Evelina · Chapter
Letter II: Mr. Villars to Lady Howard explained
Mr.
What happens
Mr. Villars writes to Lady Howard explaining his refusal to send Evelina to Madame Duval, recounting the tragic history of Evelina's mother, Miss Evelyn, and her ill-fated marriage to Sir John Belmont, and expressing his deep protective love for his ward.
Themes in this chapter
Guardianship and Paternalism
Mr. Villars asserts his authority as Evelina's guardian, refusing Madame Duval's claim and detailing his long-standing care for her.
Virtue and Reputation
The tragic story of Miss Evelyn illustrates how a woman's virtue and reputation could be destroyed by a man's betrayal, despite her innocence.
Family and Identity
Evelina's identity is shaped by her mother's tragic past and her grandmother's unworthiness, with Mr. Villars acting as her surrogate family.
Characters to notice
- Rev. Mr. Villars
Writes to Lady Howard, explaining his reasons for keeping Evelina in England and recounting the tragic history of her mother.
- Lady Howard
Recipient of the letter; Mr. Villars requests her to write to Madame Duval on his behalf.
- Madame Duval
Evelina's grandmother, whose letter has caused perplexity; described as uneducated, unprincipled, and unamiable.
- Evelina Anville
The ward in question; Mr. Villars refuses to send her to Madame Duval and cherishes her deeply.
- Sir John Belmont
The profligate young man who secretly married Miss Evelyn, then denied the marriage and burned the certificate.
- Caroline Evelyn
Evelina's mother, who died giving birth to her after being betrayed by Sir John Belmont.
Key passages
“Your Ladyship did but too well foresee the perplexity and uneasiness of which Madame Duval’s letter has been productive.”
Lady Howard correctly predicted the trouble that Madame Duval's letter would cause.
Mr. Villars acknowledges Lady Howard's foresight regarding Madame Duval's interference.
“Madame Duval is by no means a proper companion or guardian for a young woman: she is at once uneducated and unprincipled; ungentle in temper, and unamiable in her manners.”
Madame Duval is unfit to raise a young woman because she lacks education, morals, and pleasant manners.
Mr. Villars explains his refusal to send Evelina to her grandmother.
“That child, Madam, shall never, while life is lent me, know the loss she has sustained.”
As long as I live, that child will never feel the loss of her mother.
Mr. Villars vows to protect Evelina from the pain of her mother's death.