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A vindication of the rights of woman introduction
Mary Wollstonecraft's contribution to feminism
The vindication of women's rights full text
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The angry tone of Wollstonecraft’s “Vindication of the Rights of Women” significantly contrasts with the cautionary tone of Austen’s “On Making an Agreeable Marriage,” seeking to reform society rather than guide people to live in that society. When Austen describes the drawbacks of loveless marriage, she writes that “Anything is to be preferred or endured rather than marrying without affection” (Austen 72-73). Austen uses “preferred” and “endured” to warn her niece against marrying too quickly, creating a cautionary tone. Moreover, “anything” emphasizes the miserableness of a marriage without affection, beseeching Austen’s niece to verify her love before diving headfirst into a marriage. In contrast, when demonizing the education system, Wollstonecraft
In Geoffrey Chaucer's work, The Canterbury Tales, many travelers gather together to begin a pilgrimage. During their quest, each of the pilgrims proceed to tell a tale to entertain the group. From these stories arise four different tales, in which Chaucer uses to examine the concept of marriage and the problems that arise from this bonding of two people. In the tales of "The Franklin", "The Clerk", "The Wife of Bath", and "The Merchant", marriage is debated and examined from different perspectives. Out of the four tales, The Franklin's Tale presents the most reasonable solution to the marriage debate because the problems are resolved with the least amount of heartache.
Jane Austen seems to have been disheartened by the decay of England's aristocratic society. The exploration of the innocent protagonist of each novel further into her core ethics, and the relation of these to the imposing culture of her immediate family and surrounding social class gives the reader a fresh taste of the prominence of class distinction and the apparent emptiness of the aristocratic society that in reality existed in Austen's own life. A close examination of the evolution of Austen's ideals through her novels will reveal the essence of the protagonist's relationship to her family, and its direct relationship to the family's moral stance, as well as conclusive evidence regarding Austen's own values.
Jane Austen completes her story with a “Cinderella ending” of Catherine and Henry marrying. However, her novel is more than a fairytale ending. Although often wrong and misguided in their judgments, she shows the supremacy of males that permeated throughout her society. Jane Austen takes us from a portrayal of men as rude, self-centered, and opinionate to uncaring, demanding, and lying to downright ruthless, hurtful, and evil. John Thorpe’s and General Tilney’s total disregard for others feelings and their villainous ways prove Austen’s point. Whether reading Northanger Abbey for the happy ending or the moral lesson, this novel has much to offer.
...n criticizing a working man based on his looks. Mary Wollstonecraft says that, women should be allowed to speak up and voice their thoughts as it is a given right to humanity (Arnstein, 1993. pp134). Women were very knowledgeable and hungry for it. For example, Mrs. Croft was more into finding out every aspect of the Kellynch Estate, such as how much its taxes were, compared to her husband (Austen, Persuasion.3.27). Wollstonecraft states that women should not just be placed in the house to perform chores, such as cleaning the house (Arnstein, 1993. pp134). Yet, according to Mr. Sheppard women are the only ones that could take care of a household (Austen, Persuasion.3.26)
In Austen’s time, the inability to see past wealth when considering marriage is a cultural tie to the era and its norms. It’s a pitiable and vain cultural upbringing that is frowned upon in this century. One does not simply marry for the sake of wealth and reputation. Without love, marriage cannot last. It ends in a deadlock, or with two people living together but leading separate lives behind closed doors.
Love and marriage, concepts that in the 19th century England were not necessarily very closely related. The novel “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen, centers on the importance of marriage as one of life’s most important treasures and life’s greatest source of happiness. Austen presents the reader with three main factor in the 19th century England relationships each based around different struggles including social class, love and reputation especially as it impacts the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy.
It is not unusual for an individual to disagree with social customs or expectations. Some people are only happy when they can rebel against society. Most mature adults eventually realize that compromise is necessary to achieve happiness. This is the case in the early nineteenth century England setting of Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen. In the novel, Miss Elizabeth Bennet is a lively, independent woman, whose family's financial situation and whose strong mindedness suggest that she may never marry. Mr. Darcy, is a rigid and proper man, who falls in love with Elizabeth, despite their differences. By the end of the novel, Elizabeth and Darcy learn to compromise, and, in doing so, become truly happy. In marrying, they not only fulfill themselves as individuals, but also affirm the principle values of society. The marriage at the end of the novel shows Jane Austen's ideal view of marriage as a social institution.
Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, demonstrate many different attitudes and perceptions towards marriage. Some of these ideas are very traditional, such as that illustrated in the Franklin’s Tale. On the other hand, other tales present a liberal view, such as the marriages portrayed in the Miller’s and The Wife of Bath’s tales. While several of these tales are rather comical, they do indeed depict the attitudes towards marriage at that time in history. D.W. Robertson, Jr. calls marriage "the solution to the problem of love, the force which directs the will which is in turn the source of moral action" (Robertson, 88). "Marriage in Chaucer’s time meant a union between spirit and flesh and was thus part of the marriage between Christ and the Church" (Bennett, 113). The Canterbury Tales show many abuses of this sacred bond, as will be discussed below.
