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Letter 20
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
Mrs. Wharton was happy to hear from her daughter, and she writes back to tell Eliza that, in her own experience, life with a preacher was “replete with happiness.” Preachers are much respected in society, Mrs. Wharton says, and reminds her daughter that happiness is “derived from ourselves.” She asks Eliza to return home “as soon as politeness will allow.”
Foster implies that Eliza’s father was also a preacher, which means that she has never had much money. Preachers make little money, but they also believe in prudence and strict economy, and they live very unadorned lives.
Themes
