Charlotte Temple Essay

The Tabloid of the Century

(1800"s -1900"s)


The general reason I think Charlotte Temple stayed on the best seller list for so many years is because the subjects that were discussed in the book were taboo in that day and time.

Montraville was a soldier in the army who was about twenty three years old, and Charlotte was only fifteen.   He was   much older than Charlotte. Montraville influenced her in evil ways;   he impressed her with his knowledge of love and   the world by writing her a letter and giving it to her personally   .   Montraville knew this was forbidden but gave it to her anyway.



" Tis a romantic attempt," said he,"and should I even succeed in seeing   and conversing with her, it can be productive of no good: I must of necessity leave England in a few days and probably may never return; why then should I endeavor to engage the affections of this lovely   girl, to leave her prey to a thousand inquietudes, of which at present she has no idea?   I will return to Portsmouth   and think no more about her"( Rowson 11 ).


Montraville went against his judgment.   He knew that her parents would be angry if they knew that their daughter was having a relationship with a man!   He was supposed to be a responsible soldier: an honorable man that would not do this kind of thing!   But he   would continue to see her.   He even paid her guardian so she would keep bringing her to see him.



" He soon pund means to ingratiate himself with her companion, who was a French teacher at the school, and, at parting, slipped a letter he had written into Charlotte"s hand, and five guineas into that of Mademoiselle, who promised she would endeavor to bring her young charge into the field again the next evening" (Rowson 11).


Montraville was influenced himself by Belcore who was evil.   When   Montraville and Charlotte would meet, he would bring Belcore along to entertain Charlotte"s guardian, La...