A Young Author’s Entrance into the World But while I was thus planning for the future, I forgot the present; and so intent was I upon the subject which occupied me, that the strange appearance of my unusual inactivity and extreme thoughtfulness never occurred to me. But when, at last, I recollected myself, and turned round, I saw that Mr. Villars, who had parted with his book, was wholly engrossed in attending to me. I started from my reverie, and, hardly knowing what I said, asked if he had been reading? He paused a moment, and then replied, "Yes, my child;-a book that both afflicts and perplexes me." He means me, thought I; and therefore I made no answer. "What if we read it together?" continued he, "will you assist me to clear its obscurity?“ (Evelina 302)

Performing Sympathy “as nature teaches the spectators to assume the circumstances of the person principally concerned, so she teaches this last in some measure to assume those of the spectators. As they are continually placing themselves in his situation, and thence conceiving emotions similar to what he feels; so he is as constantly placing himself in theirs…” “As they are constantly considering what they themselves would feel, if they actually were the sufferers, so he is as constantly led to imagine in what manner he would be affected if he was only one of the spectators of his own situation. As their sympathy makes them look at it, in some measure, with his eyes, so his sympathy makes him look at it, in some measure, with theirs, especially when in their presence and acting under their observation” From Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759)

At the Pantheon "Eye," cried the Lord, (I don't know his name,) "and is there any eye here, that can find pleasure in looking at dead walls or statues, when such heavenly living objects as I now see demand all their admiration?" "O, certainly," said Lord Orville, "the lifeless symmetry of architecture, however beautiful the design and proportion, no man would be so mad as to put in competition with the animated charms of nature: but when, as to- night, the eye may be regaled at the same time, and in one view, with all the excellence of art, and all the perfection of nature, I cannot think that either suffer by being seen together." "I grant, my Lord," said Sir Clement, "that the cool eye of unimpassioned philosophy may view both with equal attention, and equal safety; but, where the heart is not so well guarded, it is apt to interfere, and render, even to the eye, all objects but one insipid and uninteresting.“ (152)

Glittering Automatons “The Museum is very astonishing, and very superb; yet it afforded me but little pleasure for it is a mere show, though a wonderful one” (121)

Unnatural Opera "How unnatural their action is!" said the son: "why, now, who ever saw an Englishman put himself in such out-of-the-way postures?“ "So Miss," said Mr. Branghton, "you're quite in the fashion, I see-so you like operas? Well, I'm not so polite; I can't like nonsense, let it be never so much the taste.” "Why, then, I think he might as well let alone singing till he's in better cue: it's out of all nature for a man to be piping when he's in distress. For my part, I never sing but when I'm merry; yet I love a song as well as most people.” ( )

In the Pump Room See last advance, with bashful grace, Downcast eye, and blushing cheek, Timid air, and beauteous face, Anville,-whom the Graces seek. Though ev'ry beauty is her own, And though her mind each virtue fills, Anville,-to her power unknown, Artless strikes,-unconscious, kills! (367)

How does violence function in Evelina? For instance, what do we make of Captain Mirvan’s treatment of Madame Duval, the old woman race, and the episode of the monkey? If a refined sensibility opened up the emotions to public view, what are the potential dangers of such transparency (especially for a woman like Evelina)?