Henrietta (novel)

Author Charlotte Lennox
Country United Kingdom
Language English
Genre Novel
Title page of Henrietta by Charlotte Lennox

Henrietta is an 18th century novel by British/American author Charlotte Lennox. The first edition was published in 1758, and the second edition, revised by Lennox was published in 1761.[1]

Overview

Charlotte Lennox’s novel Henrietta depicts the difficulties and dangers faced by young, unprotected women in the eighteenth century. Throughout the story, Lennox uses Henrietta, the protagonist, to describe several problems women faced both with men, money and social value in the 18th century.[2] Henrietta struggles to figure out her role in society and through a series of events she finds herself overwhelmed with what society has to offer her. Lennox creates tension and elements of suspense throughout the story.

The novel fundamentally uses an idea of romance and relationships, along with independence, to build characters and the plot. In the beginning, Lennox tells us Henrietta leaves the comfort of her aunt's because they want her to have an arranged marriage and she wants to marry for love. Her pitfalls and successes give Henrietta likability and show how her character is relatable to others. Henrietta is the heroine and the reader wants her to succeed and find true love.

Henrietta can be categorized under the German genre known as Bildungsroman. Henrietta focuses on her steadfast moral beliefs, while also showing her growth as she develops a new sense of self through her many experiences. Henrietta is not only a Bildungsroman, but it is also known as a Comedy of manners because the satirical depiction of other characters throughout the novel teach Henrietta eighteenth-century social norms.

Author

Charlotte Ramsay Lennox was born in 1729 in Gibralter. Lennox initially set out to become an actress, however began to write literature after her unsuccessful attempts as an actress.[3] In 1747 Charlotte married Alexander Lennox in, an employee of the printer William Strahan [4] however the marriage ended within about 10 years.[5] Charlotte and Alexander had two children, a boy born in 1771 and a girl born in 1765.[5]

Charlotte Lennox published a poem in 1747,called Several Occasions.[6] She is also known for composing the first comparative critical study of William Shakespeare’s source material called Shakespear Illustrated between 1753 and 1754. Some other popular novels Lennox composed are; The Life of Harriot Stuart (1751),The Female Quixote (1752) and Henrietta (1758).[7]

Woman author and poet
Charlotte Ramsay Lennox. Woman author and poet 1729/30-1804

Charlotte Lennox- "As my readers depend on it, I will always be as witty as I can, as humorous as I can, as moral as I can, and upon the whole entertaining as I can." The Lady's Museum" [8]

Lennox is also known for publishing a controversial poem that was published in Gentlemen's Magazine[9] titled "The Art of Coquetry[10]" in which she directed young to "Employ feminine wiles in order to subdue men to their 'empire', promising that such women will 'control the world by love." [11]

Plot Summary

VOLUME I

The narrative begins as Henrietta Courteney acquires a seat in a passing stage coach, showing a range of character types and illustrating the novel's status as a satirical comedy of manners. She meets a romantic young woman by the name of Miss Woodby. Once the two women are alone in the coach, Miss Woodby enthusiastically professes her deep friendship for Miss Courteney and inquires into Henrietta's "story." Much of the first volume features Henrietta telling her story to Miss Woodby, who insists upon calling herself "Celinda" and Henreitta, "Clelia," in the tradition of romance heroines. We learn that Henrietta is running away from her aunt, Lady Meadows, who insists upon her marrying Sir Isaac Darby. Arriving at her stop, Miss Woodby and Henrietta alight, and Miss Woodby provides Henrietta with a letter of introduction to Mrs. Egret, a milliner who lets rooms in the city. Unfortunately, Miss Woodby neglects to address the letter, and so Henrietta cannot find her way. She is mistakenly directed to Mrs. Eccles, also a milliner. While not quite pleased with the character and situation of Mrs. Eccles, whom we later learn manages a side business of procuration on behalf of wealthy young men, Henrietta takes lodgings there and is visited by Miss Woodby. Here, Henrietta confides the remainder of her history to Miss Woodby, in keeping with romance conventions.

