In the opening of The Female Quixote we are told that Arabella has just turned seventeen and hasn't had many opportunities for men to approach her. Not even two paragraphs in, the story's focus jumps to a description of a man Arabella notices watching her.
" This gentleman was young, gay handsome, and very elegantly dressed; She blushed with a very becoming modesty; and, pleased with the unusual appearance of so fine a gentleman;"-Page 8
The way she examines Mr. Hervey from the intro may be a clue to her character. Early in reading I think I am seeing some resemblances of Pamela and Syrena's materialistic qualities and superficial characteristics in Arabella. The way she described Mr. Hervey could've just been an honest observation of him but what pushed it over the edge to me was that right after his description is given, Lennox jumps to Arabella's outfit description.
"Her dress, tho singular, was far from unbecoming. All the beauties of her neck and shape were set off to the greatest advantage by the Fashion of her gown, which in the manner of a robe, was made to fit tight to her body; and fastened on the breast with a knot of diamonds" -9
Now clearly we see that she definitely has some materialistic ways. Even though she is of a higher status her arrogance is what stands out when Lennox states she wore a "Sarsenet hood, somewhat in the form of a veil, with which she sometimes wholly covered her face, WHEN SHE SAW HER SELF BEHELD TOO MUCH ATTENTION"-9
If she's at church the focus should be on the word and the preacher or minister or whoever is delivering the word. What type of person would draw so much attention to themselves in such a place. She's wearing a tight fitting gown as we read on page eight, and was fastened at the breast which probably revealed some cleavage. It seems to me that she wants, likes, and bathes in the attention that she is getting at church.
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