid cast of character” and is devoutly and sincerely Puritan. She is beautiful in a sober, restrained way, and everyone calls her “godly” and “gracious.” She had never given a thought to romance until Everell Fletcher came to visit her father’s house in England; there, she quickly began to fall in love. Stricken with guilt, Esther fell into a serious illness, and while she thought she was on her deathbed, she confessed her feelings to Everell, who did not reciprocate. After Esther recovered from her illness, her father sent her to the Winthrops’ in America in hopes of improving her health. There Esther became close friends with Hope Leslie, even though their personalities differ in nearly every respect. After Hope’s failed attempt to get Esther and Everell together romantically, Esther returns to England for a time, unselfishly allowing Hope and Everell to unite at last. By the time she moves back to America, she is reconciled to the situation and lives her life unmarried, beloved by all for her kindness and generosity.
Esther Downing Quotes in Hope Leslie
The Hope Leslie quotes below are all either spoken by Esther Downing or refer to Esther Downing. 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:
).
Volume 2, Chapter 4
Quotes
Thus had Hope Leslie, by rashly following her first generous impulses, […] effected that, which the avowed tenderness of Miss Downing, the united instances of Mr. Fletcher and Governor Winthrop, and the whole colony and world beside, could never have achieved. Unconscious of the mistake by which she had put the happiness of all parties concerned in jeopardy, she was exulting in her victory over herself, and endeavouring to regain in solitude the tranquillity which she was surprised to find had utterly forsaken her; and to convince herself that the disorder of her spirits, which in spite of all her efforts, filled her eyes with tears, was owing to the agitating expectation of seeing her long-lost sister.
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Volume 2, Chapter 15
Quotes
Her hand was often and eagerly sought, but she appears never to have felt a second engrossing attachment. The current of her purposes and affections had set another way. She illustrated a truth, which, if more generally received by her sex, might save a vast deal of misery: that marriage is not essential to the contentment, the dignity, or the happiness of woman. Indeed, those who saw on how wide a sphere her kindness shone, how many were made better and happier by her disinterested devotion, might have rejoiced that she did not "Give to a party what was meant for mankind."
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Esther Downing Quotes in Hope Leslie
The Hope Leslie quotes below are all either spoken by Esther Downing or refer to Esther Downing. 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:
).
Volume 2, Chapter 4
Quotes
Thus had Hope Leslie, by rashly following her first generous impulses, […] effected that, which the avowed tenderness of Miss Downing, the united instances of Mr. Fletcher and Governor Winthrop, and the whole colony and world beside, could never have achieved. Unconscious of the mistake by which she had put the happiness of all parties concerned in jeopardy, she was exulting in her victory over herself, and endeavouring to regain in solitude the tranquillity which she was surprised to find had utterly forsaken her; and to convince herself that the disorder of her spirits, which in spite of all her efforts, filled her eyes with tears, was owing to the agitating expectation of seeing her long-lost sister.
Related Characters:
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Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Volume 2, Chapter 15
Quotes
Her hand was often and eagerly sought, but she appears never to have felt a second engrossing attachment. The current of her purposes and affections had set another way. She illustrated a truth, which, if more generally received by her sex, might save a vast deal of misery: that marriage is not essential to the contentment, the dignity, or the happiness of woman. Indeed, those who saw on how wide a sphere her kindness shone, how many were made better and happier by her disinterested devotion, might have rejoiced that she did not "Give to a party what was meant for mankind."
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