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A review by demuise
Belinda by Maria Edgeworth
3.0
I'm a sucker for Regency-era romances, and when I found out that this book was published when Jane Austen was 25, I couldn't resist. I was eager to see how Edgeworth influenced Austen. I especially see similarities to Sense and Sensibility, Northanger Abbey, and Mansfield Park. Belinda is actually referenced in Northanger Abbey:
"And what are you reading, Miss-?" "Oh! it is only a novel!" replies the young lady; while she lays down her book with affected indifference, or momentary shame. - "It is only Cecelia, or Camilla, or Belinda;" or, in short, only some work in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humour are conveyed to the world in the best chosen language.
So, yes, Austen admired this book! I do agree that it feels like it was written for "young lad[ies];" a popular romance loved by young women of the time. I also agree that it was written in "the best chosen language." The language is beautiful, witty, and utterly readable. I couldn't wait to sit down with my knitting and listen to this book.
However, the outdated morals, values, and societal norms portrayed in this book are simply heinous. I feel as though I have just hopped in a time machine and can see and understand exactly where so much of our own society’s patriarchal, racist, misogynistic, transphobic, and classist values stem from. Belinda is essentially a novel about morals, with the titular character being the shining example of virtue for all the hooligans and immoral characters around her. If the characters do not bend to her morals, they are banished from the book or punished. When characters do adhere to her morals, they are victorious and rewarded. Essentially, Belinda is not a real character. She has no faults, and therefore, no personality. She’s simply a moral compass. She makes a few mistakes in the beginning of the novel, but nothing that isn’t rectified within a chapter or two by her goodness.
Rachel is terrified of Clarence. She’s scared she will displease him or seem ungrateful, and she puts her happiness and well-being in danger to ensure that he is happy. The whole thing is absolutely disgusting to me. The governess, Belinda, and Rachel’s father (who eventually returns and thankfully takes her away, but only after Clarence doesn’t want her anymore) all congratulate Clarence on the great job he did of educating Rachel and thank him for his generosity and kindness. In the end, Clarence, our accomplished groomer, is not punished. He gets to marry the girl he truly loves, Belinda, who accepts him without telling him that, perhaps, grooming Rachel was wrong.
Of note, these are some other things that Belinda deems immoral: gambling, crossdressing, dueling, fighting, drinking, swearing, being artful and/or deceitful, being a Jew, and gossiping. Yeah… Belinda the character is a bit dull – certainly not the most interesting or relatable heroine.
Unfortunately, the version I read was the 1810 version without the interracial marriage aspects that were deemed too controversial for the time. It would have been very interesting to see how this book, which is so backward to my 21st-century views, could have portrayed interracial marriage. Maybe one day I’ll read the 1801 version and find out.
"And what are you reading, Miss-?" "Oh! it is only a novel!" replies the young lady; while she lays down her book with affected indifference, or momentary shame. - "It is only Cecelia, or Camilla, or Belinda;" or, in short, only some work in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humour are conveyed to the world in the best chosen language.
So, yes, Austen admired this book! I do agree that it feels like it was written for "young lad[ies];" a popular romance loved by young women of the time. I also agree that it was written in "the best chosen language." The language is beautiful, witty, and utterly readable. I couldn't wait to sit down with my knitting and listen to this book.
However, the outdated morals, values, and societal norms portrayed in this book are simply heinous. I feel as though I have just hopped in a time machine and can see and understand exactly where so much of our own society’s patriarchal, racist, misogynistic, transphobic, and classist values stem from. Belinda is essentially a novel about morals, with the titular character being the shining example of virtue for all the hooligans and immoral characters around her. If the characters do not bend to her morals, they are banished from the book or punished. When characters do adhere to her morals, they are victorious and rewarded. Essentially, Belinda is not a real character. She has no faults, and therefore, no personality. She’s simply a moral compass. She makes a few mistakes in the beginning of the novel, but nothing that isn’t rectified within a chapter or two by her goodness.
Spoiler
One of the most egregious parts of this book is when our hero, Clarence Hervey, decides that society women are too far gone in their own ways, ideas, and knowledge to tempt him. He wants to educate a girl from scratch so she can be a proper wife to him. He stumbles upon a young girl named Rachel – a child of 15 or 16, I think – in the forest. She has lived her whole life secluded from society with her paranoid grandmother who hasn’t let her even look at a man before. Oh, and she’s angelically beautiful – perfect for Clarence! When her grandmother dies, Clarence takes her in and “cares for her.” He changes her name from Rachel to Virginia because he doesn’t like the name Rachel. He enlists a governess and tells her to hurry up and educate Rachel/Virginia so she can be his wife. All the while, he keeps Rachel locked up in a house away from the polluting influence of other human beings. She belongs to him.Rachel is terrified of Clarence. She’s scared she will displease him or seem ungrateful, and she puts her happiness and well-being in danger to ensure that he is happy. The whole thing is absolutely disgusting to me. The governess, Belinda, and Rachel’s father (who eventually returns and thankfully takes her away, but only after Clarence doesn’t want her anymore) all congratulate Clarence on the great job he did of educating Rachel and thank him for his generosity and kindness. In the end, Clarence, our accomplished groomer, is not punished. He gets to marry the girl he truly loves, Belinda, who accepts him without telling him that, perhaps, grooming Rachel was wrong.
Of note, these are some other things that Belinda deems immoral: gambling, crossdressing, dueling, fighting, drinking, swearing, being artful and/or deceitful, being a Jew, and gossiping. Yeah… Belinda the character is a bit dull – certainly not the most interesting or relatable heroine.
Unfortunately, the version I read was the 1810 version without the interracial marriage aspects that were deemed too controversial for the time. It would have been very interesting to see how this book, which is so backward to my 21st-century views, could have portrayed interracial marriage. Maybe one day I’ll read the 1801 version and find out.