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Letter 21
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
“Your idea has been the solace of my retired moments,” Reverend Boyer tells Eliza in his next letter. He has been thinking fondly of their time together, and he can’t wait until they again meet. Boyer’s friend, Mr. Selby, will deliver this letter. “May I solicit the favor of a line, through him, in return?” Boyer asks Eliza.
Boyer’s sending of Selby to deliver a letter to Eliza is Boyer’s attempt to place a mole in Eliza’s life, so that he may get additional information about her life and relationships with others. Boyer wants to marry Eliza, and he is obviously a jealous man.
Themes
