Analysis of the Coquette Throught Meaning Essay Example

the two men fighting for Eliza is Mr. Boyer, his attitude toward Eliza is just as his names meaning, stubborn. Foster is trying to convey the message that a good thing is hard to push away when it is true sincerity. An example of the stubbornness Mr.

Boyer has, he says, “take what time you think proper; only to relieve my suspense as soon as may be. Shall I visit you again to-morrow” (82). Mr. Boyer has a real substance behind what he is saying; he adores Eliza much like men who are really in love adore their partner. Real love isn’t something you just happen upon like the other man who is trying to get her love, Major Sanford. The meaning behind his name is plain, sand. Nothing to hold onto, it slips right through your fingers. Just like Major Sanford, he gives Eliza no insight on what his intentions really are.

Every woman should be aware of a man who will not reveal his intentions. Sand also describes Sanford so perfectly because the more he talks to Eliza and tells her sweet nothings the more she becomes not worried about why he is sticking around. If an object stays on the beach long enough the wind will blow and eventually cover up the object; essentially what Sanford is doing, blowing wind up her skirt to keep her mind occupied with the present not the future. Hannah Foster has Eliza as the character who is always indecisive unless it comes to her freedom.

Eliza has a choice between Mr. Boyer and Major Sanford. Mr. Boyer is an all-around outstanding gentleman and

every woman would be lucky to have him. Eliza could not give up her freedom from the single life to partake in a commitment to Mr. Boyer because “Marriage is the tomb of friendship” (82). This choice is the one Hannah would make if it was up to her because he is socially accepted and has the right intentions to lead a happy and well provided life. Eliza thinks of Mr. Boyer as having to live up to high standards and under constant watch by the people.

Women in this time had recently received their freedom to explore their choices in how their life is lived instead of being a man’s arm candy. Eliza wanted to explore this freedom as long as she could. Major Sanford was her other choice and he was a man with no real intentions of making Eliza anything but a fun side job. Hannah wanted the readers to see the great difference between the two men. Any person on the outside can make the obvious good choice of Mr. Boyer and not have to worry about anything but an image.

Choosing Major Sanford could come with unwanted consequences and Hannah is constantly warning her of the choice she is about to make using Mrs. Richman, a helper in Eliza’s house. Mrs. Richman tells Eliza, “Your friends would be very happy to see you united to a man of Mr. Boyer’s worth, and so agreeably settled as he has a prospect of being” (82). Hannah uses Mrs. Richman as a voice of reason to a woman who is pushed by her sentimental out take. Eliza ends up not making

the choice in time and Mr. Boyer decides he does not want to spend his life with a woman of her character.

Hannah Foster wnts to put the idea in our head that yes, a man will love you and wait on you, but only for a certain amount of time. No one can expect a person to wait forever, the right decision should be clear enough to make within a short time frame. The consequences that come along with Eliza not being able to make a decision are detrimental. This spin that Foster puts in Eliza’s life is one that few women think will happen to them, but occurs quite often. Eliza ends up getting pregnant by Major Sanford and dies while she is trying to give birth.

This is a message that going after the wrong man, with bad intentions, and one who lies to keep you, is not someone you should make an effort to keep. Before the death of Eliza she had to face the suffering of trying to keep her secret from her family because she was so ashamed. She tells her friend Julia Granby that she is in a state of, “remorse and despair” (91). Foster is conveying the idea of sticking with a man without being married and having intercourse, then getting pregnant can ruin any hope of having a normal life.

Everyone will be looking down on the single mother, just like many would have if Eliza would have lived. Eliza wanted to escape the torture of being in the spot light of the people and everyone talking about her, but that is exactly

what she got. Everything she didn’t want, she ended up having. Hannah Webster Foster does an excellent job on portraying her opinion to not take the road that might seem more enjoyable, but to take the road that has the most substance and lifelong happiness. Bypass the turn that gives you the choice to have an unstable, no intention, life ruining man.