The Female Quixote

Arabella coaches Lucy on how to relate her history. She demands that Lucy tell her life story exactly as she imagines it, through the lens of romantic novels. When Lucy emerges, however, Arabella has delayed so long that Sir George has already returned home, accompanied by Mr. Glanville.

When Mr. Glanville returns home, he is slightly drunk. He declares his love again for Arabella and asks her why she tortures him with her strange behavior. Arabella, offended by this new boldness, demands fresh penance. Citing literary precedents, she demands that Mr. Glanville duel Edward, who diminished her honor. Only by “bringing that Rascal’s Head” will he be able to win her love (127). Assuming that she is joking, Mr. Glanville agrees.

During this time, Sir George studies novels to prepare for his seduction. During his frequent visits to the house, he carefully flirts with both Miss Glanville and Arabella. When Mr. Glanville becomes sick, Sir George visits often. Arabella becomes convinced that Mr. Glanville is sick with guilt and shame for failing her. As such, she believes that her forgiveness will be enough to heal him. Eventually, Miss Glanville asks her to visit her brother, and Arabella agrees, believing that he no longer deserves to die. She entreats Mr. Glanville “to live,” but despite the physician’s optimistic prognosis, Mr. Glanville becomes sicker.

Arabella stays by his side, assuring him that she will allow him to love her if he lives. Eventually, he recovers and asks Arabella to return his love. She allows him to love her in a restrained manner, according to the “Laws of Romance” (137).

Sir George visits often. Even though he knows that the Marquis’s will stipulates that Arabella should marry Mr. Glanville, he believes that his knowledge of French romances will allow him to win Arabella’s heart. Since he does not want to offend Miss Glanville, he privately indulges her mockery of Arabella. When he is in Arabella’s company, however, his attention immediately switches to her. The two women disagree when the subject of Miss Groves is raised, and Arabella defends Miss Groves’s reputation. Sir George cites examples from romance novels to side with Arabella, who is “pleasingly surprised to hear Language so conformable to her own Ideas” (144).

The conversation is interrupted by the return of Sir Charles, who has come to ensure that his son has recovered from his illness. He listens to the conversation, and Arabella is offended by her uncle’s “injurious Words” against heroes and heroines. She encourages everyone to do as Sir George has and read “the great Examples of Fidelity and Courage” found in French romances (151).

To avert an argument, the group agrees to go out hunting. Sir George insists that Arabella join them rather than stay at home with Miss Glanville. Arabella mounts her horse gracefully, drawing much admiration. She and Mr. Glanville ride together and they stop in the shade of a small tree, whereupon Arabella shrieks and points to a figure in the distance. She has spotted Mr. Hervey and demands that Mr. Glanville defend her honor against such a “Ravisher.” Mr. Glanville reluctantly agrees and approaches Mr. Hervey, who recognizes Arabella and begins to laugh. He jokes that she is “fit for a Mad-house” (157). This comment offends Mr. Glanville, inspiring him to strike Mr. Hervey with the butt-end of his whip. A fight breaks out.

From afar, Arabella is delighted by the man defending her honor. Terrified that Mr. Hervey may not be alone, however, she rides away. She finds Sir George and collapses in his arms. When she recovers her senses, she explains to Sir Charles that his son is locked in a duel against “a Croud of Enemies” (158). She believes that Mr. Glanville will win but fears that he may sustain terrible wounds. Concerned, Sir Charles rides away to help his son, while Sir George offers to stay and protect Arabella. However, she rides after Sir Charles.

Arriving at the scene of the fight, Sir Charles finds everyone gone. He is told that the fight ended without bloodshed, but he is shocked to discover how Arabella encouraged the fight. Sir George, by contrast, offers to take up the cause and find Mr. Hervey, who has “dared to offer Violence to the fairest Person in the World” (162). Arabella disapproves of his presumptive attitude toward her. When Sir Charles speaks to her, she mistakes his concern for affection. Sir Charles is convinced that Sir George is making romantic advances toward the woman his son is supposed to marry, while Arabella mistakenly believes that Sir Charles is in love with her.

Mr. Glanville reappears. Miss Glanville quizzes Arabella about what happened, particularly Sir George’s response. When she is finally alone, Arabella reflects on her “Variety of Adventures” and searches for precedents in her romance novels (164). She is pleased with Sir George’s heroic response to the situation, though she does not know that he has simply gone home rather than pursue Mr. Hervey.

Meanwhile, Mr. Glanville lies to his father about the cause of the fight, though he is too late. When he meets with Arabella, she solemnly thanks him for defending her, though she hints at some dark secret that makes her apprehensive. Before she can reveal the nature of this secret, they are both summoned to dinner.

Sir Charles is in a bad mood because he is convinced that Sir George somehow “affronted” Arabella. He would like to know more about the incident but worries that this may cause an argument between his son and Sir George. He speaks to her alone, and Arabella notices her uncle’s preoccupied expression and mistakes this for affection, believing that he wants to declare his love for her. Sir Charles is “a little puzzled” by her strange responses. Eventually, he directly asks whether she has “any Reason to be offended” by Sir George (168). Arabella refuses to elaborate, so Sir Charles resolves to ask Sir George for an apology. He asks that she keep this from his son, and Arabella is confused. She is joined in the garden by Mr. Glanville, who enters into another confused, farcical misunderstanding.

Each in separate rooms, the characters reflect on their misunderstanding of the facts. Sir Charles visits Sir George, who welcomes him politely and calmly explains the situation. When Sir Charles returns, Mr. Glanville presses him for information, but his father evades the question. He tries and fails to meet with Arabella alone, as Arabella is distracted by the arrival of a letter from Sir George. Sensitive to the laws of romances, Arabella tries “to return this Letter unopened” (172). Sir George has predicted this response, however, and ordered his messenger to leave before the letter could be returned. Arabella, respecting this “ingenious Device,” reads the letter.

In the letter, Sir George asserts his love for Arabella and insists that he would welcome his own death before renouncing his love. Lucy believes it is “such a sad mournful Letter” and accuses Arabella of being hard-hearted for allowing him to die for her (175). Arabella dismisses Lucy’s claims and says she will allow Sir George to live. She plans to send Lucy to him the following day with orders on what to do.