Language In Clarissa, Evelina And Pride And Prejudice

of her own" (300). Evelina tells Miss Mirvan that
Villars does not like Selwyn because of her "unmerciful
propensity to satire," yet he was able to overcome his
personal feelings once again to allow Selwyn to escort
Evelina in order to get her to Bristol Wells safely
(300). Mrs. Selwyn comes to life in the last two pages
of the second volume. Her introduction there secures her
an important place in the novel, for the last volume must
provide a resolution to the story of Evelina' s search for
a name. Selwyn will guide her to the end of this
journey .
Julia Shaffer claims that because of Evelinafs
desire for a mentor's advice in all the situations she
encounters, Burney cannot help but revealing that, "even
the most virtuous males may be unable to grasp elements
of reality that women can perceive" and Evelina can only
act when she departs from "male knowledge and male
advice" (61). Mrs. Selwyn, a female capable of using the
dominant male language as her own, breaks Villars' hold
on Evelina. David Oakleaf argues that, "Burney suggests
that private character evades the binary oppositions of
public character," which allows Mrs. Selwyn the position
of Villarsf alter ego (349). Mrs. Selwyn must solve
Evelinafs identity crisis and set her on the road to her