passHenrietta's parents, Mr. Courtney and Miss Carlton, have died, leaving young Henrietta to live with her aunt, Lady Meadows. The two lover's were not encouraged to marry. Mrs. Carlton asked Mr. Courtney's father for assistance after she had been widowed. The senior Mr. Courtney would not oblige and sent them away. Mr. Courtney junior is struck by the beauty and sensibility of the young Miss Carlton and his passion is ignited. The younger Mr. Courtney forfeits a sizable inheritance in order to marry Miss Carlton. Mr. Courtney's passion for Miss Carlton serves as a foundation of principles for Henrietta. Mr. Courtney's mother served as the young family's source of income and when she died, he was left with 600 pounds. Not long after the passing of his mother, Mr. Courtney falls into a depression and dies, leaving a young Mrs. Courtney to raise Henrietta and her brother. She too becomes ill and sends her son off to school and Henrietta chooses Mr. Damer, an old friend of the younger Mr. Courtney, as her guardian. Lady Manning requests Henrietta to stay with her. Henrietta reluctantly accepts her offer. While in the house of Lady Manning, Henrietta is subjected to her hostess's rude behavior and then Lady Manning suggests Henrietta marry her book-keeper, Mr. Jones. Lady Manning continues her mistreatment of Henrietta and speaks with discontent to Lady Meadows. Lady Meadows is shocked to hear someone speak about a member of her family in such a way. Lady Meadows then offers Lady Manning to ease her of the burden of Henrietta.

Henrietta runs away from Lady Meadows when she is subjected to another arranged marriage, this time to Sir Issac Darby, a Roman Catholic Baronet. While relaying her history to Ms. Woodby, Henrietta encounters some problems at Ms. Eccles residence. A fellow named Lord B--- fancies Henrietta and moves into the other room that Ms. Eccles offers. After finding Lord B hiding in her closet, Henrietta is determined to remove herself from Ms. Eccles residence. Henrietta tries to contact her guardian, but finds his son young Mr. Damer instead. While his father is sick and away he explains to Henrietta that he can assist her. Young Mr. Damer helps remove Henrietta from Ms. Eccles residence when she is betrayed by Ms. Woodby. Henrietta is sent to stay with Mrs. Willis. During her stay with Mrs. Willis, Young Mr. Damer shows his true intentions in helping Henrietta when young Mr. Damer's wife storms into Mrs. Willis's home demanding to know where Henrietta was to accuse her of a bad association with her husband. Henrietta hen gained a friend in Mrs. Willis and cut ties off with young Mr. Damer.

VOLUME II

Henrietta decides to find work as a service girl where she is recommended to a Miss Cordwain by Mrs. Willis. After running into dear Lord B--- she is accused to have stolen a diamond bracelet, but soon has her name cleared, and gains a friend in Lord B's Mother, the countess. She is sent into service briefly with an older woman where she leaves after refusing to follow an order. Henrietta is then recommended to escort a young maid named Miss Belmour into Paris where she is reunited with her brother and falls in love. Her brother helps Henrietta return to her aunt, and after acquiring the dowry that she needs to ensure into marriage, she is able to live happily.

Style

Henrietta is broken up into two volumes. Volume I has two books with a total of 25 chapters and volume II has three books and a total of 30 chapters. Lennox includes a brief and witty description of each chapter as a title of sorts, such as "a very short chapter"[12] in chapter IX of book two, or a chapter VI "in which our heroine again appears very foolish."[13] This style of opening chapters was characteristic of Henry Fielding in the early 18th century.

Each book focuses on a specific part of Henrietta's life. In book one, Lennox focuses on Henrietta and her interactions with Mrs. Woodby, along with Henrietta telling her backstory. Book two focuses on Henrietta's life while living with Mrs. Eccles and several characters try to use Henrietta to get her money or her name. Book three starts off the second volume, and this book describes how Henrietta branches out and finds a job working for Mrs. Cordwain. In the fourth book, Henrietta leaves Mrs. Cordwain because she is getting jealous of Henrietta, and Henrietta goes to work for Mrs. Autumn. To wrap the story up, in the fifth book, Henrietta accompanies Lady Belmour to London and meets her brother, Freeman, and her love, Melvil.

