Maxims for Young Ladies

Maxims for Young Ladies attempts to demonstrate the ways women should function in society in order to be considered proper ladies, creating "rules" to ensure women properly behave in society. The twenty-fourth part of this novel includes maxims that focus on a woman’s physical appearance and emphasizes that her purpose is to serve a man. Rosanna describes herself as a plain girl (Collins 324), not worthy of Mr. Franklin's attention. Furthermore, she has a physical deformity that already casts her as an outsider. Rosanna is envious of Mr. Franklin’s relationship with Rachel and is critical of Mr. Franklin's love for Rachel as “it does not stir one up to hear Miss Rachel called pretty, when one knows all the time that it’s her dress that does it” (311). Rachel has the opportunity to adhere to these maxims because of her wealth. However, Rosanna does not have this opportunity. Mossman describes her as outside of the “normative sexual economy” (491), as her deformity does not allow her to be eligible for a husband nor does her social standing.  Rosanna is therefore Othered not only because of her deformity but also her lack of opportunity to serve a man as required by her gender norms. These maxims are created as rules for women, a solution for women that do not know how to behave as "proper" ladies. However, this alienates anyone who does not have the social or physical means to keep up with the requirements expected of women.