Charlotte Lennox's novel Henrietta depicts the difficulties and dangers faced by young, unprotected women in the eighteenth century.

Throughout the story, Lennox uses Henrietta, the protagonist, to describe problems women faced having to do with men, money and social value in the 18th century.

Pretty and genteelly dressed, the main character, Henrietta Courteney, acquires a seat in the already full stage-coach to London.

In tradition of romance heroines, Ms. Woodby gives Henrietta and herself nicknames, Celia and Celinda, and declared a “violent friendship” (Lennox, 9).

Then, they begin to talk about the misfortune of ending up at Mrs. Eccles’ home and Henrietta starts to tell her backstory: about her deceased unmarried parents, her brother being away for school, and her life at her aunt's.

Mrs. Willis helps her become employed by Miss Cordwain, a young lady who is spoiled and struggling to find a suitable husband.

In order to resolve the marriage issue they return to Lady Meadows with Freeman plans to give her 10,000 pounds for her dowry.

Freeman convinces Lady Meadows that the title and status Henrietta will receive is incentive enough to pay the dowry set by the Duke.

Unfortunately after a few short months after the wedding, Lady Meadows passed which gave Mr. Courtney great joy because her death released his obligations to Mr. Damer.

To wrap the story up, in the fifth book, Henrietta accompanies Lady Belmour to London and meets her brother, Freeman, and her love, Melvil.

Criticizing the snobbery that occurred between noble names and “upstart cits” who were successful in business, Lennox offers a blank straight character in the titular character Henrietta, who's equal parts pious and respectable, while the characters surrounding her are caricatures of the roles played at the time: Miss Cordwain, for instance, is a haughty woman with little name but due to her father's successful business ventures is able to marry into a respectable family, though her attitude and behavior would be disgraceful if the dowry her father offered wasn’t so desirable.

The concept of religion becomes an important part of Henrietta's story, as her aunt Lady Meadows is adamant about her heir keeping the Catholic faith.

Henrietta offers an unusual view of women in 18th century literature, her wit and common sense are a refreshing aspect of a woman traveling alone, or without counsel.

Lennox encapsulates many of the time period's social nuances in a way that probes the reader to think more deeply about how limited women's capabilities appear to be.

Henrietta is a poised individual, yet fairly naïve, and her independence repeatedly places her in positions of vulnerability, both physically and in the social sphere.

In an attempt to make her actions less conspicuous, she utilizes several aliases, however is unable to successfully conceal her identity, which only serves to further compound her shame.

Despite her efforts to conform to the behavior expected of women, her resistance to having others dictate her marital status is her most prominent recurring problem.

Henrietta is a work of domestic fiction, providing an outline for what is expected within the social realms of its contemporary society.

The history of Henrietta's parent's marriage-for-love scandal is a perfect example of the 18th century British obsession with maintaining its cultural hierarchy.

Early on, Henrietta explains her father's (Mr. Courtney's) station as elite – being son to an earl – while her mother embodies “birth, beauty, virtue, [and] every perfection but riches.

[16]” By choosing to marry the woman he loves from a lower social standing, Mr. Courtney condemns his family to economic struggle, as opposed to the prosperity he could have given them if the earl had not “renounced him[17]” as a son.

Another concept frequently addressed in the domestic novel, and specifically in Henrietta, is duty to family, both older, whose legacy one was to carry, and younger, whom one was to support and endow with what fortune and respect they could.

Hers is a complicated circumstance: a noble last name gives her some social agency, yet the economic misfortune of a lower class mother restricts her and in some cases defines her.

While the consequences of Henrietta's choices are often more swift and exacting than those in a real life situation, the progression of cause and effect instructs that every action has a righteous result, and that good and bad behavior are both rewarded in kind.

Charlotte Lennox removes women's independence and depicts several female characters as romantic (Ms. Woodby), dramatic (Lady Manning), jealous (Mrs. Damer), conniving (Ms. Cordwain), and easily charmed (Ms. Belmont) by male voices.

Due to her stubbornness and unyielding beliefs, Henrietta contrasts heavily with her female counterparts who are willing to bend for the sake of their family, reputation, or progress in marriage opportunities.

Throughout the novel Henrietta finds herself navigating through the twist and turns of being a young, beautiful and unwed women, in a world dictated by class, titles, and dowry.

Lady Meadows: Henrietta's aunt comes across as a selfish, superficial woman who values fame and money like other high ranking social women.

"My aunt indeed allowed that there was some disproportion in our years; but then he had a good estate, and I was wholly dependent upon her; his person, she acknowledged, was not very amiable, but he was a baronet, and could give me a title".

Woodby is an older woman with more experience, and a deep love for the world of French amatory fiction of the time.