Lady Susan

by

Jane Austen

Sir James Martin Character Analysis

Sir James Martin is a rich, but “contemptibly weak” man who met Lady Susan while she was staying with Mr. Manwaring and his family. At the time, he was engaged to Miss Manwaring, but he was soon seduced by Lady Susan, who hoped to secure him as a husband for her daughter, Frederica. Lady Susan and Frederica both dislike Sir James; in a letter to Reginald De Courcy, Frederica calls Sir James “silly and impertinent and disagreeable,” and she strives throughout the novella to end their engagement. Interestingly, Sir James seems to want to marry Frederica primarily because of her relationship to Lady Susan; as Lady Susan’s friend Alicia tells her, Sir James would gladly marry either of them. Eventually, this is exactly what happens: after her breakup with Reginald, Lady Susan marries Sir James (against the wishes of Miss Manwaring, who continues to try to get her fiancé back). At the novella’s conclusion, the narrator asks readers to pity Sir James—though Lady Susan’s marriage will certainly be unhappy, Sir James is gullible enough that she can easily manipulate him.

Sir James Martin Quotes in Lady Susan

The Lady Susan quotes below are all either spoken by Sir James Martin or refer to Sir James Martin. 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 11–20 Quotes

Frederica is too shy, I think, and too much in awe of me, to tell tales; but if the mildness of her uncle should get anything from her, I am not afraid. I trust I shall be able to make my story as good as hers. If I am vain of anything, it is of my eloquence. Consideration and esteem as surely follow command of language, as admiration waits on beauty. And here I have opportunity enough for the exercise of my talent, as the chief of my time is spent in conversation.

Related Characters: Lady Susan (speaker), Frederica Vernon, Alicia Johnson, Sir James Martin, Charles Vernon
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 27
Explanation and Analysis:
Letters 21–30 Quotes

I hope you will excuse this liberty, I am forced upon it by the greatest distress, or I should be ashamed to trouble you. I am very miserable about Sir James Martin, and have no other way in the world of helping myself but by writing to you, for I am forbidden ever speaking to my uncle or aunt on the subject; and this being the case, I am afraid my applying to you will appear no better than equivocation, and as if I attended only to the letter and not the spirit of Mama's commands, but if you do not take my part, and persuade her to break it off, I shall be half-distracted, for I cannot bear him. No human being but you could have any chance of prevailing with her. […] I do not know how to apologize enough for this letter, I know it is taking so great a liberty, I am aware how dreadfully angry it will make Mama, but I must run the risk.

Related Characters: Frederica Vernon (speaker), Lady Susan, Catherine Vernon, Reginald De Courcy, Sir James Martin, Charles Vernon
Related Symbols: Letters
Page Number: 37
Explanation and Analysis:

I have for some time been more particularly resolved on the match, from seeing the rapid increase of her affection for Reginald, and from not feeling perfectly secure that a knowledge of that affection might not in the end awaken a return. Contemptible, as a regard founded only on compassion, must make them both, in my eyes, I felt by no means assured that such might not be the consequence. It is true that Reginald had not in any degree grown cool towards me; but yet he had lately mentioned Frederica spontaneously and unnecessarily, and once said something in praise of her person.

Related Characters: Lady Susan (speaker), Reginald De Courcy, Frederica Vernon, Alicia Johnson, Sir James Martin
Related Symbols: Letters
Page Number: 38
Explanation and Analysis:

Oh! How delightful it was, to watch the variations of his countenance while I spoke, to see the struggle between returning tenderness and the remains of displeasure. There is something agreable in feelings so easily worked on. Not that I would envy him their possession, nor would for the world have such myself, but they are very convenient when one wishes to influence the passions of another. And yet this Reginald, whom a very few words from me softened at once into the utmost submission, and rendered more tractable, more attached, more devoted than ever, would have left me in the first angry swelling of his proud heart, without deigning to seek an explanation! Humbled as he now is, I cannot forgive him such an instance of pride; and am doubtful whether I ought not to punish him, by dismissing him at once after this our reconciliation, or by marrying and teasing him for ever.

