# Mrs. Selwyn — Evelina character guide

> Mrs. Selwyn in Evelina by Fanny Burney.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the sarcastic Mrs. Selwyn, Mrs. ¬ÝSelwyn

**First appearance:** 0053-letter-l-evelina-to-the-rev-mr-villars

## Who they are

A sharp-tongued, independent widow whose satirical wit strips the pretensions from everyone around her — and whose protection of Evelina is as bracing as it is genuine.

## Relationships

### [Lord Orville](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/characters/lord_orville)

_friendship_

Lord Orville and Mrs. Selwyn share a respectful, witty friendship as intelligent social equals who often converse and ally in social settings.

### [Sir Clement Willoughby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/characters/sir_clement_willoughby)

_rivalry_

Mrs. Selwyn sees through Sir Clement Willoughby's charm and engages in sharp verbal sparring with him, acting as his antagonist.

### [Sir Clement Willoughby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/characters/sir_clement_willoughby)

_rivalry_

Mrs. Selwyn sees through Sir Clement Willoughby's charm and engages in sharp verbal sparring with him, acting as his antagonist.

### [Lord Orville](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/characters/lord_orville)

_friendship_

Lord Orville and Mrs. Selwyn share a respectful, witty friendship as intelligent social equals who often converse and ally in social settings.

### [Sir Clement Willoughby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/characters/sir_clement_willoughby)

_rivalry_

Mrs. Selwyn sees through Sir Clement Willoughby's charm and engages in sharp verbal sparring with him, acting as his antagonist.

### [Lord Orville](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/characters/lord_orville)

_friendship_

Lord Orville and Mrs. Selwyn share a respectful, witty friendship as intelligent social equals who often converse and ally in social settings.

## In the story

### [Letter LIX: Evelina in Continuation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-lix-evelina-in-continuation)

Proposes to take Evelina to Bristol for her health, but Evelina declines.

### [Letter LXI: Evelina in Continuation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-lxi-evelina-in-continuation)

Evelina's companion on the journey, described as clever but lacking feminine gentleness.

### [Letter LXII: Evelina to the Rev. Mr. Villars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-lxii-evelina-to-the-rev-mr-villars)

Accompanies Evelina to the pump-room; uses her sharp wit to rebuke Lord Merton and Mr. Coverley.

### [Letter LXIII: Evelina in Continuation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-lxiii-evelina-in-continuation)

Accompanies Evelina to Mrs. Beaumont's house; engages in witty banter with Lord Merton and Lord Orville.

### [Letter LXIV: Evelina in Continuation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-lxiv-evelina-in-continuation)

Provides a satirical character sketch of Mrs. Beaumont and humorously suggests a classical recitation to settle the bet.

### [Letter LXV: Evelina in Continuation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-lxv-evelina-in-continuation)

Informs Evelina of Mr. Lovel's slanderous remarks and advises her to flatter him for social protection.

### [Letter LXVI: Evelina in Continuation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-lxvi-evelina-in-continuation)

Mrs. Selwyn questions Evelina about her acquaintance with Mr. Macartney and expresses severe disapproval, calling the affair 'romantic' and suspecting Mr. Macartney of being an adventurer and impostor.

### [Letter LXVII: Mr. Villars to Evelina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-lxvii-mr-villars-to-evelina)

Mentioned as the person Mr. Villars will write to regarding Evelina's return from Bristol.

### [Letter LXVIII: Evelina to the Rev. Mr. Villars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-lxviii-evelina-to-the-rev-mr-villars)

Defends Evelina with sarcastic remarks to Lord Merton and Mr. Coverley.

### [Letter LXIX: Evelina in Continuation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-lxix-evelina-in-continuation)

Mrs. Selwyn reveals her knowledge of Evelina's mother and advises Evelina to go to London.

### [Letter LXX: Evelina in Continuation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-lxx-evelina-in-continuation)

Organizes the walking party and later extracts the details of the affair from Evelina.

### [Letter LXXI: Evelina in Continuation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-lxxi-evelina-in-continuation)

Insists Evelina remain at Clifton until a reply arrives, overpowering Evelina with her arguments.

### [Letter LXXII: Evelina in Continuation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-lxxii-evelina-in-continuation)

Torments Evelina with arch raillery about Lord Orville's attentions, but accompanies her on a walk.

### [Letter LXXV: Evelina to the Rev. Mr. Villars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-lxxv-evelina-to-the-rev-mr-villars)

Mrs. Selwyn overhears the conversation between Lord Orville and Sir Clement and reports it to Evelina, providing crucial information.

### [Letter LXXVI: Evelina in Continuation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-lxxvi-evelina-in-continuation)

Arranges the journey to London; interrupts Lord Orville and Evelina with sarcastic remarks.

### [Letter LXXVII: Evelina in Continuation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-lxxvii-evelina-in-continuation)

Interrupts Evelina's walk, teases her about her upcoming marriage, and proposes the visit to the Hot Wells to confront Sir John Belmont.

### [Letter LXXVIII: Evelina in Continuation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-lxxviii-evelina-in-continuation)

Arranges the meeting with Sir John Belmont, insists Evelina stay, and later investigates the possibility of a fraudulent daughter.

### [Letter LXXIX: Evelina in Continuation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-lxxix-evelina-in-continuation)

Mrs. Selwyn delivers the news of the marriage plan with characteristic irony and argues for its expediency, citing the need to protect the false daughter's reputation and Sir John's affairs.

### [Letter LXXXII: Evelina in Continuation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/chapters/letter-lxxxii-evelina-in-continuation)

Sarcastically comments on Mr. Lovel's encounter with the Captain.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/characters/mrs_selwyn
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/evelina_se/characters