Wollstonecraft's Ideas of Human Goodness

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“Everything is good as it leaves the hands of the author of things” but “everything degenerates in the hands of man” (Rousseau Emile, Book I) Every human being is fundamentally good and perfect at it’s birth and through human manipulation humans become corrupted. Rousseau’s statement on humanity's fundamental goodness and it’s corruption through nurture is reflected in Mary Wollstonecraft’s novel Maria. In Maria, Wollstonecraft shows how humans are perfect at birth but with the harsh realities of society those virtues and emotions that made one perfect become twisted and turned against oneself by society. Wollstonecraft, through her characters, shows that those emotions which drive people through life can be turned against them and ruin their lives. Wollstonecraft’s character Jemima best illustrates Wollstonecraft’s ideas of human goodness corrupted by society as well as her moral sense theory, that emotional responses like anger or sympathy guide to moral and ethical ways of life but are inherently risky when paired with society. While Maria, the main character, is in the insane asylum she meets and in a way befriends a nurse named Jemima. Jemima, though a side character, portrays women’s real struggles in the world and exemplifies the perfection that humans are born with and the corruption that is taken from them by society. Jemima is born an illegitimate child and after her mother dies she is taken in by her father. Used as a slave of the household by her half-sister and step-mother as well as abused by her father Jemima is stripped of her humanity and never feels the love of humanity. Jemima’s half-sister is loved and spoiled by her parents and Jemima soon starts to hate her half-sister for the love and affection she rec... ... middle of paper ... ...es and one’s societal guides. It is in this character that Wollstonecraft simply relates the feelings and decisions that women must face and why they must face them. Works Cited Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. Emile. Web. 5 Mar. 2011. . Wollstonecraft, Mary, Anne Kostelanetz. Mellor, Noelle Chao, and Mary Wollstonecraft. Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Woman ; And, the Wrongs of Woman, Or, Maria. New York: Pearson Longman, 2007. Print. Burton, John. Basic Human Needs Theory. Basic Human Needs theory states that there are certain physical and psychological needs that must be met for all humans. If these needs are not met conflict arises. Burton’s interpretation of this theory is that psychological needs are equal to that of physical needs as they apply to invoking conflict.

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