Related Characters: Lady Susan (speaker), Reginald De Courcy, Frederica Vernon, Alicia Johnson, Sir James Martin
Page Number: 49
Explanation and Analysis:
Conclusion Quotes

Whether Lady Susan was, or was not happy in her second choice – I do not see how it can ever be ascertained—for who would take her assurance of it, on either side of the question? The world must judge from probability. She had nothing against her, but her husband, and her conscience.

Sir James may seem to have drawn a harder lot than mere folly merited. I therefore leave him to all the pity that anybody can give him.

Related Characters: Lady Susan, Frederica Vernon, Sir James Martin
Page Number: 68
Explanation and Analysis:
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Sir James Martin Quotes in Lady Susan

The Lady Susan quotes below are all either spoken by Sir James Martin or refer to Sir James Martin. 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 11–20 Quotes

Frederica is too shy, I think, and too much in awe of me, to tell tales; but if the mildness of her uncle should get anything from her, I am not afraid. I trust I shall be able to make my story as good as hers. If I am vain of anything, it is of my eloquence. Consideration and esteem as surely follow command of language, as admiration waits on beauty. And here I have opportunity enough for the exercise of my talent, as the chief of my time is spent in conversation.

Related Characters: Lady Susan (speaker), Frederica Vernon, Alicia Johnson, Sir James Martin, Charles Vernon
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 27
Explanation and Analysis:
Letters 21–30 Quotes

I hope you will excuse this liberty, I am forced upon it by the greatest distress, or I should be ashamed to trouble you. I am very miserable about Sir James Martin, and have no other way in the world of helping myself but by writing to you, for I am forbidden ever speaking to my uncle or aunt on the subject; and this being the case, I am afraid my applying to you will appear no better than equivocation, and as if I attended only to the letter and not the spirit of Mama's commands, but if you do not take my part, and persuade her to break it off, I shall be half-distracted, for I cannot bear him. No human being but you could have any chance of prevailing with her. […] I do not know how to apologize enough for this letter, I know it is taking so great a liberty, I am aware how dreadfully angry it will make Mama, but I must run the risk.

Related Characters: Frederica Vernon (speaker), Lady Susan, Catherine Vernon, Reginald De Courcy, Sir James Martin, Charles Vernon
Related Symbols: Letters
Page Number: 37
Explanation and Analysis:

I have for some time been more particularly resolved on the match, from seeing the rapid increase of her affection for Reginald, and from not feeling perfectly secure that a knowledge of that affection might not in the end awaken a return. Contemptible, as a regard founded only on compassion, must make them both, in my eyes, I felt by no means assured that such might not be the consequence. It is true that Reginald had not in any degree grown cool towards me; but yet he had lately mentioned Frederica spontaneously and unnecessarily, and once said something in praise of her person.

Related Characters: Lady Susan (speaker), Reginald De Courcy, Frederica Vernon, Alicia Johnson, Sir James Martin
Related Symbols: Letters
Page Number: 38
Explanation and Analysis:

Oh! How delightful it was, to watch the variations of his countenance while I spoke, to see the struggle between returning tenderness and the remains of displeasure. There is something agreable in feelings so easily worked on. Not that I would envy him their possession, nor would for the world have such myself, but they are very convenient when one wishes to influence the passions of another. And yet this Reginald, whom a very few words from me softened at once into the utmost submission, and rendered more tractable, more attached, more devoted than ever, would have left me in the first angry swelling of his proud heart, without deigning to seek an explanation! Humbled as he now is, I cannot forgive him such an instance of pride; and am doubtful whether I ought not to punish him, by dismissing him at once after this our reconciliation, or by marrying and teasing him for ever.

Related Characters: Lady Susan (speaker), Reginald De Courcy, Frederica Vernon, Alicia Johnson, Sir James Martin
Page Number: 49
Explanation and Analysis:
Conclusion Quotes

Whether Lady Susan was, or was not happy in her second choice – I do not see how it can ever be ascertained—for who would take her assurance of it, on either side of the question? The world must judge from probability. She had nothing against her, but her husband, and her conscience.

Sir James may seem to have drawn a harder lot than mere folly merited. I therefore leave him to all the pity that anybody can give him.

Related Characters: Lady Susan, Frederica Vernon, Sir James Martin
Page Number: 68
Explanation and Analysis: