Belinda by Maria Edgeworth

I have realized now that I have forgotten to write about other books that I have read for class. (Totally spaced North and South last semester. I'll make it up some time.) Right now I'm currently taking a British Romantic Period Literature class. One of the books that we have to read is Belinda by Maria Edgeworth. Edgeworth was a female author that wrote just before and while Jane Austen became popular. It's interesting that some seem to forget that she was the one that influenced the later. This book was written in 1801 while Austen wrote in the 1810s.

When you first open this book you are greeted with Edgeworth's explanation for writing it. She hated the idea of Belinda being called a Novel since the genre had bad connotations then. She said that this was to be a Moral Tale. Finding the moral might be the interesting part since so many things are happening. It is a Coming of Age story, but for whom? It would appear three people would be the focus: Belinda Portman, Lady Delacour, and Mr. Clarence Hervey. There are hints at race, feminism, and class differences but I think it may be up to us to decide what the moral really is.

Because I wrote a paper for this book, I feel that it is necessary to write about what other people have said about it. Some have said (especially Edgeworth's contemporary critics) that the title should be called Lady Delacour since she appears to be the dominant character. I thought about this point and at first I agreed with them; now I don't. Belinda is the morally right person in this novel and helps others through her example to realize that some of their actions might not be the best choice. She also is the one that moves the plot through the book. The other characters have some influence but the main tie is Belinda.

Belinda is also blamed for being too much of a goody-two-shoes. I don't mind this about her. She honest, quiet, sincere, and what she say is thought-provoking. I like her amidst all of the other characters who are way over the top. They have so many flaws that I believe that it's nice to have a morally right character. Why must we always have our heroine as someone who isn't morally perfect? I liked this about her. Her prudence may seem a bore to some but that's who Belinda is. She herself said: "Surely, prudence, not courage, is the virtue of our sex (meaning women)."

I also enjoyed the story of this book. Belinda is caught in the moment where she is available to be married and it is her Aunt Stanhope's desire that this happens. In this English aristocratic time courting was a lot different than it is now and how it can go a muck in some areas. This book shows that off nicely. I do feel that there were times when things were long-winded and could have been toned down. I suppose that it's for that reason that I would give Belinda 4 out of 5 stars. If you like to read a book like that of Austen then go ahead and give Belinda a try.