The Female Quixote

When I began reading this novel, I really did not know what to think about Arabella. The romance novels are introduced in a way that makes the reader leery of them and the impact that they will have on our protagonist, “he permitted her therefore the Use of his Library, in which, unfortunately for her, were great Store of Romances” (7). With this line the narrator sets the reader up to expect some ‘adventures,’ or yet misadventures. These novels that she finds comfort in, provide Arabella with a false sense of what to expect from life. They also instill a false sense of control. Arabella feels that she can command Mr. Hervey, Mr. Glanville, and Sir George to live when in reality it is out of her control. Another example, that supports this God complex is when the Glanville’s and Arabella are leaving for Bath and there are highwaymen about to rob them. Arabella thinks that they are under the assumption that herself and Miss Glanville are being held against their will and want to lend a helping hand. While this does produce a positive result, the understanding of the situation is completely misconstrued in her mind. This leaves the audience to be under the suggestion that when Arabella mingles in society there will be communication problems.
Considering the limited interaction with society that Arabella has had, it is easy to understand why she connects with her French novels. She has never had a non-fictional female role model to learn from. When she finds herself in complete solitude after her father dies and the Glanville’s leave her at the castle, “she applied herself to reading with more Eagerness than ever” (67).
Any situation that Arabella finds herself in she consults her mental dictionary of romance novels, “there were not any of the Ladies in Romances, in the same Circumstances with herself who was without a favored Lover” (38). If she cannot find an answer from one of the ‘ladies of romance,’ she assumes a confused state and constructs a reason for why her life or current situation does not follow the common plot of the romances.
The romances serve as Arabella’s conduct manuals throughout the novel. At first, I did not know if Lennox was supporting conduct manuals or critiquing them. I thought she could have been supporting them because of the dedication that Arabella puts into learning the actions, reactions, and lessons of the romances. The women having control over the men, the courage and valor on behalf of the men, the overall positive values demonstrated by the characters, etc. I realized that I was wrong in reasoning that Lennox supported the conduct manuals and took into consideration that she is critiquing society by using these extreme examples. The dependence that Arabella shows in regard to the romances is the same ridiculous amount of elevation given to ‘modern’ women of that society towards conduct manuals/ acceptable behavior. For example, Arabella’s lack of independent thinking shines through when Miss Glanville and her are in a dispute regarding Sir George and require Mr. Glanville to give his thoughts, Arabella says, “in this I am justified by all the Heroines of Antiquity” (186). I felt like Lennox was making a statement against the importance contributed to correct behavior at assemblies, gardens, parks, etc. What is most important is that women, well anyone for that matter, act with a respect for everyone else, be willing to help when someone is in distress, to basically show kindness.
The reading materials that women should be exposed to seemed to bare a heavy influence as well. Arabella has a tremendous imagination and everyone that sees her indulgence in romance novels makes negative comments and soon they begin to think she is ‘out of her senses.’ One quote that explains it the best is after Arabella is out riding in the field and comes into contact with Mr. Hervey, who, she supposed was her ‘ravisher,’ the narrator says, “when her Imagination, always prepossessed with the same fantastic Ideas, made her stumble upon another Mistake, equally absurd and ridiculous” (21). This quote suggests that the imagination of a women is something that they cannot control. If women were never subjected to licentious material they would not have the ‘whims’ that are attributed to romance novels. I hold the opinion that Lennnox did not approve of the supposition that women should read only what men (society) tell them to. My main support for this opinion is that while Arabella is fanciful, whimsical, of a romantic mind-set, Lennox had to use her imagination to create Arabella and the adventures she partakes in.