02.04.2013 Views

Language In Clarissa, Evelina And Pride And Prejudice

Language In Clarissa, Evelina And Pride And Prejudice

Language In Clarissa, Evelina And Pride And Prejudice

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

authorship" in her work (Voices 163). Backing up her<br />

point, Epstein quotes Mr. Delville in Cecilia:<br />

<strong>And</strong> let me counsel you to remember that a lady,<br />

whether so called from birth or only from<br />

fortune, should never degrade herself by being<br />

put on a level with writers, and such sort of<br />

people. (186)<br />

Epstein wishes to emphasize Mr. Delvillefs repudiation of<br />

writers and "such sort of people." My study emphasizes<br />

Mr. Delvillefs definition of a lady. He gives two<br />

options-birth and fortune-neither of which Burney could<br />

lay claim to, but both of which were the hidden legacies<br />

of <strong>Evelina</strong> Anville. His words highlight the insidious<br />

nature of inheritance language, for all hinged upon<br />

birth, title, or fortune.<br />

A marriage portion (associated with birth and<br />

wealth) or an inheritance (associated with title and<br />

wealth) ultimately dictated, and also limited, a woman's<br />

place in society. Burney plays out, as Epstein calls it,<br />

her "conflicted sense of self" in the pages of her<br />

novels, and especially in <strong>Evelina</strong>, where author and<br />

character are both in search of their rightful places<br />

(Voices 174) .

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!