Mrs. Beauchamp: A Kind Villain?
who was mrs. beauchamp?
Who was Mrs. Beauchamp? Charlotte first encounters Mrs. Beauchamp on her voyage to America. She turns out to be the daughter of the rich officer La Rue seduces, and takes pity on Charlotte the moment she learns that she was accompanied by her seductor. Still, she remains to be a seemingly sincere and generous woman that extends her friendship to the young girl and offers her companion ship when she leads her new, depressing life.
However, Beauchamp's role in the story still remains to be slightly confusing. What was she sent to do? Perhaps she was sent as another model of an "ideal" female character, similarly to Mrs. Temple. She was supposed to act as Charlotte’s friend and “savior”, but she was not always there for her when she needed her.
quote:
"What a pity! " said Mrs. Beauchamp softly, (casting a most compassionate glance at her.) "But surely her min d is not depraved. The goodness of her heart is depicted in her ingenuous countenance." "Charlotte caught the word pity. "And am I already fallen so low?" said she. A sigh escaped her, and a tear was ready to start…” (48)
She is willing to protect Charlotte, but shows hesitation once again due to the fear of receiving mockery from others, and so her desire to save face is probably greater than her desire to help Charlotte.
Society, once again, prevents women from acting the way they want due to the fear of scorn and judgement, and so they have to remain “well-behaved” in order to maintain their good name.“The longer Mrs. Beauchamp was a witness to the solitary life Charlotte led, the more she wished to speak to her, and often as she saw he r cheek s wet with the tears of anguish, she would say—"Dear sufferer, how gladly would I pour into your heart the balm of consolation, were it not for the fear of derision."” (56)
Nowadays, girls hesitate to act too because society could condemn them for it.
Charlotte being extremely sensitive towards the way other women, especially Mrs. Beauchamp, view her.
Maybe if Mrs. Beauchamp was not as hesitant to help Charlotte, she could have been saved?