The novel is narrated in the third person. The narrator describes Henrietta throughout the story to give the reader more insight about what is going on in Henrietta's life. Throughout the story, the narrator makes humorous and witty remarks about Henrietta and the situations she is in. While for most of the novel the narrator focuses on telling Henrietta's story, when Freeman is introduced in the story, the focus of the narrator shifts to his movements and actions. view of nobility which is a factor that would make the audience want to become or grow up to be exactly like that of the protagonist. The author was also sure to give the context and social cues at the time that added on towards the situations in which Henrietta was faced with. For instance, when Henrietta was living by herself, this event highlights the severity of this issue on the fact that living alone today would be much more female friendly now than compared with from the time in which the story was written.

Themes

Family Honor

One theme that may pertain to this novel is that family honor and class is important. For example, Lady Manning’s value towards family reputation and pride. She had accepted Henrietta as one of her own because of her thirst for power and a higher rank. Her goal from the start was to marry Henrietta off to a person of lower rank, a steward, so she can advance in ranking and obtain more family power among their family. Lady Meadows attempted to marry off Henrietta to Sir Isaac Darby because of his class.[14] In Volume II, Book The Third, Lady Meadow was worried that Henrietta’s action would taint their family reputation so she disowned her.[15] She values the family's’ reputation more, and anybody affecting its title would not be recognized. Again and again we observe characters in the text who either pursue the marriage of Henrietta or who wishes to regulate the decisions made by Henrietta. Henrietta successfully evades many of these hurdles by holding to her virtues and values which allow Henrietta to overcome the obstacles she encounters.

Independence

An important topic would be how independence has made the best out of Henrietta’s life compared to how other women would view living by themselves. Independence would be a relevant topic for Henrietta is because Henrietta reacts to living alone quite well. Even though she get emotional about this, Henrietta was known for using her virtues of compassion, honesty and humbleness into her day to day situation. An example would be when a man in a chariot offers Henrietta his seat, she gracefully rejects his proposition at first since she would not want to impose, Also, on monetary value on the fact that Henrietta’s parents were not around and able to support her much like women at the time were used to if they were single.

The novel also portrayed a harsh view of females, that make them seem dependent on male voice. Charlotte Lennox, removes women's independence and depicts several female characters as romantic (Ms. Woodby), dramatic (Lady Manning), jealous (Mrs. Damer), conniving (Ms. Cordwain), and easily charmed (Ms. Belmont) by male voices. There were but a few women in Henrietta that were not flawed of feminine traits of romantic novels. Women's imprudent actions in the story created a situation that can only be corrected with male assistance.

Bildungsroman

The Bildungsroman tradition is carried though the century with the help of this novel. Henrietta, the protagonist, experiences many of the things that a young woman has while learning about the world around her. She spends a lot of time throughout the story observing her environment and learning what a women’s role in society consists of, as well as how the role of money plays a part in such a society. Several times she is put in difficult situations where she has to choose between her morality or something that goes against what she believes in. For example, she constantly is in "fear of being forced to marry a man"[16] she dislikes, and several characters throughout the story try to get her to do this She always chooses her morality over something she believes to be immoral or unethical. This shows that she is very aware of her principles which she develops as she gains more experiences in society. Due to her stubbornness and unyielding beliefs Henrietta contrasts heavily with her female counterparts who are willing to bend for the sake of their family, reputation, or progresses in marriage opportunities. Many of Henrietta's contemporaries are solely focused on marriage, whereas Henrietta from the start, has been avoiding such a thing.

Comedy of Manners (Novel of Manners)

Henrietta contributes to the Novel or Comedy of Manners, valuing the appearance characters portray in a social class, and manners consisting of lust, greed, and self-interested cynicism.[17] This is displayed in Miss Woodby's love life, how she is falling in love so fast. On the other hand, Miss Woodby marries a young "red coat" in a week after meeting each other just so the man does not kill himself. Charlotte Lennox tells reader how Henrietta advances from one guardian to the next, such as from Lady Manning to the protection of Lady Meadows. Lady Meadows cherishes the name of the family, and will not let Henrietta's actions defile their families' reputation. Charlotte Lennox shows how Henrietta's behavior soon causes the development of her independent behavior.

Characters

Henrietta Courteney: The novel's main character, a young orphan whose in her prime both beautiful and intelligent. She is profoundly naive, although opportunistic born into the world with misfortune. She lived with her aunts until they tried to marry her off to someone she doesn’t love. She runs away and encounters many hurdles to find ultimately find love in the end with Marquis Melvil. She ventures off on her own and is faced with different problems that allow her to develop.

