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Letter 32
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
Eliza again writes Lucy and tells her of Reverend Boyer’s intention to “seduce [Eliza] into matrimony.” She is tempted to accept, but Boyer is so “solemn,” and this trait is “not a favorite one to” Eliza. She has agreed to allow him to “expatiate on the subject,” as long as he allows Eliza to “take [her] own time for the consummation.” He will be taking Eliza home next week to visit her mother and she is excited to again be with her family.
Eliza is slowly surrendering to Boyer, not because she loves him, but because her friends and their patriarchal society have worn her down. Eliza thinks Boyer is dull, and she suspects her life as his wife will be both confining and oppressive, but also boring, which is the direct opposite of her natural disposition.
Themes
