Henrietta is a novel written by Charlotte Lennox published first in 1758 and then revised in 1761. In it, the heroine runs away from home and embarks on a journey in order to keep her values. This novel is placed inside the Bildungsroman genre, where a young independent woman is described during the 18th century.
Plot Summary
editA heroine by the name of Henrietta, escapes a forceful duty of marrying a suitor not of her own choice. After averting her aunt’s desire for her to convert to Catholicism, she runs away in order to secure her own freedom and choices. She comes from a background where love means nothing without money or power and is set to journey her way through London society as an independent young woman. Through the help of friends and a little bit of luck she is able to find her way into the hands of her brother, who is the only person in the end that can save her from her convictions. The heroine does get her happy ending, but not until she is first denied, betrayed, and forced into other’s demands and services.
Some characters important to the story, other than Henrietta, include Mrs. Willis, Lady Meadows, and Mr. Melvil. Mrs. Willis becomes a very close friend of Henrietta’s. She is kind and clever while keeping Henrietta’s best interests at heart. Mrs. Willis is described as a “Good Woman” and a “Cherished Friend” in the book. Lady Meadows is Henrietta’s naïve aunt who is a strong advocate for Catholicism. She is easily deceived into trying to convert Henrietta, but becomes quite vindictive when Henrietta refuses. Mr. Melvil can be called the fellow prince charming in this novel. He is kind, and love sick after meeting Henrietta and is the only man that is able to catch Henrietta’s heart. He is a determined man in getting what he wants no matter the cost, but was lucky to have Mr. Courtney (Henrietta’s brother) keep him sane in obeying his father’s wishes in marrying a woman with a nice estate.
The novel begins with Henrietta meeting a stranger named Mrs. Woodby, who helps Henrietta by providing her with a name to find a place to stay while Henrietta is running away from her aunt. Henrietta finds a room after being misdirected from Mrs. Woodby’s name, where she confides in Mrs. Woodby her background, and acquires a stalker by the name of Lord B---. After Mrs. Woodby spills Henrietta’s information, her guardian’s son attends to her room sharing needs and moves her to stay with a new stranger by the name of Mrs. Willis. Mrs. Willis sees young Mr. Damer for the scoundrel that he is after his wife threatens poor Henrietta. Henrietta decides to find work as a service girl where she is recommended to a Miss Cordwain by Mrs. Willis. After running into dear Lord B--- she is accused to have stolen a diamond bracelet, but soon has her name cleared, and gains a friend in Miss Cordwain’s Mother. She is sent in to service briefly with an older woman where she leaves after refusing to follow an order. Henrietta is then recommended to escort a young maid named Miss Belmour into Paris where she is reunited with her brother and falls in love.
This novel is hard to read if one does not have experience with the vocabulary, or style. The novel is an 18th century satire in which the narrator constructs many twists and turns within the novel. The narrator has a sarcastic tone throughout the story in which she makes clear her own negations with the Catholic religion, and the main character’s choices. She makes clear and evident how she enjoys or dislikes the characters and their actions. The narrator’s voice is very rigid and informal.
An important theme to keep in mind for the novel is women and independence in the 18th century. Women were not seen to be well- mannered or of a high class if they did not have a guardian or husband to restrain them. Henrietta embarks on a dangerous journey this time when she decides to venture out on her own despite her Aunt’s wishes. When she is finally able to meet with her guardian, he is not too satisfied with her choice to disobey her aunt. Without her Aunt she has no estate and hence no class. Without the help and kindness of her dear brother Henrietta may have been led to suffer as a service maid for the rest of her life, and may well have not been able to marry her beloved Mr. Melvil. This novel illustrates the dangers that women were shamed with if deciding to venture out on one’s own.
The character Henrietta is seen as the heroine of the novel. She embarks on a journey that requires her to make rash decisions and interesting choices depending on her situation at the time. With the help of true friends, a beloved brother, and the keeping of her values Henrietta was able to accomplish her happy ending. The narrator states rigid opinions on the religion of Catholicism and there is a clear theme of how women accomplish being independent during the 18th century. Without background knowledge of previous 18th century literature, readers are considered to have trouble reading and understanding the novel.