Virtues essays

Virtues essays From a broad perspective an agreement between multiple parties can be compromised on the definition of virtue. However, when approached on the topic of virtue from a personal perspective, the definition can be altered to suit ones own life experiences. This can be exemplified through the perspectives of three ladies, Aprha Behn, Frances Burney, and Mary Shelley. In each of their works the topic of virtue is indirectly expressed through various situations and characters, all unique to each other. The boundaries for which virtue is illustrated through these texts is creatively shown in different spectrums. Behn depicts virtue as innocence, purity and having a charitable nature. In "The Unfortunate Happy Lady," Behn immediately begins setting her boundaries for virtue within the first two sentences. She reveals this through her introduction of Sir William Wilding, "I shall conceal the unhappy Gentlemans own under the borrowd Names of Sir William Wilding, who succeeded his Father Sir Edward, in an Estate of near 4000l. a Year, inheriting all that belongd to him, except his Virtues" (Behn.1). From this it is fair to conclude that Behn deems virtue as something that can not be bought nor inherited. Behns strongest portrayal of virtue is used through Sir Williams younger dear sister Philadelphia. The introduction of Philadelphia is again established with a basis of virtue, "...his Sister Philadelphia, a young Lady of excellent Beauty, Education, and virtue..."(Behn 1). Philadelphia would indeed seem just as virtuous during the time of the other two texts, Evelina written by Burney during the eighteenth century and Frankenstein by Shelley written during the Romantic era, as she is during Restoration. Her virtue is timeless, but never more respected and appreciated than that of her own time. The respect she receives through the other characters in the text reveals this fact. For instan...