WITHSTRICTURESONPOLITICALANDMORALSUBJECTS,BYMARYWOLLSTONECRAFT。
WITHABIOGRAPHICALSKETCHOFTHEAUTHOR。
CONTENTS。
INTRODUCTION。
CHAPTER1。THERIGHTSANDINVOLVEDDUTIESOFMANKINDCONSIDERED。
CHAPTER2。THEPREVAILINGOPINIONOFASEXUALCHARACTERDISCUSSED。
CHAPTER3。THESAMESUBJECTCONTINUED。
CHAPTER4。OBSERVATIONSONTHESTATEOFDEGRADATIONTOWHICHWOMAN
ISREDUCEDBYVARIOUSCAUSES。
CHAPTER5。ANIMADVERSIONSONSOMEOFTHEWRITERSWHOHAVERENDERED
WOMENOBJECTSOFPITY,BORDERINGONCONTEMPT。
CHAPTER6。THEEFFECTWHICHANEARLYASSOCIATIONOFIDEASHASUPON
THECHARACTER。
CHAPTER7。MODESTY。COMPREHENSIVELYCONSIDERED,ANDNOTASA
SEXUALVIRTUE。
CHAPTER8。MORALITYUNDERMINEDBYSEXUALNOTIONSOFTHEIMPORTANCE
OFAGOODREPUTATION
CHAPTER9。OFTHEPERNICIOUSEFFECTSWHICHARISEFROMTHEUNNATURAL
DISTINCTIONSESTABLISHEDINSOCIETY。
CHAPTER10。PARENTALAFFECTION。
CHAPTER11。DUTYTOPARENTS
CHAPTER12。ONNATIONALEDUCATION
CHAPTER13。SOMEINSTANCESOFTHEFOLLYWHICHTHEIGNORANCEOF
WOMENGENERATES;WITHCONCLUDINGREFLECTIONSONTHEMORAL
IMPROVEMENTTHATAREVOLUTIONINFEMALEMANNERSMAYNATURALLYBE
EXPECTEDTOPRODUCE。
ABRIEFSKETCHOFTHELIFEOFMARYWOLLSTONECRAFT
M。Wollstonecraftwasbornin1759。Herfatherwassogreatawanderer,thattheplaceofherbirthisuncertain;shesupposed,however,itwasLondon,orEppingForest:atthelatterplaceshespentthefirstfiveyearsofherlife。Inearlyyouthsheexhibitedtracesofexquisitesensibility,soundnessofunderstanding,anddecisionofcharacter;butherfatherbeingadespotinhisfamily,andhermotheroneofhissubjects,Mary,derivedlittlebenefitfromtheirparentaltraining。Shereceivednoliteraryinstructionsbutsuchasweretobehadinordinarydayschools。BeforehersixteenthyearshebecameacquaintedwithMr。
Clareaclergyman,andMissFrancesBlood;thelatter,twoyearsolderthanherself;whopossessinggoodtasteandsomeknowledgeofthefinearts,seemstohavegiventhefirstimpulsetotheformationofhercharacter。Attheageofnineteen,sheleftherparents,andresidedwithaMrs。Dawsonfortwoyears;whenshereturnedtotheparentalrooftogiveattentiontohermother,whoseillhealthmadeherpresencenecessary。Onthedeathofhermother,Marybadeafinaladieutoherfather\'shouse,andbecametheinmateofF。Blood;thussituated,theirintimacyincreased,andastrongattachmentwasreciprocated。In1783shecommencedadayschoolatNewingtongreen,inconjunctionwithherfriend,F。
Blood。AtthisplaceshebecameacquaintedwithDr。Price,towhomshebecamestronglyattached;theregardwasmutual。
Itissaidthatshebecameateacherfrommotivesofbenevolence,orratherphilanthropy,andduringthetimeshecontinuedintheprofession,shegaveproofofsuperiorqualificationfortheperformanceofitsarduousandimportantduties。HerfriendandcoadjutormarriedandremovedtoLisbon,inPortugal,whereshediedofapulmonarydisease;thesymptomsofwhichwerevisiblebeforehermarriage。SotruewasMary\'sattachmenttoher,thatsheentrustedherschooltothecareofothers,forthepurposeofattendingFrancesinherclosingscene。Sheaided,asdidDr。
Young,in\"StealingNarcissaagrave。\"Hermindwasexpandedbythisresidenceinaforeigncountry,andthoughclearofreligiousbigotrybefore,shetooksomeinstructivelessonsontheevilsofsuperstition,andintolerance。
