The Coquette Novel

When reading The Coquette by Hannah Webster Foster a reader might have lingering questions about the purpose that the book serves. One might wonder the reasons that Foster had to write this book. Is this a proto-feminist novel? Is Foster condemning the patriarchal society that she is lives in? Or is this novel written as a cautionary tale so that women can learn from Eliza’s s mistakes and see the outcome of what happens when a woman does not stick to the norms of society? In answering all these questions, it can be concluded that The Coquette can be considered a proto-feminist novel. The reasons that this novel can be considered proto-feminist are because of Eliza’ characteristics, her view on patriarchal marriage, the need for the main character
Eliza’s rebellious attitude towards a patriarchal society can be described as proto-feminist. Another reason that The Coquette can be considered a proto-feminist novel is Foster’s inclusion of Eliza wanting to choose friendship instead of marriage. Ivy Schweitzer explains, “The Coquette, published in 1797, proffers a discourse of “equalitarian friendship “as a social alternative to unequal and privatizing Federalist marriage” (Schweitzer 5). Schweitzer notes that Eliza’s view on choosing friendship was not seen as the social norm, “By contrast, the homosocial plot offers Eliza another choice altogether, which her women friends cannot perceive and perversely conspire to prevent her from making—that is, to reject the terms of Federalist marriage or extramarital passion, and choose friendship” (Schweitzer 10). Schweitzer notes that Eliza’s friends cannot understand Eliza’s decision to choose friendship and encourage her to choose to be a part of a federalist marriage. They frequently advised her to marry Boyer, “We know that Eliza’s friends, who keep recommending Boyer and warning against Sanford, have a definite standard of taste” (Van Engen 308). Her friends’ standard of taste was the confinement
(Schweitzer 14). Schweitzer notes that during this time period women forfeited the emotional support that friendship provided once they were married. The main protagonist criticizes marriage in a letter she writes to her friend Lucy Freeman, “Marriage is the tomb of friendship. It appears to me a very selfish state” (Foster 24). It can be noted from Eliza’ view of marriage that Foster is critical of marriage because it kills friendships. Eliza writes to Mrs. Richmond, “Though not less interested in the felicity of my friend than the rest, yet the idea of a separation; perhaps, of an alienation of affection by, means of her entire devotion to another, cast an involuntary gloom over my mind” (Foster 70). Eliza’s view of her friend becoming part of a patriarchal marriage and her husband becoming her sole purpose further demonstrates what Foster thought of marriage and how unfair it was for women to give up the love and devotion she had for her friends. Schweitzer explains, “Even the eminently unromantic Lucy admits ruefully that marriage has removed her from her "native home" and its special joys” (Schweitzer 21). Schweitzer notes that even Lucy who is a character that embodies the social norm, admits that marriage takes away the freedom that a woman