The CoquetteThe Coquette tells the much-publicized story of the seduction and death of Elizabeth Whitman, a poet from Hartford, Connecticut.Written as a series of letters--between the heroine and her friends and lovers--it describes her long, tortuous courtship by two men, neither of whom perfectly suits her. Eliza Wharton (as Whitman is called in the novel) wavers between Major Sanford, a charming but insincere man, and the Reverend Boyer, a bore who wants to marry her. When, in her mid-30s, Wharton finds herself suddenly abandoned when both men marry other women, she willfully enters into an adulterous relationship with Sanford and becomes pregnant. Alone and dejected, she dies in childbirth at a roadside inn. Eliza Wharton, whose real-life counterpart was distantly related to Hannah Foster's husband, was one of the first women in American fiction to emerge as a real person facing a dilemma in her life. In her Introduction, Davidson discusses the parallels between Elizabeth Whitman and the fictional Eliza Wharton. She shows the limitations placed on women in the 18th century and the attempts of one woman to rebel against those limitations. |
Contents
Chronology of Hannah Webster Foster | 2 |
THE COQUETTE OR THE HISTORY OF ELIZA WHARTON | 3 |
Facsimile of the title page from the first edition | 4 |
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Common terms and phrases
Aaron Burr acquaintance adieu affection agreeable amiable amusements appeared attention believe Boston Boyer breast character CHARLES DEIGHTON Charlotte Temple charms conduct connection consolation conversation Coquette daugh dear Eliza death disposition distress Elizabeth Whitman endeavor engaged enjoy enjoyment entertainment esteem expect fancy favor flatter friendship girl hand Hannah Webster Foster happiness HARTFORD heart Herbert Ross honor hope idea imagination Joel Barlow JULIA GRANBY lady leave LETTER libertine lover LUCY SUMNER madam Major Sanford mamma marriage married melancholy mind MISS ELIZA WHARTON MISS LUCY FREEMAN Miss Wharton morrow mother never NEW-HAVEN novel pain passion PETER SANFORD pleased pleasure polite portunity present received render replied resolution retired Richman scenes Selby sensibility Sentimental Novel sentiments sincere sion society solicitous soon taste tell thought tion told uncon virtue virtuous walked wife wish woman women write