Charlotte Temple Essay

The Curse of Having an Inheritance

Susanna Rowsons novel Charlotte Temple, is considered the first American best-seller published in 1794 more than two hundred editions have been published in the United states. A sequel to this famous novel was later found by her husband in manuscript form originally titled, Charlottes Daughter or the Three Orphans which was later changed to Lucy Temple and published in 1828. Rowson demonstrates in this sequel that the family linage can be misunderstood or fabricated for a persons financial benefit. This benefit in other words, an inheritance, can evolve into an unwanted obligation rather than a relief in financial stability. With the disbursement of an inheritance many of the characters in Lucy Temple, either experienced the loss of independence, loss of virtue, or most importantly the loss of financial prosperity. Rowson also highlights the problems that are associated with charity and how it is distributed to the worthy with legitimate needs. Rowson clearly shows how money can bring someone out of misery quickly and easily insert an individual into misery.

At the beginning of Lucy Temple, Rowson immediately explains how after the passing of Lucys godfather, she is to inherit a fortune with the condition that she must change her name to Blakeney. Right away we see how Lucy has been stripped of her maternal connection with her name change. To make this condition even more complicated if Lucy decides to marry her future husband must take the name Blakeney or the inheritance is forfeited. Lucy will not be eligible for this inheritance till her twentieth birthday. She also becomes an orphan and is further disconnected from her family by becoming the ward of Reverend Mathews. Right away at the beginning of the novel Lucy has lost her family connection with having to change her last name; as well as the burden of informing her future husband that he must take the name of Blakeney in order to keep the inheritance. Lucy has lost her independence and freedom due to the conditions that are placed on her inheritance by her godfather. The freedom to marry the man of her dreams is also limited due to the fact that her grandfather left her a note stating: There is one thing, my ever dear child, I am very anxious about, and on which my charge to you will be very solemn. It is that you will never marry any one of the name of N --- (216). Once again her choices and freedoms have been limited by her grandfather. Throughout Lucy Temple, the women are in some form or fashion being controlled by the men and their economic and social status that is normally associated with men. Women do not have the freedoms and liberties that men do during this era but this is slowly beginning to change when Lucy Temple was published in 1828.

The Reverend Alfred Mathews and his noble wife Constantia Cavendish are immediately introduced as the guardians of Lucy, Mary, and Aura till they are married. Except that Mrs. Cavendish is not considered a dominate matriarchal character in the novel she is only seen at the very beginning and then glimpses of her are seen throughout. The main guardian is Mr. Mathews who works at the rector and lives a middle class life style due to the inheritance of Mrs. Cavendish. Mr. Mathews is determined to ensure that all three ladies are raised properly and that they will learn the proper manners, etiquette, and education that a woman of a middle class society should obtain while growing up. He will also explain to them the concept of charity. How charity is properly disbursed to those who qualify for it. Mr. Mathews says: I make a point of inquiring the characters of any poor, who are my parishioners, before I give them any relief (165). Mr. Mathews is speaking to Mary Lumly about the charity he gave a family in need when all Mary wanted to do is hand them 5 guineas. At this point Mr. Mathews explains that charity is only given in moderation so that they family can survive and continue to help themselves without becoming dependent of charity. This again is another form of controlling the finances of his household and parish. Rowson also shows that not everyone is worthy of charity. The lines between social classes are drawn and shown clearly in this act of charity.

At this point Rowson has introduced Mary Lumly into the novel. Mary is taught a lesson on how charity is appropriately distributed to the people that qualify for the assistance and how much should be given. Mary is a selfish and a shallow young lady who comes from a high class family. She is to receive a small fortune compared to Lucy who is a humble young lady from the middle class who receives a huge fortune. Mary is deceived into a false marriage with Mr. Haynes and she lovingly signs over all of her inheritance and property to him without a second thought. Unbeknownst to her, Mr. Haynes plan is to squander all of her money and eventually abandons her during her pregnancy. Mary eventually takes asylum with Mr. Mathews after she had experienced both the death of her lover and child, poverty, and a few moments of insanity; this could possibly be seen as her payment for her sins. Rowson shows how Marys independence is lost due to her inheritance. Throughout this novel inheritance is seen as a bad thing and in the end Lucy is the only one that has her inheritance, except she lost the love of her life due to the family betrayal.

Aura Melville is the last orphan in the Mathews house. She is penniless, and does not have an inheritance awaiting her when she marries. Aura has total independence and is not limited by any conditions she is free to be who she wants to be. Until, she meets Edward Ainslie who declares his love for Aura and eventually marries. She does not keep that independence long after her marriage. Aura falls into the typical marriage of that era where the womans status and economic freedom is dependent on the husbands income and status. Aura had the most to lose because independence is something that is priceless. Rowson clearly shows how even penniless women can loss the most valuable part of herself to a man.

Throughout all that has been previously mentioned Lucy has fallen in love with Jack Franklin. Mrs. Cavendish has mentioned that it would be a great match if Jack and Lucy were to marry. This is where Mr. Mathews presents Lucy with the letter from her grandfather and the news that her husband must take the name Blakeney. This is where Rowson shows how the paternal lineage and the family name begin to control both Lucy and Jack. Mr. Mathews and Lucy decide that since Jacks last name is Franklin he is approved for marring Lucy. Lucy in turn decides that she will forfeit her inheritance in order to marry Jack. Jack and Lucy decide to wait till her twentieth birthday to marry. At this point Rowson has very intelligently inserted the notion that there is something suspicious about this future marriage. Rowson has disconnected Lucy from her family heritage up to this point and now the truth about her parents betrayal will be revealed and it will once again control her independence and financial stability. Jack is called back to his family due to his fathers illness. This is where Julia Franklin and Montraville (who is now Lieutenant Franklin) return to the novel and the paternal connection is revealed.

