Fantomina by Eliza Haywood | Analysis

Fantomina by Eliza Haywood AnalysisThe actions the young noblewoman in Eliza Haywoods Fantomina in her desire to find a sexually and emotionally stimulating relationship demonstrates the difficulty of relationships between men and woman in the eighteen blow. My lady such- a- champion, as she is referred to by Haywood takes the positions of many contrastive women to repeatedly seduce a man named Beauplasir. For the most part of her unused identities, Fantominas inventive ideas resemble her increased desire for Beauplasir and her initial curiosity becomes reflected upon her need to shift her indistinguishability element in order to recapture Beauplasirs attention. Fantomina enjoys the fact that her inters allow her do anything that she wishes, although, she seems to non think of the idea that a relationship between an focal ratio class man and a low class woman is not very invariable and that her actions will eventually make herself the author of her testify story.Fantomin a is a high gear quality mistress in the eighteenth century and because of her social position she has many restrictions placed upon her. She is not allowed to carry fall out a conversation of any type with a person of the setback sex, nor is she allowed to pursue them. These behaviors were unacceptable in Fantominas society therefore, women were supposed to overhear chaperones who were to treasure them from men and also to make sure women behaved appropriately. Fantominas recognition of a beaten(prenominal) face d testify below the balcony where she is sitting at reawakens her interest for Beauplasir whom she she has in front seen, but because of society she has been unable to pursue him. However, because men were different from women and had the license to do anything they wanted to, Beauplasir is allowed to leave the balcony and pursue women. Fantomina is fascinated by the flirt between respectable gentlemen and loose women of the t make. This excited a curiosity in her to know in what manner these creatures were addressed. (Haywood, 2739- 2740). Although, Fantominass actions seem intentional her new identity originates all from curiosity in her pursuit to sustain Beauplasirs interest.Fed up with her restrictions, Fantomina decides to change her clothes to hide her real identity. It is here where Haywood reveals the restrictions on women of high social standing and the decisions of who belongs to what social position. In this case, clothing puts Fantomina in a lower social standing, even more, her new identity is that of a prostitute. presently as a prostitute, Fantomina is able to pursue Beauplasir without any restrictions as he is unable to recognize her new identity. In preparation to her encounter with Beauplasir, Fontamina puts on her new identity and while with Beauplasir she resists him at first because she is worried to the highest degree her reputation. At this point, Fantomina is concerned about her moral actions, but her desires can do more now because that is what she has been looking for. This of course, confuses Beauplasir because thats what prostitutes are expected to do and in the end a prostitute gets paid in return. Fantominas first disguise as a prostitute is all out of curiosity, but her humor was so much talented that she had the billet to change her appearance as she pleased. As Fantomina changes character, she modifies her behaviors to align with his expectations. ( Anderson 2005). The quote describes Fantominas admirable skills in manipulating the situation for her own benefit. As expected, Beauplasir grows tired of Fantomina and this is where she takes on her new identity to continue to take him.Now as Celia, a low class woman she becomes Beauplasirs maid, a new identity that becomes a bit more important than the one before because of social status .As her conquest continues she feels that she has become attached to Beauplasir and she depository financial institution let go of him she spends mu ch of her time coming up with new ideas to seduce him. Her actions become a little emotional, but at the aforesaid(prenominal) time she intelligent as she is willing to go even notwithstanding to maintain her sexual relationship with Beauplasir. It seems that what had started from curiosity has now turned into a passion that reflects her deepest emotions. Her reconciled ability to perform means that she repeatedly creates a space in which she may express her emotions. (Anderson 2005). In a sense, Fantomina feels that she belongs to Beauplasir since he has taken her virginity and she attaches this to the fact that she now struggles to maintain her honor from being publicly exposed.Fantominas now passion for Beauplasir leads her to go even further in her seduction attempt. This time, as the widow bloomer she becomes a little more unprotected and portrays herself as weak. At one point, the widow fakes a sudden expire and allows Beauplasir to carry her off to bed. This proves that Fantomina is very calculating and her actions are being consistent with the character she assumes to be. In doing so, Fantomina believes her different roles are a source of power and freedom, but also her ability to succeed in her new role taking. Although, the role that she takes on for the most part is powerless because she gains nothing from it, she has instead effectively succeeded in making Beauplasir believe that he has been sleeping with different personas.In her last disguise as Incognita, the significant thing they have in common is class and as the encounters continue, it seems that Fantominas actions are driven by pure lust. Incognita its Fantominas last attempt to seduce Beauplasir and it ultimately fails just as her other disguises. Despie Beuaplasir being desperately curious to know who she really is he never shows real interest in maintaining a relationship with Incognita because in the end he has nothing to gain from a woman who demands that her identity never be re vealed. This culminates with Fantominas realization that Beauplasirs real interest for her has been to satisfy his own sexual needs as he never remained faithful to her for the simplistic fact that he slept with the same person thinking he had been with quartette different women. Croskery describes that, the heroine of Fantomina experiences one of her deepest issue of internalization at the precise moment when she becomes conscious of herself as an object of someone elses desire. ( Croskery 2007). Through Beauplasir, the reader realizes that women are nothing but trophies and toys that are to be played with.Ultimately, Fantominas various identities strain nothing they do serve to reveal how lustful Beauplasir is as salubrious as Fantomina whether she acted on curiosity her real intentions remain ambiguous. Unfortunately, Fantominas creative disguises hardly satisfy her sexual desires, but never create a long- lasting relationship with Beauplasir which results in her own betraya l. Fantominas pregnancy becomes her true story in which she has lost everything including her reputation.Sources CitedAnderson, Emily Horgdson. Performing the passions in Eliza Haywoods Fantomina and MissBetsy Thoughtless. Eighteenth Century theory and Interpretation 46.1 (Spring2005)1. literary Resource center. Web. 1 December 2012.Croskery, Margaret Case. Who is Afraid of Eliza Haywood. Literary Critiscism from 1400-1800 4.4 (2007) 967-980. Literary Resourse Center. Web. 1 December 2012.Eliza, Haywood. Fantomina or Love in A maze. The Norton Anthology of English Literature.Ed. Stephen Greenblatt and M.H. Abrams. 9th ed. Volume C. New York W.W. Norton,2012. 2739-2758. Print.Potter, Tiffani. The Language of Feminised Sexuality Gendered Voice in Eliza HaywoodsLove in Excess and Fantomina. Womens Writing 10.1(March 2003) 169-18. AcademicSearch Complete. Web. 26 November 2012.Thompson, Helen. Plotting Materialism Eliza Haywoods Fantomina and FeminineConsistency. Eighteen Century Stud ies 35.2(Winter 2002) 195-20. AcademicSearch Complete. Web. 26 November 2012.