# Letter XLIII: Evelina in Continuation explained — Evelina

> Chapter companion for Evelina by Fanny Burney.

## What happens

Evelina recounts two troubling events: first, Mr. Smith's persistent and inappropriate offer of a ticket to the Hampstead assembly, which Madame Duval forces her to accept; second, a harrowing encounter where she prevents a desperate young man (Mr. Macartney) from committing suicide by seizing his pistols and pleading with him to spare his life.

## Themes in this chapter

### Female Education and Innocence

Evelina's scruples about accepting Mr. Smith's ticket reflect her innocence and the education in propriety she has received from Mr. Villars, contrasting with Madame Duval's worldly pragmatism.

### Virtue and Reputation

Evelina's refusal of Mr. Smith's gift and her courageous intervention to save a stranger demonstrate her virtue and concern for moral reputation.

### Satire of Society

Mr. Smith's presumptuous and vulgar pursuit of Evelina, along with Madame Duval's gullibility, satirizes the manners and pretensions of the middle class.

## Character check-ins

### Evelina Anville

Narrates the chapter; refuses Mr. Smith's ticket but is overruled by Madame Duval; heroically intervenes to stop a suicide.

### Madame Duval

Forces Evelina to accept Mr. Smith's invitation; praises Mr. Smith as the prettiest young man she has seen in England.

### Mr. Smith

Offers Evelina a ticket to the Hampstead assembly; persists despite her refusal and enlists Madame Duval's support.

### Mr. Macartney

The desperate young man; attempts suicide with pistols but is stopped by Evelina's intervention.

### Monsieur Du Bois

Accompanies Evelina to the Branghtons' and later escorts her home in a chair.

### Mr. Branghton

Informs Evelina that his son and daughter are out; later witnesses the aftermath of the suicide attempt.

## Key lines

> Indeed, Ma'am, you are too modest; I assure you the ticket is quite at your service, and I shall be very happy to dance with you; so pray don't be so coy.

Mr. Smith dismisses Evelina's refusal as mere modesty and insists she accept his ticket to dance with him.

_Illustrates Mr. Smith's presumptuousness and Evelina's discomfort with his familiarity._

> O, Sir! have mercy on yourself!

Evelina pleads with the young man to spare his own life as she seizes his pistols.

_Key moment of Evelina's courageous intervention to prevent suicide._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-xliii-evelina-in-continuation
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