Parents: Henrietta's father is the youngest of three brothers and is most favored by his father. He is very educated and taught his children French and Italian. Henrietta's mother is very knowledgeable and loves to write. Parents are distant after pregnancy and giving birth to Henrietta. Known to have misfortune after the birth of Henrietta.

Grandparents: Grandfather is an earl. He is an honest man and he follows orders that are given to him.

Lady Manning: The first guardian that receives Henrietta upon the death of her mother. She had ulterior motives for this action, as family name and station were important to her, having Henrietta under her care help her station. She wanted Henrietta to marry her steward Mr. Jones, something of an insult to Henrietta and her aunt lady Meadows.

Lady Meadows is a superficial woman that values fame and money like other high ranking social woman. She wanted to marry sir Isaac Darby, who was old enough to be Henrietta’s father."My aunt indeed allowed that there was some disproportion in our years; but then he had a good estate, and I was wholly dependent upon her; his person, she acknowledged, was not *' very amiable, but he was a baronet, and could give me a title". She also wanted to convert her niece to Catechism. She was unsuccessful with both preposition, making her niece rebelled against her and ran away from home.

Lady Meadows, Henrietta's Aunt comes across as a selfish woman. She takes Henrietta in not because of selflessness, but because of pride. Lady Meadows is a strong Roman Catholic who is obsessed with her friend who is also Chaplain Danvers. Due to jealousy of the relationship of Henrietta and Danvers, Lady Meadows decided to find her a suitor who was catholic, rich, and old, which gave Chaplain Danvers all to Lady Meadows.

Miss Woodby is a friend of Henrietta, She is caring and seems to have a two-sided persona. She refers Henrietta to the best lodge from her acquittance but by mistake a coachman leads Henrietta to a Mrs. Eccles instead. However, she is two-sided because it is shown how she betrayed Henrietta and told everyone about her problem and made matters worse for Henrietta. Quick to become Henrietta’s “violent” friend, she is an older, more experienced woman who is entertained by the French amatory fiction of the time. She has led a comfortable life and is seeking entertainment. For instance, she begins calling Henrietta Clelia and asks to be called Celinda. Ms. Woodby marries a young “red-coat” a week after they had met and states this is because he would have “stabbed himself” had she delayed his happiness.

Mrs. Eccles: She tries in indirect ways to unite people “together". She owns a lodge area that is similar to a hotel, but because she’s a milliner the intention of the actual place isn’t what you would think it is. In the case of Ms Eccles, who thought it fit to place Henrietta in a displeasing situation with Lord B spoke highly of how she valued character “Oh, madam," interrupted Mrs. Eccles,- ** though it is not my custom to take in lodgers without having a character, yet I can have « no scruple with regard to a lady of your appearance.” but Mrs. Eccles had taken advantage of her situation by placing Lord B into her environment “Well, you have certainly made a conquest of him — we shall see him again, never *' sear — he'll find his way here again, I warrant * him." because Mrs. Eccles was “She was one of those convenient persons with whom a lady, upon paying a certain sum of money, might lie-in privately, and be properly attended.” which proved to be a very unfortunate placement for Henrietta.

Mr. Damer: Henrietta’s guardian, is a genuine man that is there to protect Henrietta from the people that may be a threat to her. Henrietta's mother left him to care for Henrietta when she dies. He treats Henrietta like she is his own daughter. He is absent for a most of the novel, for he is traveling abroad.

Young Mr. Damer: Is the son of Mr. Damer, who was Henrietta's guardian. He became Henrietta's temporary guardian while his father was away.

Lord B is the former fiancee of Miss. Cordwain, who becomes fond of Henrietta, when she was employed at Miss. Cordwain's residence.

Mrs. Willis: A tenant who Young Damer places Henrietta under. she becomes a close friend and confidant to Henrietta.

Miss Cordwain is presumptuous, wealthy, and vain young woman. She is Lord's B fiancee. She becomes Henrietta's first employer. She realized Lord B starting to show interest in Henrietta. Taken by her rivaled jealous for Lord B, Cordwain attempts to accuse Henrietta of stealing. This attempt became unsuccessful because Henrietta had quit her employment before then.

