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
She became pregnant out of wedlock. Society frowned on pregnancy in unmarried women much more than today. “...Why, Mistress, charity begins at home, and I have seven children at home, honest, lawful children, and it is my duty to keep them; and do you think I will give away my property to a nasty impudent hussy, to maintain her bastard...(Rowson 103 ) Charlotte knew what she had done was wrong. She trusted Montraville, but he spoke of empty promises of marriage when they arrived in New York. She withdrew herself only after realizing that the world was a horrible, wretched place where evil prevailed over the good in people. She now saw that not every man was good , kind, and loving like her father. “The inexperienced Charlotte was astonished at what she had heard. She thought La Rue had, like herself, only been urged by the force of her attachment to Belcore, to quit her friends, and follow him to the feat of war: how wonderful then, that she should resolve to marry another man. It was certainly extremely wrong. It was indelicate. She mentioned her thoughts to Montraville. he laughed at her simplicity, called her a little ideot, and patting her on the cheek, said she knew nothing of the world. ‘If the world sanctifies such things, ‘tis a very bad world I think,’said Charlotte. ‘Why I always understood they were to be married when they arrived in New-York . I am sure