Point of View

"Evelina" is an epistolary novel, written from a first-person perspective. This point of view is limited and somewhat unreliable as the narrator is unable to convey anything other than what she witnesses, feels, and hears. This is proven by Evelina's journalistic recording of the events that transpire in the narrative when her social inexperience and her virtue, both of which are integral themes in this novel, are seen from the first-person.

The novel is written using a fairly equal distribution of exposition and dialogues; additionally, there are many monologues throughout the text by virtue of the author's use of the epistolary style of writing. This distribution is effective as it serves to show events primarily through Evelina's eyes, thus detailing her social education as she grows accustomed to London society. The narrative is primarily told through the eyes of Evelina with occasionally detours to include...