Essay Questions

Deconstruct Lady Mary’s view about praising God during grim times. - “Romance, Piety, Sensibility”

Mr. Matthews asks, "Is it then…a ridiculous thing to say our prayers, or praise the name of Him from whom all our blessings proceed?" Lady Mary responds, "No, sir, but when He has taken from us those we love, it is difficult to feel perfectly resigned. I am sure I could not praise Him when my mama died." Lady Mary suggests that it is impracticable to be grateful to God in the face of difficult circumstances such as bereavement. Her position mirrors that of Christians who fault God when misfortunes occur in their lives. They conclude that God abandoned them resulting in the misfortunes. Therefore, being a Christian requires absolute faith and gratitude to God in all circumstances (favorable, or adverse) which may be grueling for some individuals.

How does Mrs. Cavendish endorse the ideology of ‘false pride’? - “False Pride and Unsophisticated Innocence”

Mrs. Cavendish states, “Mrs. Matthews, do you approve of a young lady of rank and fortune making herself familiar with all the beggars and low people in the place?” Mrs. Matthews responds, “By no means, and I am astonished that Miss Blakeney has not a higher sense of propriety and her own consequence.” Mrs. Cavendish’s question bids connotations of ‘false pride’ which she anticipates Lucy to uphold. Mrs. Cavendish is a conceited woman who does not value the lowly; and expected Lucy to emulate her so she can demonstrate that she is classy than the poor individuals whom she tends to. Luckily, Lucy does not bow to Mrs. Cavendish pressure to embrace ‘false pride.’