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Letter 36
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
“My hopes begin to revive,” Sanford tells Charles. Eliza has proved agreeable to continuing to interact with him in social situations, and he couldn’t be happier. “Love her, I certainly do,” admits Sanford, but their limited finances make their union impossible. He considers marrying her anyway, but his deception and the truth about his wealth is sure to be a “source of discontent.” Eliza is leaving tomorrow for Boston with the newly married Mrs. Sumner, Sanford says. “I must follow her.”
Sanford finally admits that he loves Eliza, but this doesn’t mean that he intends to do right by her. He knows that his money is in large part what attracts her to him, and he worries that she will feel differently once she discovers he is bankrupt. Still, he must conquer her if possible and he has no intention of giving up, regardless of how many times she asks him to.
Themes
