Wollstonecraft's Romantic Plight: to Render Women More Equal to Men

Bohn

Joe Bohn

ENG344W-01

Prof. Hubbell

October 2, 2000

Wollstonecraft’s Romantic Plight: to Render Women More Equal to Men

In the late 18th century, the rise of industrialization led to an increasingly unbalanced division of powers between the privileged and less privileged social classes. Agriculture no longer dominated the British economy, and masses were forced to abandon their country homes in search of city jobs. The impersonal nature of the new employer/employee relationships spawned widespread feelings of powerlessness and alienation. In the midst of these circumstances, Britain was ripe for romantic poets to step forth and attack the various forms of corruption by means of prose and poetry. One such poet, Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797) sought to expose the corruption and inequality resulting from “inherited privileges” and “false refinements,” particularly with regard to the female gender. (MM 9-28)

Wollstonecraft wrote her “Vindication on the Rights of Woman” during a six-week stretch in 1792. She was at first inspired by the success of her previous work, “Vindication on the Rights of Man,” a document which responded to Edmund Burke’s attacks on the French Revolution and its English sympathizers. Burke, a political statesman was convinced that the established patriarchal system was necessary in order to maintain civility and order, whereas Wollstonecraft saw that same system as being oppressive and in need of radical change. (Abrams 164)

Catharine Macaulay’s “Letters on Education,” (1790) which addressed “similar rules for male and female education,” might have inspired Wollstonecraft as well. Some might question why Wollstonecraft came to be identified as a lead figure in the feminist movement. With regard to the originality of Wollstonecraft’s feminist notions, others had already proposed that women could equal men’s achievement if they were to be given a similar education, but none had ever given such passionate first-hand accounts of the indignities suffered by women from men. (MM 34,366)

During childhood, Mary Wollstonecraft witnessed her father’s abusive treatment of her mother and came to ...

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During childhood, Mary Wollstonecraft witnessed her father’s abusive treatment of her mother and came to view marriage as an oppressive institution. Her sister, Eliza suffered a nervous breakdown, as a result of her husband’s cruelty and abuse. Mary convinced Eliza to abandon her husband, but divorces were not commonly available. All the rights were in favor of the man, so her husband ended up keeping all property, as well as their newly born infant, which died within a year. All of these occurrences were intensely devastating and instilled revolutionary ideas in Wollstonecraft. (Abrams 163)

At the root of all the indignities suffered by women from men, Wollstonecraft pointed out that men considered “females rather as women than human creatures,” saying that men only considered them to be “alluring mistresses.” She discussed the warped perceptions of the “civilized women,” thinking they only exist “to inspire love.” She further stated that women were kept that way through “false refinement” and “false system of education.”(Abrams 167)

Wollstonecraft attempts to unpack the definition of “virtue” and discusses men’s fears of women becoming masculine: “the word masculine is only a bugbear.” She goes on to say that “fondness is a poor substitute for friendship,” stating that an intellectually compatible mate would better serve mankind. (Abrams 170)

Wollstonecraft discusses Rousseau’s notions of women as “alluring objects of desire.” He stated that “with respect to the female character, obedience is the grand lesson which ought to be impressed with unrelenting vigor.” (Abrams 175) She goes on to say those women who use their charms “to please” will find that they “cannot have much effect on her husband’s heart when they are seen every day.” She means to say that feminine graces will only take a woman so far in a relationship. She implies that intellectual compatibility would make for a more enduring and fulfilling marriage. (Abrams 177)

In Chapter 10 of her “Vindication,” Wollstonecraft states that “To be a good mother, a woman must have sense,” whereas she makes it sound like a social and moral responsibility for women to be educated. (Bartleby.com) She describes a situation in which a woman’s husband “may die and leave her with a large family,” stating that “A double duty devolves on her.” She goes on to say that, for this reason, women should be educated in “the character of both father and mother, to form their principles and secure their property.” (MM 395)

Wollstonecrafts ideas spawned much controversy, and unfortunately, Godwyn’s publishing of her posthumous love letters discredited her ideas. Neverthless, her ideas carried on through future authors. She likely influenced much of the future feminist literature, though no one was ever to take such an aggressive tone. Elizabeth Gaskell (1810-1865) sought to depict the evils of industrialism, as well as the inequality between employer/employee and the sexes. Christina Rosetti (1830-1894) sought to depict the demise of women through marriage. William Yeats (1865-1939) addressed the evils caused by feminine beauty. Mary Hays, (1760-1843) a friend of Wollstonecraft and her husband addressed the unjustified elevation of the male sex, challenging scriptural text, in hopes of “furthering the moral rights and intellectual advancement of woman.” (MM 36-37)

Amidst all of the alienation in late 18th century Britain, Mary Wollstonecraft was one of many romantic poets who sought to shed light on the corruption and inequality resulting from “inherited privileges” and “false refinements.” Others had proposed similar notions of female equality before her time, but none had ever given such passionate first-hand accounts of the oppression suffered by women. Hence, Wollstonecraft’s “Vindication of the Rights of Women” is seen as one of the cornerstones in early feminist literature.