Maria Edgeworth and Belinda

I admit that it was my devotion to Jane Austen that first led me to this book, which is referenced in Northanger Abbey. As ridiculously obsessed as I have always been with anything related to Austen, I visited to this book and unconsciously looked for something similar to what one could usually find in a novel by Austen. However, it didn’t take me long to realize how unjust I have been to Maria Edgeworth, for as much as I love Austen, I can’t never enjoy Edgeworth’s writing to the fullest if I still have Austen in mind. Had I been born in Regency England, what I said above would have been weird to many people, given Edgeworth popularity, book sales and status at the time. She was a great inspiration, whose influence can be seen in the writings of many other famous writers during and after her time, especially those of her sex. Belinda, one of her most memorable works, is a superb social commentary with several daring plot points for a book in Regency era (for example, a depiction of an interracial marriage, which was removed after the second edition).

Given that the novel is called Belinda, it’s surprising that Ms. Belinda Portman, the supposed protagonist, neither drives the plot forward with her actions nor goes through any significant transformation. To some extent, we can say that she was given very little development in comparison to other important characters like Lady Delacour and Clarence Hervey, whose poor life choices are the basis for every trouble in the novel. With that said, I still think that Edgeworth picked an excellent name for this book. By naming the novel Belinda, she reminded readers to always shift their focus toward Ms Portman. Edgeworth broke off the main storyline and wandered into different characters’ pasts many times; therefore, this title’s the perfect way for her to keep readers asking how the things they’re reading about will affect Belinda. Though she doesn’t directly cause anything to happen, she’s the catalyst of many characters’ transformation. Belinda doesn’t necessary have s striking personality, but her subtle impact on others are always positive and worth noticing. Despite her age and inexperience, Belinda is rational and perceptive, proving herself to be a dependable individual. Not only can other people in the novel depend on her, but we, the readers, can trust her as well. Perhaps, it is Edgeworth’s intention that we should follow Belinda’s open attitude and levelheadedness in the process of learning and navigating our ways in the world. Hence, Belinda, more than anyone else, deserves to be on the title page of the novel.

Throughout the book, it is probably Lady Delacour’s personality, not necessarily Belinda’s, that fascinate readers the most. As Dr. X describes it best, in her presence, people feel as if they were “blasted with an excess of light”. More than that of any other characters, Lady Delacour’s is a perfect example of Edgeworth’s excellent character’s arc building. Lady Delacour begins as a fashionable woman, whose energy lighten up every room that she’s in. However, behind closed doors, she is as miserable as one could be, even with dozens of admirers who are always ready to lay their lives at her feet. Her only daughter is away at school and never comes back while her husband is rarely sober and is ridiculed by her whenever she has the chance. With no true friends whom she can trust, all Lady Delacour has left is the facade that she puts up in front of others. By showing us how sad life could be even with all the privileges of money, beauty and wit, the novel criticizes the materialistic and affected life of those in high society and promotes the benefits of a contented and fulfilling domestic life. Like with many other characters, Lady Delacour starts to make positive change because of Belinda’s warmth and selflessness. Edgeworth carefully crafted a series of connected incidents that propelled the transformation of Lady Delacour. The Lady doesn’t remake herself after one night; rather, she takes a small step at a time. When her life-altering journey is completed, she is still the Lady Delacour we know, the iconic socialite with a lively spirit and quickness of mind. The Lady, nevertheless, has become wiser and more considerate as a loving mother, wife and friend. Edgeworth wrote an extremely well-designed character transformation, bringing depth to a now beloved character.

 Edgeworth is known for her emphasis on moral principles, a distinct trait of her novels that she never toned down until her last work. Depending on what era we are living in and our personal circumstances, we, the readers, can have vastly different opinions about her writing style and preferred topics. In my case, I find her characters’ lengthy conversations about moral obligations and conducts strangely natural and engaging. Considering how much drama there is in these people’s life, such discussions seem like a necessity that they rely on to pull through their toughest times. Though Edgeworth presented a relatively wide range of beliefs in the society that she was depicting, she was very straight forward in stating her views on each problem in her novels. Every time we feel trapped between the ideas of Lady Percival and Lady Delacour, for both women are superb debaters and speak about their thoughts with exceptional passion and firmness, we can turn to Belinda to know where Edgeworth stands in this argument. Another way she steered clear of all misunderstanding related to her moral code was how she punished the characters who defied her rules. Mr. Vincent, Mr. Hervey, and Lady Delacour all made grave mistakes, so none of them were spared the mental and physical penalties Edgeworth specifically designed for each of them. The torture didn’t go on for eternity, but it also didn’t end until they have learned their lessons.

