Mary Wollstonecraft and Education for Women

1730 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Jane austen's influences

Mary Wollstonecraft was a participant in and observer of a significant range of social changes; firstly was the Enlightenment thought which regarded institutions as out-dated, and in need of review, along with changes in religious beliefs, educational theory and domestic structure. A Vindication of the Rights of Woman closely associates itself with the Enlightenment thought which aimed to give reason behind identity and rights, by giving reason to these essential human rights society begin to think differently about their existence. Women during the 18th century and 19th century found themselves separated from the ideology that provided the lifeblood of society, this meant women were more like observers than participants, which fuelled Wollstonecraft’s battle against women being governed and contained by a society they were never allowed to be part of. Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park was written at a time when men and women had very different existences within society, it was empirical that both male and females fulfilled the expectations of their specific sex. Men were privileged as the dominant gender, free to shape and control the society surrounding then, leaving women to accept a life with very little liberty; a private and domestic existence. This brings us back to one of Wollstonecraft’s arguments regarding women having very few options when it came to bettering themselves, marriage was the only acceptable route to wealth and protection.
Austen offers her readership a broad view that represents multiple levels of groups within society, along with the components that make up the culture around her, one of the ways Austen has achieved this is by creating the character of Fanny Price in Mansfield Park. However this novel does not...

... middle of paper ...

...ho, considering females rather as women than human creatures, have been more anxious to make them alluring mistresses than affectionate wives and rational mothers." (Wollstonecraft, 5) Wollstonecraft and Austen are alike in their beliefs that the seduction of puerile accomplishments is transient; with the aim to transform the 19th century curriculum, set out for women by men, with no attempt to improve the scope of their reason and understanding of the wider social sphere. Both writers aim to allow women to take from marriage every realistic experience, however in order for women to advance mentally and emotionally these marriages must be partnerships. Austen raises Wollstonecraft’s argument so that it reaches the women during her time, discounting blind obedience as nothing more than another male pleasure; advising that reason instead will be much more beneficial.

Show More
Related

  • Women in the Enlightenment

    1393 Words  | 3 Pages

    Wollstonecraft, Mary. “A Vindication of the Rights of Women with Structures on Political and Moral

    Read More

  • The Tone Of Wollstonecraft's On Making An Agreeable Marriage

    267 Words  | 1 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Comparing The Slavery Of Fredrick Douglass And Mary Wollstonecraft

    1162 Words  | 3 Pages

    Born as a free woman in London, England Mary argued for education along with unjust laws for women that subjected them to a form of slavery. As the world around her at the time was facing a political breakthrough with the United States using idea’s formed by philosophers John Locke and Thomas Hobbes theories in the social contract, to break free from England, she hoped the French Revolution would create an era of equality and reason. Wollstonecraft places her opinion that the condition of adult women is caused by the neglect of education for girls. Most of the essay is based on her argument for education of

    Read More

  • Vindicating the Suffering Revolutionary Women in Mary Wollstonecraft’s Maria

    1976 Words  | 4 Pages

    The objective of this paper is twofold. Firstly, to examine why Wollstonecraft felt this quest into the genre of novel for the politics which she already had discussed at length in A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792)? The second strand of inquiry will be into the domestic ideas of despotism which arise from gender discrimination perpetuated by the state machinery, with the legal system, in particular. This second strand will envelope the prevalent issues like the legally disadvantageous position of married as well as maternal women and how the revolutionary bodies of these mothers are confined along with infliction of mental harassment by both private and state systems. The issue of the imprisonm...

    Read More

  • Mary Wollstonecraft Treatment Of Women Analysis

    729 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the essay, Wollstonecraft is a woman in the 1700s, who currently experiencing inequality due gender that she was born into. During this era, women do not have many rights as a citizen, nor as a human being. Women are expected to perform household duties, such as cooking, cleaning, raising children, and being completely submissive to their husband. However, one woman had a different opinion of what a woman is capable of doing, and her name is Mary Wollstonecraft. Mary believed that woman should be treated equally as men, in the manner of education, respect, and status.

    Read More

  • Women's Rights Activist: Mary Wollstonecraft

    622 Words  | 2 Pages

    Marry Wollstonecraft was a famous women’s right activist and was also considered one of the most famous feminist, she fought for equal rights between men and women because people considered women weaker than men.

    Read More

  • Wollstonecraft On Gender Equality

    163 Words  | 1 Pages

    Wollstonecraft argues that if women are given more rights in society in regards to choosing an ideal partner, then this will contribute to distinguishing inequality between sexes, and will help to provide women with more control in her marriage. She will be able to select her husband based on her own decisions, and select if he will truly care for her and will consider her, and she will be able to teach her children equality. Wollstonecraft suggests that for gender equality to occur in society and in a marriage then a “marriage should be modeled along the lines of a higher friendship” (Todd & Butler, 1999) and that people should marry “another based on the basis of character rather than status or wealth” (Todd & Butler, 1999). By having friendship

    Read More

  • Compare the Representation of Relationships in ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and ‘Rapunzstiltskin’

    1280 Words  | 3 Pages

    Women in the time of Jane Austen dedicated their lives to being good-looking (seen in the vanity of Lydia and Kitty especially) and accomplished to ensure they were marriage material, just as the maiden tried to be enchanting and desirable for The Prince. Both texts illustrate an imbalance and struggle for equality within the oppressive rules and expectations that revolve around women’s lives, and so, their relationships.

