Role Of Class In Evelina Essay Research

Role Of .Class. In Evelina Essay, Research Paper

The Role of “Class” in Evelina

What is the definition of “class”. Burney expresses how class is viewed in the eighteenth century society through the novel Evelina. In the novel, Burney exposes to the reader different classes of characters from the aristocrats to the merchants to the commoners and to the prostitutes. Burney also reveals how different character defines the word “class.” Madame Duval thinks money and material are sufficient qualifications to belong to the high society. Mrs. Beaumont believes that a person’s class is set by birth; the social class one is born into defines one’s social status. However, Burney seems to disagree with both of the characters. Through the character of the heroine Evelina, Burney defines what she perceives as the true definition class and the role it plays in society.

Burney points out in the novel that the British in the Eighteenth century is well aware of the importance of class, or the position in social hierarchy. To abase a person’s social status is an insult and the action is frequently used in this novel as a weapon for attack, argument and revenge. Madame Duval and Captain Mirvan incessantly attack each other’s social status. Madame Duval insults the Captain, calling him a dirty low life and only fit as a steward of Lady Howard. The Captain, with his injured pride, insults Madame Duval as a wash lady of Lady Howard. The dislike is mutual and the tactic used to infuriate one another is by making derogatory comments on each other’s status. In another example, Evelina refuses to dance with the “foppish ” Lovell but agreed to dance with Lord Orville, the gentleman who has an air of “mixed and politeness and gallantry.” (Pg. 29) Lovell is extremely offended by her refusal to dance and believes that she refused him because he lacks the title of a Lord. Conscious that he is in a lower rank comparing to Lord Orville, he feels extremely humiliated. He takes his revenge on Evelina as he abashes her in public and accuses her of being ill mannered. Behind her back, he destroys her reputation by calling her a country “nobody”(pg35). Upon another encounter, he twisted her status to “toad-eater” as he deliberately inferiorities her class and describes her as a companion to Miss Mirvan. Being vicious as he is, He believes that by establish the commonality of Evelina’s social status, she will not be able to be accepted by the elite social class. Not only did Burney point out the importance of social ranking, she, at the same time, exhibits the ill nature of those who make use of such information regarding other peoples’ status to their advantage.

Burney seems to be criticizing the double standard treatment of people who lacks “class” and those who has high status. She disapproves the conduct of people in the novel who have the characteristic that appears to be “changing with the tide.” Mrs. Beaumont’s character is satirically described as the “absolute Court Calendar bigot.” (pg. 284) Her idea of class is illustrated by her belief that birth is virtue. Her previous association with Evelina let her to believe that Evelina is a woman of quality. However, she is soon disappointed to find out that Evelina is a “mere country gentlewoman”(pg284). Similarly, Lady Louisa and many other social elites who reside under the same roof as Evelina look down on her with cold aloofness and act as if she does not exist. Evelina appears to be lower in status than the others and is treated as nobody. Interesting, as soon as they discover that Evelina is established as Miss Belmont and now belong to the same class as they do, they treat her with respect. Lady Louisa who has never talked to her nor took interest in her, invites Evelina for the first time to join them for a walk. Evelina notices the change in their attitude toward her and it is all because of the change of status. Sir Clement is another example. He wildly pursues Evelina when she was with the Mirvan’s family, who belong to the gentry. Although he is very straightforward in conveying his passionate love for Evelina, he has treated her with respect and shows good manners that a gentleman pays a lady. However, Sir Clement sees Evelina for the second time and her situation has changed. Sir Clement encounters her with her relatives who, although wealthy, are very vulgar in behavior and notorious. Evelina immediately noticed his change in attitude. To Sir Clement, an alteration of companion seems to “authorize an alteration in manners” of behavior.(Pg. 201) He no longer treats her with respect as he had in the previous encounter and assumes that he is at the liberty to take advantage of her just because she is no longer associating with the upper class. His alteration of manners and opinions towards her lowers her opinion of him.

It is stereotypical to believe that people behave certain ways according to their social class. Burney expresses that many factors shape a person’s behavior, such as education and belief. A person’s character may not parallel with social status. Burney is especially fascinated with the idea of vulgarity and provides the reader with the notion that vulgarity is not necessarily a description of the lower class. The libertines, such as Lord Merton, clearly have a very high social standing in society to receive titles of a lord. However his behavior is discourteous and uncultured. Lord Merton gives offensiv