Mrs. Autumn: A vain fashionable woman who employs Henrietta upon leaving Ms. Cordwain. She is an older woman who fashions herself in the manner of a much younger girl. She desired to be complimented often and fancied herself to be envied by younger men. She fired Henrietta for not transcribing her love letter to her younger lover.

Countess D is Lord's B's Mother, who refers Henrietta to Mrs. Autumn for employment.

Miss Belmour is the companion for Henrietta as she travels to London.

Melvil: also known as the Marquis, who hopelessly falls in love with her at first sight. He would have her at whatever lost he may receive from his father for he loved her hopelessly. He is notable because, through his falling in love with her, Henrietta’s position was restored with her aunt. Melvil was Freeman’s ( turns out to be Henrietta’s Brother) companion when he was traveling in London. Melvil turned out to be marquis; he feel infatuated with Henrietta and has desires to marry her. When he told this information to Freeman this information, Freeman told Melvil to keep Henrietta as his mistress.

Freeman/Charles Courteney: is the younger brother of Henrietta, who went to London for school. He later become the companion of Melvil, a marquis, who falls in love with his sister, Henrietta. When he arrives home, he inherits half of Lady Meadow's fortune. He offer's his sister money for her dowry.

Literary History

Henrietta displays Lennox’s ideas of patience with religious and political differences. Henrietta models as a young woman teaching an older woman to open up her concrete view of the world. In the novel, Henrietta, the heroine displays a consistency to Jacobite ideology. The heroine shows a distrust of Catholicism and runs away when her aunt forces her to convert to Catholicism. Henrietta stands up for her beliefs in her religion and uses her patience and brother to change her aunt’s view. Towards the end of the novel, Henrietta’s aunt slowly accepts Henrietta’s religious belief.[18]

As revolutionary as Mrs. Lennox was with the freedom and independence of her characters she did take her novel to the truth role of patriarchy in her period.

References

  1. ↑ Carlile, Susan; Perry, Ruth (2008). "Introduction". Henrietta. Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky. pp. viii.
  2. ↑ Scheuermann, Mona. "WOMEN AND MONEY IN EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY FICTION". Jstor. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Charlotte Lennox | biography - British author". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  4. ↑ "Literature Online". literature.proquest.com. Retrieved 2015-11-15.
  5. 1 2 Facer, Ruth (2010). "Charlotte (Ramsay) Lennox" (PDF). Chawton House. Chawton House Library. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Charlotte Lennox | British author". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2015-11-15.
  7. ↑ "Charlotte Lennox | biography - British author". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
  8. ↑ "Eighteenth Century Collections Online Logout". find.galegroup.com. Retrieved 2015-11-15. horizontal tab character in |title= at position 40 (help)
  9. ↑ "Complete 1776 Gentleman's Magazine with Declaration of Independence and Maps". www.historygallery.com. Retrieved 2015-11-15. line feed character in |title= at position 73 (help)
  10. ↑ "The Art Of Coquetry Poem by Charlotte Lennox - Poem Hunter". PoemHunter.com. Retrieved 2015-11-16.
  11. ↑ "Literature Online". literature.proquest.com. Retrieved 2015-11-16.
  12. ↑ Lennox, Charlotte (2008). Henrietta. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. p. 87. ISBN 978-0-8131-9190-4.
  13. ↑ Lennox, Charlotte (2008). Henrietta. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. p. 147. ISBN 978-0-8131-9190-4.
  14. ↑ Lennox, Charlotte (2008). Henrietta. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press Of Kentucky. pp. 61–62. ISBN 978-0-8131-9190-4.
  15. ↑ Lennox, Charlotte (2008). Henrietta. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. pp. 131–132. ISBN 978-0-8131-9190-4.
  16. ↑ Lennox, Charlotte (2008). Henrietta. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. p. 11. ISBN 978-0-8131-9190-4.
  17. ↑ "Tracey Sanders ACU". dlibrary.acu.edu.au. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
  18. ↑ Carnell, Rachel (2012). "Jacobite ideology and the emergence of British identity in Charlotte Lennox's novels". Age of Johnson (22) 2012, 255-79. Retrieved November 2, 2015.

External links

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