Moll Flanders (Fragment) - Daniel Defoe

Youthful seventeen-year-old Evelina, the offspring of a private marriage between Miss Evelyn and Sir Belmont, has been brought up by Reverend Arthur Villars. Innocent Evelina is invited to spend an extended holiday in Lady Howard’s estate, Howard Grove, because both the Reverend and Lady Howard intend to prevent Evelina from meeting her vulgar grandmother, Madame Duval. In London, Evelina is acquainted with diverse splendid gaieties of this great city – private balls, ridottos, opera performances, shopping, spirited conversations or superior people, but she is also forced to face the strict 21 requirements of the social etiquette, intrusive and manipulative tricks of men or the delicacy of her social station. During her stay, she encounters the Mirvans, Sir Clement Willoughby, Lord Orville and even Madame Duval. Whilst Lord Orville enchants Evelina with his perfect gallantry, distinguished manners and no manifestations of “the smallest degree of consciousness”2 , Sir Clement Willoughby outflanks her with his immoderate vanity, duplicitous intentions and daring comportment. Likewise, Evelina witnesses Captain Mirvan’s impolite comportment towards Madame Duval. Although this lady does not display any gentleness in her temper, amiability in her deportment or a firm stock of principles; Evelina feels sympathy for her. Boorish Madame Duval also threatens Sir John Belmont to claim, by law, Evelina’s inheritance and to prove her birthright. In the course of time, Sir Clement Willoughby exploits Evelina’s inexperience. He answers Evelina’s letter on behalf of Lord Orville and the tone of the note causes Evelina’s detestation of the lordship’s impertinence and moral corruption. Similar social humiliation is accumulated upon Evelina’s personality by her grandmother, who introduces Evelina to an inadequate society or boasts of Evelina’s acquaintance with Lord Orville. Later on, Evelina encounters Mr. Macartney, a Scottish lodger, who mourns over his dead mother, faces financial difficulties and longs for his beloved lady, whose father disapproves of their mutual affection. Incidentally, Evelina prevents Mr. Macartney from committing suicide. Finally, Evelina overcomes Sir Clement Willoughby’s intrigues; her actual origin is explained by Polly Green (her former wet-nurse) and she is recognized as Sir John Belmont’s true consanguineous daughter and heiress.