Fordyce's Sermons: Makes You Want to Holler

Fordyce's Sermons make you want to holler. Or in Lydia Bennet's case - gasp. In chapter 14 of Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Collins attempts to read to the Bennet clan from Dr. James Fordyce's Sermons. He makes it about three pages before Lydia gasps and rudely interrupts his reading.

"Other books were produced, and after some deliberation he chose Fordyce's Sermons. Lydia gaped as he opened the volume, and before he had, with very monotonous solemnity, read three pages, she interrupted him with --"

Were the sermons really that bad? What's the deal? Well, Fordyce was a Scottish clergyman. His Sermons to Young Women was a popular guidebook on women’s conduct. It was published around 1766-7 and remained popular for many years. 

 Example:

"In your sex manly exercises are never graceful a tone and figure of the masculine kind are always forbidding men of sensibility desire in every woman soft features a form not robust and demeanor delicate and gentle Nature appears to have formed the (mental) faculties of your sex, for the most part, with less vigour than those of ours, observing the same distinction here as in the more delicate frames of your bodies."

Dr. Fordyce married at the age of 51.  It must have been hard to find a woman that met his stringent criteria. SMH.

I normally try to read the literary works mentioned in the books that I read. After reading some of his quotes, I cannot bring myself to read his entire two-volume work. Particularly if I have to pay for it (if you know of an accessible free copy, let me know).

In the word's of Marvin Gaye, Fordyce's Sermons "make me wanna holler and throw up both my hands."

Have you read Fordyce's Sermons to Young Women?

P.S.
Natalie Tyler's book, The Friendly Jane Austen: A Well-Mannered Introduction to a Lady of Sense and Sensibility, offers a nice discussion on conduct literature with Veronica Leahy (chair of the English department at the Columbus School for Girls). In case you are interested.

Digging into Chapter 14: Fordyce's Sermons and Backgammon

Fordyce's Sermons and Backgammon were two things that caught my eye in Pride and Prejudice. I'll explain why in the next posts.

Here's the snippet referencing both in Chapter 14:

"By tea-time, however, the dose had been enough, and Mr. Bennet was glad to take his guest into the drawing-room again, and, when tea was over, glad to invite him to read aloud to the ladies. Mr. Collins readily assented, and a book was produced; but on beholding it (for everything announced it to be from a circulating library) he started back, and begging pardon, protested that he never read novels. Kitty stared at him, and Lydia exclaimed. Other books were produced, and after some deliberation he chose Fordyce's Sermons. Lydia gaped as he opened the volume, and before he had, with very monotonous solemnity, read three pages, she interrupted him with --

"Do you know, mama, that my uncle Philips talks of turning away Richard; and if he does, Colonel Forster will hire him. My aunt told me so herself on Saturday. I shall walk to Meryton to-morrow to hear more about it, and to ask when Mr. Denny comes back from town."

Lydia was bid by her two eldest sisters to hold her tongue; but Mr. Collins, much offended, laid aside his book, and said --

"I have often observed how little young ladies are interested by books of a serious stamp, though written solely for their benefit. It amazes me, I confess; for, certainly, there can be nothing so advantageous to them as instruction. But I will no longer importune my young cousin."

Then, turning to Mr. Bennet, he offered himself as his antagonist at backgammon."