Belinda (Masterplots, Revised Second Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Maria Edgeworth
- First Published: 1801
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Social realism
- Time of Work: Late eighteenth century
- Setting: London and southern England
- Principal Characters: Belinda, Lady Delacour, Lord Delacour, Helena Delacour, Clarence Hervey, Virginia St. Pierre (Rachel Hartley), Mr. Vincent, Mrs. Selina Stanhope, Harriet Freke, Mr. Percival, Lady Anne Percival, Dr. X
- Genres: Long fiction, Social realism
- Subjects: Love or romance, Gender roles, Marriage, England or English people, Eighteenth century, Upper classes, Women, London
- Locales: London, England
The Story:
Belinda’s aunt, wishing Belinda to acquire a husband of wealth and social position, sent her to live with Lady Delacour, a leading figure in fashionable London. At first Belinda was dazzled by Lady Delacour’s wit and elegance and by the glamour of her world. Quickly, however, Belinda became disgusted by the shallow frivolity that permeated this world and by the manipulative jockeying for social position that drove its players. In particular, she realized that Lady Delacour’s social brilliance disguised a deeply unhappy woman who despised her husband and...
[The entire page is 2036 words long]
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