Virtue
Introduction:
"Virtue" took on fresh meaning with the belief in humanity's innate
goodness. With the overthrow of the "sour view of the total depravity of
man"
came belief in natural moral excellence--virtue (Bredvold 8). Louis Bredvold
traces the evolution to the Anglican divines: "Virtue, they believed, is
the health of the soul, its natural state of well-being" (Bredvold 9-10).
Consequently, Clarissa's virtue is not acquired through
religious instruction entirely but evident in her "from the
cradle." The virtuous woman radiates this moral excellence, and her virtue
often corresponds with her beauty. The word retained the meaning of "the
power or operative influence inherent in a supernatural or divine being"
in the eighteenth century, a reminder of the godly qualities implicit in
the virtuous being (OED). It is no surprise that the virtuous Clarissa is
often called divine.
Yet writers of sensibility love to put this beloved virtue under
siege. Clarissa, that paragon of
virtue, is raped and dies; Saint-Pierre's Virginia drowns clutching her
petticoats; Laclos' Tourvel eventually succumbs to Valmont--and,
naturally, dies. The trials of virtue suggest the undercurrent of
pessimism in sensibility. "The sentimental tribute of a tear exacted by the
spectacle of
virtue in distress was an acknowledgement at once of man's inherent
goodness and of the impossibility of his ever being able to demonstrate
his goodness effectively," writes R.F. Brissenden (29).
Notably, virtue is
gendered. The phrase "easy virtue,"
applied to unchaste women since at least "Much Ado About Nothing,"
suggests the unequivocal relation made between women's sexuality and their
virtue, still going strong in the eighteenth century; men's virtuous
qualities ranged more freely over the moral spectrum.
- Anonymous, Review of A Simple Story
- Denis Diderot, Eloge de
Richardson
The right way to read Richardson, and the
effects of doing so.
- J. Donaldson, Reflections on the
Harmony of Sensibility and Reason
Draws connections
between sensibility, vitality, and moral nature.
- Oliver Goldsmith, "An Elegy on the
Death of a Mad Dog"
A dog is done in, to the great pleasure of the community.
- Thomas Gray, "Elegy Written in a Country
Churchyard"
The nature of elegy is thrown into question.
- David Hume, "Of the Standard of
Taste"
Defines delicacy in the course of his search for
universal standards of judgment.
- David Hume, A Treatise of Human
Nature
Moral judgments result from feelings.
- Elizabeth Inchbald, A Simple
Story
Miss Milner's introduction.
- Immanuel Kant, Fundamental Principles
of the Metaphysics of Ethics
Moral action arises from
duty, not from a "moral sense."
- Matthew Lewis, The
Monk
Theodore plays the beggar.
- Henry Mackenzie, Untitled Article in
The Lounger, No. 20
Attacks the sentimental novel on
moral grounds.
- Henry Mackenzie, The Man of
Feeling
Can benevolence which comes from feeling be virtuous?
- Hannah More, "On the Danger of Sentimental
or Romantic Connexions"
Criticizes the "sentimental girl," but
praises "true" sentiment in women.
- Samuel Richardson,
Clarissa
Lovelace describes Clarissa.
- Samuel Richardson,
Clarissa
Clarissa as an "alien."
- Samuel Richardson,
Clarissa
Belford on Clarissa.
- Samuel Richardson,
Clarissa
Belford describes the dying Clarissa.
- Samuel Richardson,
Clarissa
Clarissa's death.
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The
Confessions
Rousseau becomes intoxicated with virtue.
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Preface to
La Nouvelle Heloise
Contrast between town and country
readers.
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Preface to
La Nouvelle Heloise
Sensibility and seclusion in the
country.
- Bernardin de St Pierre, Paul and
Virginia
Paul and Virginia's lack of education.
- Anna Seward,
"Lines on the Sorrows of Young Werther"
The virtues and
education of reading Werther.
- Shaftesbury, Third Earl of (Anthony
Ashley Cooper). Characteristicks
The "moral sense"
is independent of ideas about God.
- Mary Shelley,
Frankenstein
The monster confesses to Walton.
- Frances Sheridan, Memoirs of Miss
Sidney Bidulph
Sidney casts Faulkland from her heart.
a dictionary of sensibility
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