We’ve discussed the place of slavery, ideas of enlightenment rationality, and depictions of masculinity in the literature and culture of the early republic. How does The Coquette imagine the role (or multiple roles) of women in the new nation? You might think about the nature of female friendship, marriage, or some of the discussions about political participation that appear in specific letters.
4 thoughts on “The Coquette”
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Major recurring themes in Foster’s The Coquette are marriage, friendship, and proper social behavior for women during that time period. In the novel, we see that a woman was required to get married, oftentimes to the man of her parents’ choice. This is true for Eliza who was engaged to Mr. Haly, “[an older] man of worth; a man of real and substantial merit” (818). But, she has no real desire to be married and sees the death of Mr. Haly as an event that “extricated [her] from those shackles, which parental authority had imposed” on her (823). This speaks to the lack of autonomy women had over their lives.
Eliza’s negative view on marriage is also a result of the value she places on friendship. She views “marriage [as] the tomb of friendship. [All] former acquaintances are neglected or forgotten [and] the tenderest ties between friends are weakened or dissolved” (830). Essentially, Foster asserts that marriage simultaneously destroys the autonomy and friendships of women. But marriage is also the proper end-result that all women must adhere to in this society, which we see through the characters Lucy and Mrs. Richman.
We are also given insight into how women were viewed by men. In his letter, Major Sanford see Eliza as “gay, volatile, apparently thoughtless of everything but present enjoyment” (826). These are seen as desirable qualities in woman at that time. Sanford also views Eliza as a “coquette,” one who lives to tease and tempt men, whose mischiefs he must retaliate to “avenge [his] sex” (826). Through Sanford and other male characters like Mr. Boyer, we see that women assumed the role of an object of affection and conquest for men.
In Hannah Webster Foster’s The Coquette, there appear to be three main roles that women play in society: the good woman “mother” figure; the proper, virtuous, subordinate woman; the free-spirited, cheerful, pleasure-seeking, independent woman. In contrast, the men seem to fall into two categories: the licentious, insidious “libertine” wretched rake or the serious, religious, respectable gentleman. Throughout the story, Eliza is shown to be free-spirited, delightful, adventuresome, “coquettish,” and easily infatuated by wealth, ornamentation in both material things and in flattery. These characteristics have given her a “taste for dissipation” and make her susceptible to “blind passion” (826, 858). There is a definite theme of the battle between “reason and good judgment” versus “fancy and pleasure.” The motherly figures of Mrs. Richman and Mrs. Wharton as well as the proper young women Lucy and Julia are rational, reasonable women who have a subordinate role to the men in their lives. They have succumbed to “a state of tranquility and rational happiness.” Each tries to counsel Eliza and as Mrs. Richman clearly states, “O my cousin, beware of the delusions of fancy! Reason must be our guide, if we would expect durable happiness” (845). Each woman warned Eliza, foreshadowing her impending doom. Foster provided the reader examples of women who successfully negotiated society and landed a husband and proper married life. Lucy Freeman becomes Mrs. Sumner and in marriage is no longer as available to Eliza thus revealing how marriage does remove a woman from her dear friend as she assumes her rightful place in society.
There also appears to be a comment on politics in Letter XXIII where Mr. Selby relays to Rev. Boyer that the women seemed to have formed two groups: those engaged in politics and having an opinion and passion for their country versus those who just amused themselves with trivial conversation and succumbed to the thoughts and remarks of men. Eliza and Mrs. Richman stood up to the men with their own opinions and interests “in the welfare and prosperity of our country” (841). They ask “why then should the love of our country be a masculine passion only?” (841). The men comment that these feminist views are “truly Roman” and “truly republican” (841). In contrast, the subordinate Mrs. Laurence and her daughter “made some slight reply and waved the subject” (841).
As the story progresses, the liberal attitudes of Eliza, in addition to her “delusions of fancy” appear to be a part of her undoing. Eliza is liberal and independent. She dose not follow the norms of society. Specifically, she is unable to settle down with Rev. Boyer, as “can there be happiness with such a disparity of dispositions?” (858). Instead, she is caught in the “apparent fervor and sincerity of his [Major Sanford] passion” (866). Thus, there is a consistency in Eliza’s liberal philosophy both in matters of politics and of the heart.
I find the nature of Ms. Wharton’s friendship with Lucy Freeman to be a very interesting one. It is clear that Eliza confides in Lucy and seeks her advice and opinion. One of the things I see develop especially if this sort of account were have been published 100-150 years earlier, is the increased confidence with which Eliza speaks, especially when speaking about her connection to men. She speaks so very openly about her feelings, when it was at this time, women were allowed to have such feelings and be more willing to express them out loud.
However, even as Ms. Wharton expresses her thoughts to Lucy, Lucy scorns her friend and her actions and appears afraid for the path Eliza is embarking upon. Lucy offers her warning of the courting of Major Sanford saying, “I tremble at the precipice on which you stand; and must echo, and re-echo the seasonable admonition of the excellent Mrs. Richman, “Beware of the delusions of fancy!” You are strangely infatuated by them! Let not the magic arts of that worthless Sanford lead you, like an ignis fatuus from the path of rectitude and virtue!”. I find this part of their friendship extremely interesting for even as Eliza is moving forward to perhaps be more risqué in her actions, Lucy is there to act as her “moral compass” in order to hopefully move her back down the “correct path” of rectitude and virtue.
Throughout these letters we see various themes play-out, but there were two that seemed to stick out more than the rest. The first of those themes were marriage / love. Beginning with Letter XII, Eliza starts to talk about her feelings towards Mr. Boyer, but also the feelings he has for her. The Coquette seems to imagine the women as a type of powerful women, especially in this instance. Mr. Boyer is forced to wait around for Eliza on how she wants to go ahead with this relationship/friendship. We are so accustomed to men controlling the power during this time, so for Eliza, a women to hold it, it allows for something different.
The second theme is the female friendship between Eliza and Lucy. As soon as Eliza understood what was going on between her and Mr. Boyer, she felt the need to talk with her comrade on how to move forward. She did not want to make any decision until she heard Lucy’s view on the situation. Lucy would sometimes offer criticism or questions or comments. She epitomized what a friend should be in a crucial decision of love or friendship. So in essence, both themes intertwine throughout the letters (XII through XVI)