Like in many other social commentary about the lives of women in Regency era, marriage is the central topic in Belinda. Our beloved protagonist, Ms. Portman, is met with a multitude of difficulties in choosing her husband among the three men who pop the question to her. With more money in their pocket than the number of meaningful days in their lives, none of these men managed to escape the dark side of the glamorous society that they are living in. By investigating Belinda’s relationship with each man, we can appreciate her thoughtfulness and good judgement as well as learn from her crucial life lessons.

Sir Phillip, the first person to ask Belinda for her hand in marriage, is also the worst. Sir Phillip has no special feeling for Belinda; in fact, the only reason why he wants to marry her is to annoy Clarence, a man desperately in love with her. Knowing full well of his indolent, deceitful and manipulative nature, Belinda wastes no time to tell him how little she cares for his attention to her. He is an available bachelor with a handsome income of 15,000 pounds a year while she is just a girl of seventeen with few connections and barely any money to afford a comfortable life. Yet, she refuses to throw herself into a marriage that would provide her with all the luxuries she can dream of and elevate her status in society. From her stay with the Delacours, Belinda has learned a crucial lesson: marrying a man she can’t respect is the same as giving up her future and her life. To enter a matrimonial bond is to enter a partnership; therefore, if a prospective partner displays some deficiencies that are certain to have a negative impact on the stability of the partnership, it’s extremely important for the other party to reconsider the status of their relationship. Marriage can’t just be about securing a life of comfort; in stead, It should be about entering a period of blissfulness and felicity. After going against the wishes of her controlling aunt, who tries to coerce her into the match, Belinda proves to be a brave girl of her time, with more sense than most adults that are twice as old as her.

In comparison with Sir Phillip, Mr Vincent comes so much closer to becoming Belinda’s husband. At one point, he even appears to be more suitable for Belinda than Clarence, given the latter’s entanglement with another girl named Virginia. Unfortunately, his story with Belinda is yet another cautionary tale for young people looking for love. In the last few chapters, Mr. Vincent is revealed to have one fatal flaw, a taste for gambling. Mr. Vincent’s fondness for EO, a game that resembles roulette, and his stubbornness in trying to conceal his blemish from his good friends cost him a desirous partner. Through Mr. Vincent, the novel reminds readers that when we are unsure about one’s character, it is always worth waiting and getting to know him or her better before becoming too attached.

Judging from how much attention the novel pays to Clarence’s affairs, it is an easy guess that by one way or another, the novel will eventually declare him the ultimate winner of Belinda’s affection. Nevertheless, Clarence’s journey to happiness is an arduous one with more ups and downs than he could ever imagine. The case of Clarence is exceedingly intriguing, for it encapsulates all sorts of folly and missteps of youth. It’s an optimistic tale about a young person’s potential to do good, grow up and change for the better. Though he is very well-educated in regards to scholarly topics like science and art, Clarence has no parental figure to help him in his social life. He succumbs to peer pressure, dumbs himself down in the company of his foolish friends and takes part in meaningless and silly games like pig and turkey races. Among his myriads of bad decisions, the most horrible of all involves Rachel, a girl whom he found in the forest and renamed Virginia. As full of spirit and presumptuousness as a young man could possibly, Clarence decides that he could educate and improve this country girl, making her his ideal woman. By trying to turn the innocent Rachel into the perfect wife he wants to marry, Mr. Hervey has exploited the girl’s naivete and robbed her of her individuality. The merit of the story and the lesson we can learn from Clarence’s adventures lie in gradual changes after meeting Belinda. It proves that under good influence, any young person can mature. Before long, Clarence realizes his mistakes and is willing to do anything to make amends, even if it means that he would have to give up the love of his life and marry an unsuitable, however lovely, partner. It all turns out well in the end, but his actions still prove that he has become a much more responsible, sensible and thoughtful person.

Despite being Edgeworth’s first full-length novel, Belinda is definitely a wonderful read. The novel, whose first half is slightly loose in term of structure, rallies it self mid-way and finishes as a well-rounded and lovely book overall. If you’re want to experience the life of a young upper-middle class in early 19th century, Belinda will not disappoint.

Below is an illustration of Edgeworthstown, the home of Maria Edgeworth and her father