Jane Austen’s attitude towards marriage in in the novel Pride and Prejudice reflect those in her personal life. She fell in love two different times, but her lack of wealth kept her from being an eligible match. So Though Austen was never married she feels as though it is “dishonorable to enter into wedlock without affection.” Jane Austen’s attitude toward marriage, love, and money is complicated and critical, and in Pride and Prejudice she demonstrates this through her characters. The best Characters marry for love but are fortunate enough to get money too.
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen’s famous novel, is, in large part, a study of marriage. It is an interesting novel for Austen since she was never married. The social culture of Austen’s day made marriage a crucial aspect of a woman 's life. A women in that time was dependent on a man for money and social standing. Synonyms for marriage are union and alliance both have very different meanings. Marriage as a union implies a fully joined couple. A marital alliance suggests that marriage is an association for mutual benefit such as money, social standing, or physical desires. Austen 's characters are developed to emphasize these differences in the reasons for marriage. She makes abundantly clear through her development of these marriages
Similar to many of the great feministic novels of its time, Jane Eyre purely emerges as a story focused on the quest for love. The novel’s protagonist, Jane, searches not only for the romantic side of love, but ultimately for a sense of self-worth and independence. Set in the overlapping times of the Victorian and Gothic periods, the novel touches upon both women’s supposed rights, and their inner struggle for liberty. Orphaned at an early age, Jane was born into a modest lifestyle, without any major parent roles to guide her through life’s obstacles. Instead, she spent much of her adolescent years locked in imaginary chains, serving those around her but never enjoying the many decadences life has to offer. It is not until Jane becomes a governess that many minute privileges become available to her and offer Jane a glance at what life could have been. It is on her quest for redemption and discovery that she truly is liberated. Throughout Charlotte Bronte’s classic novel Jane Eyre, the story’s protagonist Jane, struggles to achieve the balance of both autonomy and love, without sacrificing herself in the process.
In Jane Austen’s Emma, an emphasis is placed on the importance of female friendships. In particular, Austen places a great deal of emphasis on how Emma treats the women she calls her friends. In many ways, Emma manipulates the people in her life to fit her specific expectations for them. This can be seen in her matchmaking, especially Harriet’s relationship with Mr. Martin. Emma’s manipulation of various relationships serves as a way to control the friendships she has with the women in her life. By matching her friends with the men she has chosen for them, Emma can not only elevate their status but also keep these women in her life as well. It is only when her friendships are affected by marriage that Emma re-evaluates the role of marriage in her own life.
Society, as Austen describes it, is similar to the survival of the fittest. In order to get to the top, one must do everything he or she can to get there, including manipulating marriage. In the novel’s society “family and marriage occupied a far more public and central position in the social government and economic arrangements” (Brown 302). The members of the society in Austen’s novel, specifically Mrs. Bennet, will do anything, including marrying their daughters off to wealthy men, in order to gain a respectable status amongst there peers. Marriage, therefore, becomes a way of getting to the top of the social ladder. This focus on the importance of the social order significantly influences the idea of love and whom to love because it changes the people into thinking that marriage is not about love, but about status. It shapes the individuals into thinking that societal gains are what truly matter in a relationship. In
In Jane Austen 's “Persuasion,” marriage is a reoccurring theme throughout the story that strengthens social standings, titles, and finances, but Austen creates tension in the plot as marriage prospects between sisters make them contend with one another. It seems that love has little influence in marriage, and has everything to do with title, privilege, and economy. Austen proves that the constant competition between women, specifically sisters, leaves spouses and families unsatisfied in marriage. Meanwhile, unmarried women living as dependents make for an even more unlikely solution to happiness. Austen implies that only the title and privileges of marriage appease our vanity and are not indicative of a successful marriage; the marriages
Sir Walter Scott is considered to be „one of the most delightful figures in English literature and probably the most famous of all the Scotsmen who have ever lived“(Fletcher 2002, p. 127). This Scottish writer is famous for his historical novels which were very popular in the nineteenth century, especially his work that is our subject to discuss in the essay – Waverley. Scott himself was a descendant of one fighting clan and knew a number of people who took part in Jacobite rebellion. This helped him to depict the events better. He enforces past events by the use of imagination and magnification. Scott introduces in his work „Waverley or ‘tis sixty years since” a protagonist who has many romantic features. The setting of the plot, the characters and the events that are going to happen represent romanticism. Sir Walter Scott published Waverley in 1814 anonymously. This work brought him a great success and popularity at that time (Sanders 1994, p. 375). There exist many opinions and critics about this work. Some consider his work a very long and boring story. They find the description of places and author’s style of writing long-winded. There are some passages about which even author claims that are lengthy. As it was part of my compulsory literature, I had to read it. I would not have started to read this work if I was not forced but I found it very interesting, though. Nevertheless, it brought closer look at history and culture of Scottish people, political and historical situation in eighteenth century. The nature of the Highlands and characters that are depicted in this work are truly fascinating for a reader.