Love in Excess

Letters are a reoccurring motif in the novel, often serving to advance or complicate events. In the 18th century, handwritten letters were the primary way for individuals to communicate. Given the fairly strict separation between men and women—and, therefore, the limited opportunities to speak in person—letters were especially important.

Significantly, many of the letters in the novel are anonymous, which allows for confusion or deceit about who may have authored a letter to generate suspense. The use of anonymity shows how writing is empowering for female characters while navigating the Constraints on Feminine Desire: They would be unable or unwilling to articulate their passionate desires in conversation, but writing gives them an opportunity to express their inner worlds. It is significant that Haywood, a woman who made a living as a successful writer, depicts her female characters leveraging writing as a way to express themselves and pursue their desires.

Letters, as physical objects, can be stolen, misplaced, or waylaid. Alovisa prevents D’elmont’s response from reaching Amena, generating confusion and conflict between them. Frankville writes an overly hasty letter to Camilla which generates significant tension between the couple. The motif of letters reflects how romantic relationships can be marked by confusion and misunderstandings, especially when emotions run high or when other individuals meddle in these relationships for their own purposes. If the various couples depicted in the novel were able to communicate more clearly and directly with one another, many of the conflicts could be prevented: The motif of letters shows how, in a world where romantic relationships are so constrained, complications and mistakes become inevitable.