Coquette Essay

“The Coquette” by a Lady of Massachusetts, also commonly known as Hannah Foster, offers a very compelling depiction of women who were learning how to navigate the struggles of late 18th century society. Despite society norms and expectations that were weighed on women, the female characters within this novel grapple with questions of power, and constraint. Through the interactions of Eliza Wharton, Mrs. Richman and Lucy Freeman, readers are able to witness how powerful these women were in the face

Maxim, and the Language of Social Dicta in Hannah Webster Foster's 'The Coquette,'" discusses the language used in the letters to, from and regarding Eliza Wharton in Hannah Webster Foster’s novel, The Coquette. Baker finds that Foster intentionally edits the letter’s language, leaving only condemning “social dicta,” and sealing Eliza’s fate as a “coquette” (58). Baker analyzes the conversation language used in The Coquette, and exposes Foster’s subtle choices, which, in turn, condemn Eliza. She

The Coquette, written by Hannah Webster Foster in 1797, chronicles the life of an affluent woman in the 18th century. There are a few themes that are presented throughout the whole novel: correspondence, sexual freedom, and ideal womanhood. Elizabeth Whitman has been an icon of American history since the 19th century because of her bravery and contempt for the caged position of women in society. It is stated that the tombstone of Elizabeth Whitman is a popular tourist attraction; “her grave was a

a lesson according to Dictionary.com is, “Something to be learned or studied.” If you put the two definitions together you get that a moral lesson is a lesson learned from doing something wrong. The first story that teaches a moral lesson is The Coquette by Hannah Webster Foster which contains a various amount of literary devices as well that help communicate the moral lessons taught. Both authors wrote a story

The most interesting work that stood out to me in American Literature was by Hannah Webster Foster “The Coquette”. This was the best worked, studied because it is an excellent example of women’s literature written during a period of American History. The Coquette shows how women in the 18th century made a change on whom society define the role of a woman. The words of Lucy “to see a woman depart so far from the female character, as to assume the masculine habit and attitudes; and appear entirely

Since its release in 1797, The Coquette by Hannah Webster Foster has been a focal point for discussions on women and feminism in literature. The Coquette makes its distinction from other, similar romance novels because of its contradictory messages. Throughout the story, the reader follows Elizabeth Wharton, a woman who finds herself in a love triangle with two other men, Major Sanford and Reverend Boyer. Repeatedly, Wharton states her opposition towards marriage, and because of that, she decides

I intend to write about Hannah W. Foster’s novel The Coquette. I want to focus on gothic elements that can be found in her text even before gothic novels came around since sentimental novels were the precursor to gothic novels. Therefore, I will be analyzing the “proto-gothic” elements Foster used. I want to look into the fear that she nonetheless created in this realistic society, which eventually, in a way, led to the protagonist’s death teaching the readers a moral lesson overall on societal expectations

are still relevant to the world today. Hannah Webster Foster’s epistolary writing, The Coquette, carries themes of marriage, freedom, and virtue, all of which are hypocritical ideas of the 21st century. Each of these themes has a centered focus around women, and the stereotypical role they are expected to play. In most households, children are raised on the idea of the importance of marriage. In The Coquette, Hannah Webster Foster paints images of varying marriages during the time period. She shows

The idea of seduction is present throughout the novel The Coquette. This is one of Foster’s most well known novels, and as critics have said “the most read novel in the 19th century besides the Bible.” The novel was one of the first to exploit sexuality with a woman’s point of view in a not so reserved format (Baym)

perspectives and opinions of her characters and provides them with the information to predict Eliza’s inevitable demise before she knows it herself. Eliza Wharton’s yearning for freedom is a fundamental underlying theme to Foster’s novel, “The Coquette”. Eliza views freedom as the ability to partake in the pleasures and joys of youth without the restrictions and obligations that come with a commitment to marriage. Furthermore, freedom is the choice to