    Read More

  • Reputation and Love in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

    1583 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Women In Society: A Vindication Of The Rights Of Women?

    1220 Words  | 3 Pages

    Women today are still viewed as naturally inferior to men, despite the considerable progress done to close this gap. Females have made a huge difference in their standing from 200 years ago. Whether anyone is sexist or not, females have made considerable progress from where they started, but there is still a long journey ahead. Mary Wollstonecraft was an advocate of women 's rights, a philosopher, and an English writer. One of Wollstonecraft’s best works was “A Vindication of the Rights of Women” (1792). In her writing, she talks about how both men and women should be treated equal, and reasoning could create a social order between the two. In chapter nine of this novel, called “Of the Pernicious Effects Which Arise from the Unnatural Distinctions Established in Society,”

    Read More

  • Mary Crawford: The Satisfying Heroine

    1633 Words  | 4 Pages

    In Mansfield Park, Jane Austen presents her readers with a dilemma: Fanny Price is the heroine of the story, but lacks the qualities Jane Austen usually presents in her protagonists, while Mary Crawford, the antihero, has these qualities. Mary is active, effective, and witty, much like Austen’s heroines Emma Woodhouse and Elizabeth Bennet. Contrasting this is Fanny, who is timid, complacent, and dull. Austen gives Mary passages of quick, sharp, even occasionally shocking, dialogue, while Fanny often does not speak for pages at a time. When she does, her speeches are typically banal and forgettable. In Mansfield Park, Austen largely rests Fanny’s standing as protagonist on the fact that Fanny adheres to the moral standards of Austen’s era. Mary Crawford makes a more satisfying and appealing heroine but due to her modern-era sensibility and uncertain moral fiber, she cannot fulfill this role.

    Read More

  • Women's Rights In Victorian Era Essay

    876 Words  | 2 Pages

    Eighteenth century philosopher and women’s rights activist, Mary Wollstonecraft, said, “I do not wish them [women] to have power over men; but over themselves” (qtd. in Good Reads). Before the century ended, however, Mary Wollstonecraft passed away. What Wollstonecraft never saw was the improvements that were to come in the following century for women’s rights. The Victorian era was a crucial chapter in the women’s rights movement.

    Read More

  • Mary Wollstonecraft

    1202 Words  | 3 Pages

    Mary Wollstonecraft was a self-educated, radical philosopher who wrote about liberation, and empowering women. She had a powerful voice on her views of the rights of women to get good education and career opportunities. She pioneered the debate for women’s rights inspiring many of the 19th and the 20th century’s writers and philosophers to fight for women’s rights, as well. She did not only criticize men for not giving women their rights, she also put a blame on women for being voiceless and subservient. Her life and, the surrounding events of her time, accompanied by the strong will of her, had surely affected the way she chose to live her life, and to form her own philosophies.

    Read More

  • The Importance of Fanny Price

    1135 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park, Austen develops a more apparent social commentating tone compared to her other works. Mansfield Park represents England during the imperial age and Sir Thomas Bertram, the owner of the park, symbolizes of the necessity of the colonies to maintain the smooth management of England (Said 87). When Sir Thomas leaves Mansfield Park to visit his colonies in Antigua, his home enters into disarray when Tom Bertram introduces new ideas into the home, such as putting on a play. Austen reveals her own discomfort of the new commercialized society with her character Fanny Price, who Austen has “the satisfaction of knowing [my Fanny] must have been happy in spite of everything” because she marries Edmund (Austen 400). Fanny Price embodies the discomfort Austen feels as seen with Fanny’s relationships with Mr. Henry Crawford, the new consumerist generation, and Mr. Edmund Bertram, the domestic generation.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Patriarchy In Jane Austen's Emma

    1968 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the Eighteenth and Nineteenth centuries, the idea of patriarchy ruled the many societies all over the world. Particularly in Britain, its “overarching patriarchal model” (Marsh) had “reserved power and privilege for men” (Marsh). Also during this time period feminist literature began to arise and was invaded by, “the complex social, ethical, and economic roots of sexual politics… as testimony to gender bias and the double standard” (“Sexual Politics and Feminist Literature”). In Jane Austen’s writing, readers have been aware of her constant themes of female independence and gender equality. However, many have criticized the author for the fact that many of her “individualistic” female characters have ended up

    Read More

More about Mary Wollstonecraft and Education for Women

Open Document