The Female Quixote

The Female Quixote is a 1752 novel by Charlotte Lennox. The novel borrows ideas and themes from Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. Like Don Quixote, the protagonist Arabella is obsessed with fictional stories about heroes and heroines. The satirical novel, Lennox’s second, was praised on release, and critics today note its importance in the history of literature by women authors.

This guide refers to the 2008 Oxford World Classics edition.

Plot Summary

The Female Quixote is set in England during the early 1700s. The story begins by introducing Arabella, an attractive and intelligent young woman who has been raised in seclusion by her father, Sir Charles Glanville, after her mother’s death. Sir Charles, a scholar with a passion for literature, has filled Arabella’s head with tales of chivalry and romance, leading her to believe that she is a noble heroine destined for great adventures. She has come to view the entire world through the lens of these romantic adventures and believes that she lives in a world of knights, ladies, and courtly love. She often behaves in ways that seem strange or eccentric to those around her.

Early in her life, this causes misunderstandings with the men in her life. For example, she becomes convinced that a romantic prospect named Mr. Hervey is actually a dishonorable man, so she banishes him from her presence, much to his amusement. Arabella becomes similarly convinced that one of the gardeners is an aristocrat in disguise. However, when she becomes convinced that he is attempting to harm her, she gets him fired. Despite her father’s attempts to shield her from the realities of the world, Arabella’s innocence and naivety set her on a collision course with society.

As Arabella grows older, she becomes increasingly convinced that she is destined to find her own knight in shining armor, much like the heroines of her beloved romances. However, her father is also determined that she should marry her cousin, Mr. Glanville, who is also an important heir to her father’s estate. Mr. Glanville is a practical and sensible man who is completely uninterested in Arabella’s romantic notions, though he falls in love with her beauty and charm.

Following her father’s death, Mr. Glanville’s father, Sir Charles, becomes involved in Arabella’s upbringing. He feels loyalty toward his brother and a sense of duty to satisfy his wishes. Though he finds Arabella both charming and strange, he insists that his son do his duty and marry Arabella. Mr. Glanville agrees, hoping that he can change her and help her to shake free of her delusions.

At the same time, he is joined at the estate by his sister, Miss Glanville, who envies Arabella’s beauty and mocks her privately. They are also joined by a neighbor, Sir George, who is attracted to Arabella. Though he knows that she is set to marry Mr. Glanville, Sir George uses his own knowledge of romantic novels to endear himself to her. He employs subtle tricks to force her to read his letters, while also retelling his life’s story as though he were a chivalric hero. Unfortunately for Sir George, his devious schemes are undermined by his shallow understanding of such stories, and by the end, Arabella has a much lower opinion of him.

After Sir George embarrasses himself, Sir Charles suggests that the group travel to Bath and then to London. In Bath, Arabella’s unusual behavior attracts attention. She threatens to cause a scandal with her style of dress, but her beauty and charm endear her to many people. A countess who is well-versed in French romance novels can communicate with her like no one before, but their friendship is cut short.

In London, Arabella quickly finds that the city’s smog is not conducive to her health. She stays in Richmond, outside of London, where she meets a young woman in tears. The woman tells her that she is a princess who is desperately searching for her lover, who betrayed her. She accuses Mr. Glanville of being this treacherous lover. This is revealed to be a scheme orchestrated by Sir George. However, Arabella flings herself into the river to flee apparent ravishers while Mr. Glanville challenges Sir George to a duel. After both problems are resolved, a doctor helps clear Arabella’s delusions. She marries Mr. Glanville, and Sir George marries Miss Glanville.