Mothering Daughters: Novels and the Politics of Family Romance, Frances Burney to Jane Austen

230 Pages·2002·14.72 MB·English

by  Susan C. Greenfield

MOTHERING
DAUGHTERS
NOVELS andih POLITICS
FAMILY ROMANCE
FRANCES BURNET £& JANE AUSTEN
SUSAN C. GREENFIELD
MOTHERING
DAUGHTERS

MOTHERING
DAUGHTERS
NOVELS out tie POLITICS
FAMILY ROMANCE
FRANCES BURNEY/^JANE AUSTEN
SUSAN C. GREENFIELD
W
WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY PRESS DETROIT
Copyright © 2002 by Wayne State University Press,
Detroit, Michigan 48201. Paperback edition 2003. All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced without formal permission.
Manufactured in the United States of America.
A portion of chapter 1 (now much revised) appeared in
Eighteenth-Century Fiction 3 (1991): 301-20.
I thank Eighteenth-Century Fiction for permission to use it here.
Chapter 2 includes a portion of an article
(also much revised) that appeared in
The Eighteenth Century: Theory and Interpretation 33 (1992): 73-89.
I am grateful to the journal for allowing me to reprint this material.
An earlier version of chapter 4 appeared in PMLA 112 (1997): 214-28.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Greenfield, Susan C.
Mothering daughters : novels and the politics of family romance : Frances
Burney to Jane Austen / Susan C. Greenfield,
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8143-2992-6 (cloth, alk. paper)
1. English fiction—Women authors—History and criticism. 2. Moth-
ers and daughters in literature. 3. Women and literature—Great Britain—
History—18th century. 4. Women and literature—Great Britain—
History—19th century. 5. English fiction—18th century—History and
criticism. 6. English fiction—19th century—History and criticism.
7. Feminist fiction, English—History and criticism. 8. Domestic fiction,
English—History and criticism. 9. Motherhood in literature. 10. Moth-
ers in literature. 11. Family in literature. I. Title.
PR858 .M69 G74 2001
823' .5093520431—dc21 2001004773
)
ISBN 0-8143-3201-3 (pbk., alk. paper
ISBN 0-8143-3201-3 (pbk., alk.
mu ftarenJj
(7 '
JAY GREENFIELD

CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS g
Introduction
Mothering Daughters
Novels and the Politics of Family Romance IJ
CHAPTER I
"The Lovely Resemblance of Her Lovely Mother"
Evelina and Later Novels J5
CHAPTER 2
Gothic Mothers and Homoerotic Desire
Incestuous Longing in The Italian 57
CHAPTER 3
The Maternal Bosom
Sexual Difference and Custody in
The Wrongs of Woman; or, Maria 79
CHAPTER 4
The Maternal Bosom
Sexual and Colonial Difference in Belinda 10 j
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 5
Mother, Daughter, and Mulatto
Womens Exchange in Adeline Mowbray 725
CHAPTER 6
The Riddle o/Emma
Maternity and the Unconscious 145
NOTES 169
WORKS CITED ipp
INDEX 2IJ
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
There are those who have followed this book from its long eclipsed
origin as a doctoral dissertation. Ellen Pollak introduced me to the
eighteenth-century novel, and her work and friendship have been an
enduring inspiration. John Richetti's teaching, writing, and unflagging
support have sustained me at every stage of my career. I thank Stuart
Curran for his early sponsorship and Daniel Traister for consistently
fielding my questions about rare books.
Shortly after receiving my doctoral degree, I met Claudia L.
Johnson, whose stunning work on women novelists influences so much
of this book and whose generosity and faith gave me the courage to
finish it. Deborah Rogers offered critical insights at a key moment.
Ruth Perry's advice was essential. I'd like to thank Arthur Evans and
Adela Garcia at Wayne State University Press for seeing the book to
completion.
It is a pleasure to acknowledge the many friends and academic
colleagues (all are both, in that order) who commented on portions of
the book, informed its ideas, or helped me to prepare for publication:
Carmen Birkle, Robin Bower, Saul Cornell, Kathy Eden, Mary Erler,
Christopher Flint, Luis Gamez, Ellen Garvey, Richard Giannone,
Christopher GoGwilt, Kim Hall, Constance Hassett, Stuart Sher-
man, Philip Sicker, and Michael Suarez. Lenny Cassuto was always
forthcoming with comfort and excellent advice. With brilliant clarity,
Eve Keller consistently sharpened my understanding. Frank Boyle's
inimitable conversation has been an intellectual challenge and a joy.
I am proud and fortunate to have remained close with friends
from my graduate school class: Jennifer Green, Laura Tanner, and
Wendy Wall. James Krasner rescued me and this book at a very difficult