However, rather than launching into an explicit diatribe against the repressive societal standards women of the 18th century were subject to, Manley's novel employs a more subtle approach in highlighting the contradictory foundation upon which 18th-century concepts of femininity and female sexuality were based. ... Throughout the novel, honor and sexual chastity are linked inexorably with reputation, the implication being that the former two are very determinedly dependent on the latter. ... The novel suggests that female violence is a direct cause of a weak social system that refuses wom...

• Word Count: 1986
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: Graduate