Women in Eighteenth Century London: Female Coming of Age in Frances Burney’s Evelina, Cecilia, and The Witlings

The late eighteenth-century author Frances Burney is best known for popularizing the “comedy of manners,” a literary style later adopted by Jane Austen. Burney’s novels, journals, and plays offer an intriguing commentary on contemporary social customs and etiquette. In particular, she voices the concerns and desires of women, leading scholars to focus on the feminist overtones of her writing. Although she carefully examined female roles in the household and family structure, Burney also provided an insider’s perspective into London high life. As an acclaimed author and member of the royal court, Burney offers a rare insight into the lives of the urban elite. For these reasons, I have chosen to examine three of her works within the context of their London setting. In Evelina, Cecilia, and The Witlings, Burney examines women’s struggle for independence against the backdrop of the city. These works offer a new interpretation of the female Bildungsroman, or coming of age story. Burney shows how London life influences her heroines’ expectations, ambitions and desires. Evelina’s coming of age centers around the quest for family and social acceptance, while the two Cecilias of Cecilia and The Witlings confront the financial pressures that accompany their inheritance. Ultimately, the three protagonists learn important lessons that are specific to city life. Although Burney concludes each story with the heroine’s marriage, her focus is not on romance, as has been suggested, but on the cultural landscape of the city. Coming of age in her stories is inextricably connected to the diverse challenges and opportunities presented to urban women.

Moritz Daniel Oppenheim : Geboren 7. (oder 8.) Jänner 1800 in Hanau, gestorben 26. Februar 1882 in Frankfurt a. M.

Erich Toeplitz

Die Geisteskrankheiten unter den Juden Österreichs in den Jahren 1882 -1902

Norbert Weldler

Illustrirter jüdischer Familien-Kalender für das Jahr 5642 : n. E. d. W. vom 24. Sept. 1881 bis 13. Sept. 1882, 4. Jahrg.

hrsg. von Julius Meyer

Bericht über die botanischen Reisen im Neustadter Kreise im Sommer 1882

Von H. v. Klinggraeff

Na 1 Nachlass Max Horkheimer, 325 - Korrespondenzen u.a. mit Frances Bartlett Kinne und Otto Kirchheimer (p. V 101, 1-197)

75 Briefe mit Beilagen zwischen Prof. Frances Bartlett Kinne und Max Horkheimer, 1956-1973; 7 Briefe mit Beilagen zwischen Prof. Otto Kirchheimer und Max Horkheimer, 1952-1954; 19 Briefe mit Beilagen zwischen Prof. Guido Kisch und Max Horkheimer, 1955-1956; 23 Briefe mit Beilagen zwischen Walter Kittel (Oberbaurat i. R.), 1964-1973; 14 Briefe mit Beilagen zwischen Jules Klanfer und Max Horkheimer, 1963-1964; 4 Briefe mit Beilagen zwischen Prof. Otto Klineberg und Max Horkheimer, 1960-1961; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an Otto Klineberg (Psychologe), 22.6.1960;

Der C. F. Schimpersche Spiralismus in der Blattstellungslehre vertreten durch Das Lehrbuch der Botanik von Dr. v. Freyhold (Freiburg 1882) : Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der Morphologie

von F. Frey

Madame Eugène Verdier (Levet père 1882) (Thee-Rose), Président Senélar (Schwartz 1884) (Remontant-Rose)

Fr. Harms

Resultate der Durchforschung der schlesischen Phanerogamenflora im Jahre 1882

Von R. von Uechtritz

Repertorium über die phytologische Erforschung der Provinz im Jahre 1882

Von Beckhaus

Erinnerungen aus dem Missionsleben in Südost-Afrika (Transvaal) : 1859 - 1882

von A. Merensky