Evelina by Frances Burney

I'm surprised that I'm not better at interpreting these things at this point, but it was more than half way through the book before I picked up on the disparate social hierarchy between various groups within the novel. 

This is especially true of the difference between the Mirvans of Howard Place, and the Branghton clan and Madame Duval. There is a large gap between the two groups, almost imperceptible at first, but deepening as the story progresses. 

The chasm perhaps peaks when Madame Duval and the Branghtons use "Miss Anville's" name to procure the usage of Lord Orrville's carriage following a rainstorm. The sudden shift of the coachman's demeanor to the group once they learn of Evelina's friendship with his Lordship underscores the gap in their relative position in society. 

I don't know if Ms. Burney intended for this gap to only unveil over time or if it's only my ignorance as a 21st century American reader. In my defense, what throws off the lowly standing of the Branghtons is the bold audacity and pride of Madame Duval, her French pride and scorn for pretty much everyone. She stinks of all the badness of stereotypes of high society to me. 

Why did the story line about reclaiming Evelina's rightful lineage and inheritance simply go away after such a short life? At the time that came up I was certain that the remainder of the book would center on that plot line.  Instead it simply stopped after the letter from her father, only to resume in the book's final chapters.

The novel reminds me of The Pickwick Papers, a meandering collection of charming stories around the same central characters. My interest picqued with the stories about Mr. McCartney having perhaps killed his own father, the above mentioned reconciliation of Evelina's inheritance, the battles between Captain Mirvan and Madame Duval, and most recently the gentleman's wager on the race between 80+ year old women (a very baudy thing for the time period). But each of these story lines has dropped away in pursuit of the next. What is the overall theme of the novel?  Or is it mere entertainment?

In Conclusion

After finishing the book I now see that most of the storylines above were neatly resolved in the end.  But why does the story meander senselessly from story to story a la Pickwick Papers?  I believe the answer lies in the fact that this novel - as of many others of the time - was intended as an instruction manual for young women on how to behave.  As with Pamela, Evelina deflects so many challenges to her virtue, only to be rewarded in the end with marriage to Lord Orrville.  Her mysterious lineage is resolved (as in Tom Jones), and she is reconciled with her father.  The story meanders only to show the wide variety of ways in which a lady must protect her virtue.  And of course, in the end, her virtue is rewarded.

Lastly, and separately, there is no mention of the American Revolution, which occurs simultaneous with Evelina.  It is fiction, of course, but it is telling of the relative magnitude of the British Empire and the foundling that is the United States at the time Evelina is situated (1778).  The English aristocracy was barely aware of the scuffle across the Atlantic.