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Letter 48
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Coquette, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Women and Society
Sex and Virtue
Marriage and Social Mobility
Friendship
Summary
Analysis
“You refer yourself to my friendship for consolation,” Lucy writes Eliza, “but I must act the part of a skillful surgeon, and probe the wound, which I undertake to heal.” Lucy reminds Eliza of the “fanciful folly” that caused all this trouble in the first place. Lucy says that Eliza is “among the first rate coquettes,” but now Lucy is happy to see the “returning empire of reason” reflected in Eliza’s behavior. Julia has accepted Eliza’s invitation. “She is a good girl,” Lucy says, “and her society will amuse and instruct you.”
Lucy’s reference to Eliza’s emotional pain as a “wound” that she must “probe” before healing it again implies that Lucy isn’t the greatest friend in the world. In all likelihood, Eliza has learned her lesson (if there is a lesson to learned) and she will undoubtedly act accordingly in the future. However, Lucy is intent on beating a dead horse, so to speak, and she continues to call Eliza a “coquette” even though there are clearly no men in her life. It appears that Eliza’s punishment for lacking virtue is not yet over.
Themes
Literary Devices