Rowson does not make this connection simple and easy. It turns out to be the climax of the novel and the most devastating moment in the lives of Lucy and Jack. The only evidence that Lucy has of her mother is a small self portrait of Charlotte that was done before her death. Jack notices the resemblance of Lucys mother in the portrait but neither of them have an inkling that they are half brother and half sister. Jack returns home with the portrait to show his father what his future bride looks like. Jack then:

Held it up before his father, who rose up, seized it with a convulsive grasp the moment the light fell on the features, and looking upon the initials on the back of it, shrieked outIt isit is come again to blast my vision in my last hour!The woman you would marry is my own daughter!Just Heaven!Oh! That I could have been spared this!Go, my son! Go to my private deskyou will there find the record of your fathers sham, and your own fate! Nature was exhausted by the effort. He fell back on the bed, supported by his trembling wife, and in a few moments, the wretched Franklin, the once gay, gallant, happy Montraville, was no more (231-232).

In this scene the truth is revealed and then explained by a letter that Montraville has left for Jack explaining how he deceived Charlotte Temple and abandoned his daughter Lucy. In this moment, Rowson very cleverly explains how Montraville married Julia Franklin for her wealth, along with changing his name he could forget what he done in the past. In this horrific moment for Jack, Rowson shows how the sins of ones parents can control their childrens lives. Once again, Jacks choices have been ripped away from him and he must do the noble thing and not marry Lucy. Just like Montraville, Jack runs away.

Jack sends word to Lucy, yet again; due to Lucys family lineage she has lost her freedoms and the love of her life. In this time period women are limited in society and they do not have many options when it comes to money and status in society. For instance, Mary Lumly was deceived into a false marriage, had a child, and lost her upper class status all in a matter of months by signing over all her inheritance and property to Sir Stephen Haynes. She did not take into account the warnings that Mr. Mathews told her. She did keep a few pounds to herself but not enough to sustain her for a long period of time. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Aura marries for love and does not have to worry about an inheritance but at the moment she says I do, she has lost her independence and is now a domesticated woman who must obey her husband. Then, there is Lucy who is a humble young lady that has fallen in love with Jack and cannot marry him because they are half siblings. Each of these women lost something that is very dear to them and in most case the essence of who they are. Lucy lost the most out of all of these women. It is easier to live with money than it is to live with a broken heart and alone.

Rowson is brilliant in the way she has shown how women in this era are always controlled by a mans economic and financial status in society. All three orphaned girls were betrayed by a man who was in control of their financial dependence. Rowson also explained how charity should be distributed only to those who are worthy and only the amount that is needed to survive. It is magnificent how Rowson used Mr. Mathews as an instrument of guardianship and a teacher at the same time. Mary learned how to give charity in a productive manner that allowed the family that was receiving the charity to be able to resolve the immediate need and how to move forward. Mr. Mathews also warned Mary about Mr. Hayness low status in society. He was not just her guardian but her advisor and or mentor. Of course, on the flip side Mr. Mathews did marry for financial stability and into a higher class of society. At the very least, he stayed true to his calling as a reverend. He is an honorable man by accepting Mary back and taking care of her in her time of need. Some people in his position would not have been so kind to accept someone who did not listen when being told that they are making an incorrect decision.

Rowson shows how legitimacy and family legacies are constantly in control of Lucys fate. At the very least Lucy still has her inheritance and can live a comfortable life without the worries of financial stress. Lucy Temple was written in a more modern style that is quicker and more coherent than Charlotte Temple. It seemed to be more vivid and detailed as well. This is most likely attributed to her living in England and being able to describe the surroundings and the people of England better. When she wrote Charlotte Temple she had never been to New York so her ability to describe the society was a little harder for Rowson. Lucy Temple is considered the sequel to Charlotte Temple. There are certain themes and characters that connect both novels but in style they are not quite the same. This is most likely due to her age and experience in life. Obviously it is easier to describe a country home and its surroundings easier since she had lived in England. Also in this era women were starting to have more freedoms and were learning about their legal rights when it came to inheritance and property.

With the return of the themes of love and betrayal or seduction and abandonment that connection between the two novels is clearly seen. Along with some of the main characters for instance Montraville, Julia Franklin, and of course Lucy Temple, it is easy to see how this is about the life of Lucy Temple. Lucy had the independence and financial freedom that Charlotte never had. Rowson paralleled her real life with that of Lucy. Both women created a school for girls so that they could help women learn their legal rights, get a proper education, and learn some strong lessons about life. Lucy Temple is a novel about inheritance, charity and the lives of three women who learned some very difficult lessons in life by paying the high price, of the loss of their independence or the loves of their life. Even though the ending for the most part is happy, Lucy will not have to worry about money, but she will be alone and will not have anyone to share that wealth and freedom with.

Works Cited

Rowson, Susanna. Charlotte Temple and Lucy Temple. The Modern Language

Association of America: New York, 2009.