Cecilia (novel)

"Cecilia", subtitled "Memoirs of an Heiress", is a novel by Frances Burney, set in 1779 and published in 1782.

Characters

Cecilia Beverley: an heiress who moves from Bury, Suffolk to London to live with the Harrels
The Dean: Cecilia's uncle who died shortly before the beginning of the story. He left her an inheritance and arranged for her guardians.
Priscilla Harrel: Cecilia's childhood friend. Cecilia is dismayed to learn that since Mrs. Harrel's marriage and removal to town, she has become a thoughtless, extravagant socialite.
Mr. Harrel: Mrs. Harrel's husband and one of Cecilia's guardian. He alarms Cecilia by his careless behavior towards others and his wild spending.
Mr. Briggs: one of Cecilia's guardians and a miser
Mr. Delvile: one of Cecilia's guardians, notable for his extreme pride
Augusta Delvile: Mr. Delvile's proud but elegant and kind wife. Cecilia finds her company refreshing after living with the Harrels
Mortimer Delvile: The Delviles' son; often referred to as "young Delvile." Cecilia eventually realizes that she loves him, but is uncertain that he returns her affection or that he is as good as he seems.
Mr. Monckton: an old acquaintance from the country. In his youth, he married the much older Lady Margaret for her money, only to meet the rich, intelligent, and charming Cecilia later. He plays on Cecilia's hopes and fears in an attempt to keep her single until his wife dies and he can marry her.
Lady Margaret Monckton: the rich, unpleasant, and elderly wife of Mr. Monckton
Sir Robert Floyer: Mr. Harrel's arrogant associate and unwelcome suitor to Cecilia. Mr. Harrel relentlessly promotes the match between Sir Robert and Cecilia, even spreading gossip about it and keeping Sir Robert ignorant of Cecilia's refusal.
Mr. Belfield: an acquaintance of Mr. Monckton. Despite his potential and honorable nature, he is ruined by his attempts to cover up his humble origins as a tradesman's son.
Henrietta Belfield: the youngest of Mr. Belfield's sisters. Henrietta and her mother move in with her wounded brother and through Albany, is befriended by Cecilia
Mrs. Belfield: Mr. Belfield's mother and the widow of a shopkeeper. She is a course woman who spoils her son, often to the exclusion of her daughter, and angers Cecilia by her brazen suggestions of marrying her son.
Mrs. Hill: a poor woman whose husband was Mr. Harrel's carpenter. Her son Billy died before her first appearance in the story and her husband has been fatally injured while working for Mr. Harrel, leaving Mrs. Hill and her young daughters to perform hard labor and nearly starve to death. When Cecilia learns that Mr. Harrel has refused to honor his debt to the Hills, she comes to the family's aid.
Albany: an older man who makes speeches against the uncharitable use of riches - "his friends call him the 'moralist'; the young ladies, the 'crazy-man'; the maccaronis, the 'bore'; in short, he is called by any and every name but his own."
Mr. Arnott: Mrs. Harrel's brother. He is in love with Cecilia and will do just about anything to win her good opinion but has little hope of her returning his affection.
Mr. Marriot: a wealthy but "simple" young man with Cecilia dances at the Harrels' ball. Mr. Harrel uses his attraction for Cecilia in an attempt to raise money.
Mr. Gosport: an older man and studier of absurd characters. He often appears to instruct Cecelia in the ways of the Ton (the upper class trend-setters of London society of the era).
Captain Aresby: an overly gallant officer that Cecilia first meets at the Monckton's. Mr. Gosport classfies him as part of Jargonist sect of the Ton, due to his pretentious use of fashionable jargon.
Miss Larolles: a leader of the Voluble sect of the Ton (according to Mr. Gosport's classification).
Miss Leeson: a leader of the Supercilious sect of the Ton
Mr. Meadows: a leader of the Insensibilist sect of the Ton
Mr. Morrice: a sycophant that Cecilia meets at the Moncktons'. He abuses his very slight acquaintance with Cecilia to visit her at the Harrels'.
Mr. Hobson and Mr. Simkins: two of Mr. Harrel's creditors, introduced at the Vauxhall scene. Mr. Hobson is more financially settled and less respectful towards the upper class, while Mr. Simkins is less settled and more servile.

References

Jane Austen referred to "Cecilia" and other novels in her novel, "Northanger Abbey": “'And what are you reading, Miss — ?' 'Oh! It is only a novel!' replies the young lady, while she lays down her book with affected indifference, or momentary shame. 'It is only Cecilia, or Camilla, or Belinda'; or, in short, only some work in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humour, are conveyed to the world in the best–chosen language." [Northanger Abbey, Chapter 5]

The title of Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" may have been inspired by a passage at the end of "Cecilia": “remember: if to pride and prejudice you owe your miseries, so wonderfully is good and evil balanced, that to pride and prejudice you will also owe their termination.” [Writing Pride and Prejudice, available online: [http://www.icons.org.uk/theicons/collection/pride-and-prejudice/biography/pride-and-prejudice-biography-finished] . Retrieved 10/28/07.]

In "Persuasion", Anne Elliot alludes to "the inimitable Miss Larolles." [Persuasion, Chapter 20]

Footnotes

External links

"Cecilia" at Project Gutenberg: [http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/6346]