How Does Evelina Change Throughout The Novel

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. In this novel, the main character Evelina goes to live with her guardian after her mother [has] died and her father…[has] refused to acknowledge her” (Osborne). While with Mr. Villars, her guardian, Evelina meets others and visits London, and there she writes in her journal documenting her daily experiences. While she is out on another adventure, many males try to get her attention and dance with her; however, Evelina politely declines a few offers but dances with one guy: Lord Orville. Evelina’s French grandmother comes to London and begins drama with the people Evelina has become acquainted with. While Evelina is in London, she “encounters a depressed young man named Macartney whom she assists by preventing him from committing suicide” …show more content…

As Evelina left Mr. Villars to go to London, she writes him a letter apologizing and explaining why she left. Much like Burney, her character is a writer. In the novel Evelina, she states “Lady Howard cannot resist [her] writing,” so not only does she frequently write letters throughout this novel, but also people are aware that she writes (Evelina 2834). Although Burney’s parents did not approve of her making writing a career, they were aware of her interest since a young age (Fanny). Another similarity between the author and the main character is simply the location being London. Finally, another similarity between the two is their infatuation with being accepted by their fathers. Neither father accepts the choices made by the two young ladies, yet they continue to try to make the family work. In the novel, Evelina’s letter states “my most honored, most reverenced, most beloved father! for what other name can I call you?,” and in this letter to Mr. Villars, she expresses her ill feeling because she feels she has upset him, but, on the other hand, has to do what she believes is best for her (Evelina 2835). Frances Burney’s relationship with her father was one in which is known as complicated, so this portion of Evelina’s life in particular parallels with Burney’s life, especially. Burney wrote about her own life experiences, and because of this, she was familiar with these topics which contribute …show more content…

After learning about her life, someone is able to not only understand why Burney chooses the small details of a character (social status, gender, location, etc.), but also understand each detail’s significance in relation to Burney’s life. Frances Burney wrote what she knew about, and her “works reflected upon as well as reflected the world she knew” (Doody 9). While being more familiar with the life of a female in this time, Burney made her characters came to life. She would discuss these characters’ lives with such passion, and this is what would draw the readers in. This woman is still important because “she contributed something new to the genre in which she worked,” a trendsetter (Doody 9). Burney destroyed the social stigma that women could not be successful writers, and while some may not be aware of Burney’s success, they are also unaware of her

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