The Female Quixote

The protagonist and self-styled heroine of The Female Quixote is 17-year-old Arabella. Before she was born, her father, a Marquis, was “banished” from the Royal Court and retired to a country estate with his wife. She died in childbirth, leaving him to raise Arabella alone. He taught her to read and write, granting her a “Mind as beautiful as her Person was lovely” (6). In particular, Arabella loved her mother’s collection of French romance novels. She became convinced that the world outside was just like these novels, filled with princes, princesses, knights, duels, and great displays of love. She assumed her life would be equally full of adventure and romance. As she grew older, her beauty became apparent and she never abandoned her belief in the romantic nature of the world.

As the novel opens, she is propositioned by a gentleman named Mr. Hervey. After a flurry of misunderstood letters between Mr. Hervey and Arabella (who is working through her loyal maid, Lucy), Arabella becomes “mortally offended” by his lack of romantic sensibilities (15). She commands Mr. Hervey to die for the offense he has caused her. After Lucy intervenes with Mr.