wolstencraft slides

Mary Wollstonecraft: A Vindication of the Rights of Women

Author and Timeframe

  • Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797)
    • Notable quote: "I do not wish them [women] to have power over men; but over themselves."
    • Authored significant works in polemic essays, fiction, and history, advocating for women's rights.

Previewing the Essay

  • Examine the essay title and consider its implications.
  • Consider the author's background and its context when written.
  • Assess how the author’s life and the historical context influence the text.

Biography Breakdown

  • Career Background:

    • Worked in various roles including seamstress, schoolmistress, and governess.
    • Authored essays such as "Thoughts on the Education of Daughters" (1786), and "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman" (1792).
    • Wrote fiction: "Mary, A Fiction" (1787), among others, and translations of significant philosophical works.

  • Collaborations:

    • Associated with radical thinkers like William Blake, influencing Romantic notions of imagination.
    • Personal life marked by significant relationships; mother of Mary Shelley, author of "Frankenstein."
    • Died post-childbirth complications, leaving a legacy that gained recognition in the 20th century as part of feminist discourse.

Context of The Rights of Women

  • Historical Background:
    • Response to the French Revolutionary Assembly’s Declaration of the Rights of Man, which acknowledged rights primarily for men.
    • Followed up on publications reacting to Burke's "Reflections on the Revolution in France."

Reading Techniques for Essays

  • Important considerations:
    • Identify the main argument and connect it with the title.
    • Recognize the primary points and supporting evidence.
    • Analyze rhetorical strategies used: logos (logic), ethos (credibility), and pathos (emotion).

Dedicatory Letter Highlights

  • Core Arguments:
    • Advocates that if women are uneducated, society may stagnate in its quest for knowledge.
    • Emphasizes that understanding virtue is key to women's empowerment and societal progress.
  • Subjugation and Liberation:
    • Critiques the societal view of women rooted in false education focused on personal accomplishments.
    • Argues for the importance of education that enables women to engage in public discourse and develop respect-based marriages.

Introduction: Questions Raised

  • Wollstonecraft expresses sadness regarding women's education and societal roles.
  • She seeks to pinpoint how neglect in women's education contributes to their misery and societal subservience.

Education as a Key Theme

  • Explores the false standards of female education that limit capabilities to inspire love instead of earning respect for their intellect and virtues.

Introduction: Tone and Style

  • Targeted at women readers, expects them to be rational.
  • Advocates for strength, virtue over superficial elegance.
  • Critiques societal norms promoting shallow beauty against genuine character.

Conclusion

  • Wollstonecraft’s work serves as a clarion call for women's rights, emphasizing the importance of education, ethical conduct, and self-governance for societal improvement. Her vision is one where women achieve true equality through enlightenment and empowerment, standing equal to men in all public and private spheres.