100 pages • 3 hours read
Hannah Webster FosterThe Coquette
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1797A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Coquette, authored by Hannah Webster Foster and published anonymously in 1797, is an epistolary novel that tells the story of Eliza Wharton, a young socialite torn between two suitors: the dependable Reverend Boyer and the charming but deceitful Major Sanford. Despite advice to pursue a virtuous and stable path, Eliza's fascination with Sanford leads her on a downcast trajectory that illustrates the perils of succumbing to seduction and straying from societal morals.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Hannah Webster Foster's The Coquette is lauded for its insightful commentary on 18th-century social norms and the constraints faced by women. Its epistolary format, however, may challenge some readers. The protagonist's depth and the moral dilemmas presented are compelling, though the pacing can feel slow. Overall, it's a thought-provoking exploration of freedom and societal expectations.
Who Should Read The Coquette?
An ideal reader for The Coquette by Hannah Webster Foster is someone who enjoys early American literature, particularly works exploring themes of gender, society, and morality. Fans of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen will find its epistolary style and exploration of women's choices appealing.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsBook Details
Classic Fiction
Education
American Literature
Relationships: Mothers
Education
History: World