Something that Olivia Fairfield goes back and forth on throughout her journey in England is her independence. While she is sure of herself and finds ways to be her own person, she is still unable to experience the true feeling of independence. Her whole life has been her doing what she is told without being able to fight back and do what she wishes to do. When she moves to England, it all gets worse because of her status and lack of power in society. Even though she has confidence in herself and stays true to who she is, the role she plays in society holds her back from experiencing true independence. She relies on those around her and at home to feel like herself which holds her back from being the most independent entity she could be. When she speaks about this word she is referring to her own freedom but also her sense of self on her own. Both of these concepts are ones that Olivia struggles to balance throughout her story and make independence such a prominent part of her journey.
When Olivia leaves Jamaica, she is very aware of the life she will be forced to live when she enters England. She knows that she will be forced to give up her life to marry Augustus and carry out the wishes of her father. Olivia speaks about what will happen to her when she says, “From the moment when I set foot on your land of liberty, I yield up my independence – my uncle’s family are then to be the disposers of my future fate” (Anonymous 166). In this statement, Olivia is referring to her life when she speaks about the independence she is giving up. She is essentially giving up her life by agreeing to do what her father had asked of her. Her father’s will states that Olivia would marry her cousin Augustus Merton, which requires her to move to England. In moving to England she has given up any power she held before doing what she was told. Now that she has been forced to carry out the wishes of her father, she must understand that her life will be decided by the Merton family. Olivia’s independence, or life, will no longer be her own and she will be forced to accept that fate.
Throughout her story, Olivia longs for a life of freedom but would never admit this desire to the people around her in England. However, when she is writing to Mrs. Milbanke, she is able to express any emotions she has without shame. Through these letters the reader is able to see just how much she desires a life of true independence when she writes, “But yet, in privacy, I pant for independence! You, Mrs. Milbanke, are fully acquainted with the strange tenour of my father’s will” (Anonymous). Olivia is telling Mrs. Milbanke just how much she wants to be independent from the will her father has placed upon her. She is almost begging Mrs. Milbanke to grant her independence, or life, back when she was living in England. Here, the independence she is referring to is the same life she speaks about giving up to the Mertons. However, Olivia is much more direct about what she wishes for given that she is writing to Mrs. Milbanke who she feels more comfortable with. The word independence is reflective of the life that Olivia longs for but she cannot reach in her life in England.
Olivia was not the only woman who experienced issues with independence when related to men and their wants. Mr. Honeywood speaks about how his mother was forced to give up so much to ensure that he would have freedom. In ensuring that her son would be free, she was forced to give up her independence and eventually her life. He speaks about this topic when he states: “That affection which I feel for her, tells me that the independence which she has secured to me, has been too dearly earned for me to enjoy it, if bought with the price of her health, perhaps her life!” (Anonymous 166). Again independence is used to refer to a life of freedom but here that life has been reached for Mr. Honeywood. While this is a similar life of one that Olivia desires, Mr. Honeywood has been able to experience this freedom. However, it is at the expense of his mother and her life that he is able to live a life of true independence. It is moving to see how he speaks about how much he loves his mother because of what she did for him. The concern then is how will others be able to accomplish this independence without having to give up someone they care for.
England is the factor that took any sense of independence Olivia possessed away from her reach. Natalie Zacek writes about how regardless of how much turmoil England puts Olivia through, she will unfortunately always see it as the favorable place to be. According to Zacek, Olivia is always able to see all the opportunities for happiness rather than having anger towards her situation (Zacek 130). While the men in England have taken away her possibility for freedom and independence, she maintains hope and sees the good in a bad situation. Zacek equates this to the self-interest that many British deal with that holds them back from being truly great. (130) The men in Olivia’s life throughout her journey in England are too concerned with self-interest and are not able to create a successful nation. These same men take away the independence of Olivia and she is still able to see their power and potential in England. However, Olivia is able to see past herself and look at the situation she is in as something positive rather than seeing what has been taken away from her.
The second Olivia steps foot in England and chooses to carry out her father’s will, any chance of freedom and independence is taken away from her. She is then forced to live at the expense of her cousin and rely on him to carry out her father’s will. Olivia must marry Augustus if she were to have any chance at living a good life in England. She also must give into the hierarchy that England has when it comes to status and power. In relying on these parts of her journey in England, her life is now at the hands of someone other than herself. However, despite her position within the country, she still sees England as a favorable place to live and does not want to leave. She looks up to those around her that hold more power than her despite what she has been put through since coming to England. The same individuals that have taken her independence away are those in which she looks up to. This idea of enslaved individuals still looking up to those who have taken their independence away is haunting. Olivia Fairfield is so concerned with those around her that she fails to see how much of her life has been taken away from her but those same people. Olivia’s story is incredibly reflective of how many enslaved individuals lived their lives during this time period and it is chilling.
A story that relates to the keyword of independence in a contrasting way is The History of Mary Prince by Mary Prince. The novel is a narrative of Mary Prince’s journey from being an enslaved individual in Antigua to being free in England. Mary Prince is able to experience pure independence in England but is not able to ever go back to the Caribbean. If she were to go back to her home, she would become an enslaved person again, making her independence very complex. England gives Mary a sense of freedom which is very different from what England provides for Olivia. While the two stories have different concepts of freedom in England, they are living very similar narratives in terms of independence. They are both tethered down by something that holds them back from feeling a true sense of freedom. Mary cannot return home to Antigua and Olivia is forced into a life she did not choose. These two narratives create a conversation about independence that is captivating and contrasting.
Works Cited
Dominique, Lyndon Janson, and Anonymous. The Woman of Colour: A Tale. Broadview Press, 2008.
“The History of Mary Prince, A West Indian Slave, Related by Herself.” The History of Mary Prince, A West Indian Slave, Related by Herself. London: F. Westley and A. H. Davis, 1831.
Zacek, Natalie. “Favoured Isles: Selfishness and Sacrifice in the Capital of Capital.” Eighteenth-Century Fiction, vol. 35 no. 1, 2023, p. 113-132. Project MUSE muse.jhu.edu/article/880273.