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Indiana University Studies 



VI. Characterization 



We wish that Madame D'Arblay had been content to write in this 

 simple manner; but, as we have seen, the chief fault of all her work is 

 exaggeration and lack of reserve. These blemishes appear particularly 

 in her characterization, where the overemphasis takes the form of cari- 

 cature. The first novel offends less in this respect than the others. 

 The seventeen-year-old Evelina, portrayed in a vivid, lifelike way, 

 makes a strong human appeal, and is the greatest triumph of the 

 author's genius. Ceciha's outlines do not seem so clear, yet she is 

 almost the counterpart of her predecessor. Indeed, in making these 

 heroines practically identical, Madame D'Arblay has confused the 

 individuahties of both. Camilla and The Wanderer are only later 

 editions, third and fourth avatars,, as it were. In the case of each 

 heroine the environment constitutes the variant, and yet, altho the 

 environment of each differs externally, it is essentially the same. 

 Each of them is exposed to annoyances and dangers, and at each 

 moment of her career is harassed by someone who makes a sudden, 

 inopportune appearance. Under these trials, they have the same 

 scruples and hesitations and questionings of conscience, and they all 

 act alike. They are paragons, and all the men fall in love with them.^^ 

 Young and unsophisticated, they are general targets for the com- 

 munity ; but at the end, they all come off triumphant and settle down 

 in matrimonial bliss. Apart from the heroine, the most humorous 

 characters in the first novel are Miss Branghton and Mr. Smith. Miss 

 Branghton would be immortalized by one expression, if she had kept 

 her peace forever afterwards : 



"Lord, Polly, only think! Miss has danced with a Lord!"^^ 

 She shows as genuine naivete when her brother is trying to discover 

 Sir Clement Willoughby's line of business: 



"Pray, Miss," said young Branghton, in the same breath, "what's his 

 business?" 



"Indeed I don't know," answered 1. 



"Something very genteel, I dare say," added Miss Branghton, "because 

 he dresses so fine."^^^ 



She always rises to the occasion. Mr. Smith's assurance has already 

 been alluded to. Madame Duval and Captain Mirvan are carefully 

 drawn, and are caricatures only in their more violent moods. Lord 

 Orville, however, like the rest of the author's heroes, Mortimer Delvile, 



93 Camilla is somewhat of an exception in this respect, for she has to share the 

 honors (i.e. the lovers) with Eugenia and Indiana. However, she has Edgar, Sir 

 Sedley, Dubster, et al. 



94 Evelina, II, 68. 



Ibid., II, 21. 



