Sexual Politics and Social Mobility in the Expedition of Humphry Clinker (2010)

Expedition of Humphry Clinker (1771), last novel of Tobias Smollett (1727-1771), combines travelogue with epistolary form to explore issue of Scottish nationalism. Its method is to contrast English society and cityscape, on one hand, with Scottish society and natural landscape, on other. Through letter exchanges of characters in novel, various aspects of social problems and political questions between dominant English and underprivileged Scottish are raised, and most debates or discourses eventually lead to a eulogy on independent spirit of Scottish nationalism and a strong protest against English discrimination and oppression. (1) valetudinarian Matthew Bramble harbors a longstanding grudge against cities like Bath--I found nothing but disappointment at Bath (31)--and London--which has developed into overgrown monster and immense wasteland (82, 83) and whose inhabitants are all resolved into grand source of luxury and corruption--with its ways of living actuated by demons of profligacy and licentiousness (83, 84). staunch nationalist Obadiah Lismahago criticizes centralism and supremacy of England and grieves over subordinate political and economic status of Scotland--the loss of its independent state, its parliament, and legal integrity of its courts of justice (255)--after Act of Union in 1707. Jery Melford, Bramble's nephew, holds a more moderate view in his appraisal of social, cultural, and geographical differences between Scotland and England; he thus exhibits compromising and reconciliatory attitude of younger generation. While these male views constitute an intensive and extensive criticism of national and ethnic problems resulting from union of Scotland and England, issues of sexual politics and social mobility emerge time and again to complement and rival these agendas simultaneously throughout novel. If three major male characters--Matthew Bramble, Jery Melford, and Lieutenant Lismahago--are preoccupied with issues of politics and nationalism, three letter-writers--Lydia Melford, Tabitha Bramble, and her maid Winifred Jenkins--and effeminized Humphry Clinker bring up subjects of sexual politics and social mobility in novel. (2) In second letter to Dr. Lewis, Matthew Bramble complains about his domestic vexations: his niece's clandestine involvement with a wandering player, his nephew's college petulance and self-conceit, and his sister's being the devil incarnate (11). In his patriarchal and almost misogynistic view, women seem to be an eternal plague on his bachelor life. Bramble's initial descriptions of two major characters have already set tone for novel's attitude towards sexuality. His depiction of Lydia Melford (Liddy), his niece, exhibits no more than a condescending and sardonic tone: She is a poor good-natured simpleton, as soft as butter, and as easily melted--not that she's a fool--the girl's parts are not despicable, and her education has not been neglected; that is to say, she can write and spell, and speak French, and play upon harpsichord; then she dances finely, has a good figure, and is very well inclined; but, she's deficient in spirit, and so susceptible--and so tender forsooth!--truly, she has got a languishing eye, and reads romances. (11) This succinct introduction summarizes stereotypical attitudes toward and conventional expectations of young women: intellectually inferior, emotionally unsound, and physically fragile. Aside from a penchant for (French) romances, most a young woman can do is to cultivate so-called female accomplishments so as to make herself agreeable and acceptable in marriage market. As Adela Pinch points out, The intellectual education of women ... was generally considered unnecessary or extravagant, even detrimental. …