User:Jennboo xoxo/sandbox

Plot
Henrietta is an eighteenth century novel written by Charlotte Lennox depicting the adventures and at many times the misfortune events of a young lady. A lady of virtue, who has set out on her own to avoid an unfortunate match made by her guardian. She does everything in order to maintain her virtuous quality. Whilst she goes about from place to place, she meets interesting person who try to take advantage of her position and family name but with her sound mind and the help of a few good persons she avoids falling into ruin.

Characters
In her adventure, she meets Mrs. Willis, a very caring woman who looked out for Henrietta’s interest through most of the second part of the novel. it is in meeting her that Henrietta truly receives a form of guardianship protection. She was kind and advise her on issues that pertains to her wellbeing. The second Character of notable quality that Henrietta meets who contains notable qualities is the Countess. Although Henrietta befriends her while she was facing accusation of theft, the lady showed a kindness to Henrietta that was for the sake of her gentle manner than that of her birth. She is a lady of quality who offers her friendship to the young lady without wanting anything in return. The third notable person which Henrietta meets is Mr. Melvil also known as the Marquis, who hopelessly falls in love with her at first sight. He would have her at whatever lost he may receive from his father for he loved her hopelessly. He is notable because through his falling in love with her, Henrietta’s position was restored with her aunt.

As a whole, the novel itself is more about people and their ideals about life than it is about the heroine Henrietta. Throughout the novel, she meet these characters who are at times over dramatic in nature, other are far too prejudice than life calls for. There faults were too evident of being too silly or too much a lover of position and money. Henrietta with all her virtues was not a stranger to those very prejudice on judging the people she met.

The narrator's voice is set in a semi serious tone, throughout the tale. especially is describing people’s manners that were comedic in nature. There was a certain form of deliberate sarcasm in the addresses of how people who were not born into wealth yearn for position of higher standing. As in the situation of Ms. Cordwain who was a citizen, though quite rich but was quite a snob in her wants for a tile in her husband.

As revolutionary as Mrs. Lennox was with the freedom and independence of her characters she did take her novel to the truth role of patriarchy in her period. most of the novel surrounds Henrietta, upon meeting her brother Charles the focus changes its focus on him and his movements and actions. He then becomes the voice of the novel and she become a secondary character the novel addresses. Her imprudent actions created a situation that can only be made proper with male assistance. His presence mended situation between Henrietta and Lady Meadows that allowed Henrietta to have a proper marriage. In the end female follies were corrected by men.

In the a way, the novel as a whole portrayed a certain harsh view of females, as if they are ridiculous creatures with hopeless dreams and follies. They were portrayed as romantic, dramatic, jealous, conniving, and easily charmed by male voices. Mrs. Lennox was certainly harsh on the way women handled themselves in such irrational manners, there were but a few women in “Henrietta” that were not deeply flawed of ridiculous “feminine” traits of romantic novels. This is perhaps due to the personal view that Lennox had towards women during her time.