Division of Private and Public In Frances Burney’s Journals and Letters, the terms self, life, and writing are used in conjunction with each other. Burney uses her writing as a way to tell about her life as well as to create a picture of herself to present to others. Burney wants the readers of her letters to see her as a “proper” lady, as one who does what a woman of her time is …showed first 75 words of 1741 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1741 total…appear to the public as being just like the other women. Therefore, she does not want to appear “studious” and “affected” to the public and puts on a show for those people. It is clear to see that throughout Burney’s journals and letters she is writing with the public’s opinion in mind; she knows that she is going to be judged and she therefore makes a great effort to keep a “consistent character”.