Onherreturnshefoundtheschoolhadsufferedbyherabsence,andhavingpreviouslydecidedtoapplyherselftoliterature,shenowresolvedtocommence。In1787shemade,orreceived,proposalsfromJohnson,apublisherinLondon,whowasalreadyacquaintedwithhertalentsasanauthor。Duringthethreesubsequentyears,shewasactivelyengaged,moreintranslating,condensing,andcompiling,thanintheproductionoforiginalworks。Atthistimeshelabouredundermuchdepressionofspirits,forthelossofherfriend;thisratherincreased,perhaps,bythepublicationof\"Mary,anovel,\"whichwasmostlycomposedofincidentsandreflectionsconnectedwiththeirintimacy。
Thepecuniaryconcernsofherfatherbecomingembarrassed,Marypractisedarigideconomyinherexpenditures,andwithhersavingswasenabledtoprocurehersistersandbrotherssituations,towhichwithoutheraid,theycouldnothavehadaccess;herfatherwassustainedatlengthfromherfunds;sheevenfoundmeanstotakeunderherprotectionanorphanchild。
Shehadacquiredafacilityinthearrangementandexpressionofthoughts,inheravocationoftranslator,andcompiler,whichwasnodoubtofgreatusetoherafterward。Itwasnotlonguntilshehadoccasionforthem。TheeminentBurkeproducedhiscelebrated\"ReflectionsontheRevolutioninFrance。\"Maryfullofsentimentsofliberty,andindignantatwhatshethoughtsubversiveofit,seizedherpenandproducedthefirstattackuponthatfamouswork。
Itsucceededwell,forthoughintemperateandcontemptuous,itwasvehementlyandimpetuouslyeloquent;andthoughBurkewasbelovedbytheenlightenedfriendsoffreedom,theyweredissatisfiedanddisgustedwithwhattheydeemedanoutrageuponit。
ItissaidthatMary,hadnotwantedconfidenceinherownpowersbefore,butthereceptionthisworkmetfromthepublic,gaveheranopportunityofjudgingwhatthosepowerswere,intheestimationofothers。Itwasshortlyafterthis,thatshecommencedtheworktowhichtheseremarksareprefixed。Whatareitsmeritswillbedecidedinthejudgmentofeachreader;sufficeittosaysheappearstohavesteptforthboldly,andsingly,indefenceofthathalfofthehumanrace,whichbytheusagesofallsociety,whethersavageorcivilized,havebeenkeptfromattainingtheirproperdignity——theirequalrankasrationalbeings。Itwouldappearthatthedisguiseusedinplacingonwomanthesilkenfetterswhichbribedherintoendurance,andevenloveofslavery,butincreasedtheoppositionofourauthoress:shewouldhavehadmorepatiencewithrude,brutecoercion,thanwiththatimposinggallantry,which,whileitaffectstoconsiderwomanasthepride,andornamentofcreation,degradeshertoatoy——anappendage——acypher。Theworkwasmuchreprehended,andasmightwellbeexpected,founditsgreatestenemiesintheprettysoftcreatures——thespoiledchildrenofherownsex。Sheaccomplisheditinsixweeks。
In1792sheremovedtoParis,whereshebecameacquaintedwithGilbertImlay,oftheUnitedStates。Andfromthisacquaintancegrewanattachment,whichbroughtthepartiestogether,withoutlegalformalities,towhichsheobjectedonaccountofsomefamilyembarrassments,inwhichhewouldtherebybecomeinvolved。Theengagementwashoweverconsideredbyherofthemostsacrednature,andtheyformedtheplanofemigratingtoAmerica,wheretheyshouldbeenabledtoaccomplishit。ThesewerethedaysofRobespierreancruelty,andImlayleftParisforHavre,whitherafteratimeMaryfollowedhim。Theycontinuedtoresidethere,untilheleftHavreforLondon,underpretenceofbusiness,andwithapromiseofrejoininghersoonatParis,whichhoweverhedidnot,butin1795sentforhertoLondon。Inthemeantimeshehadbecomethemotherofafemalechild,whomshecalledFrancesincommemorationofherearlyfriendship。
BeforeshewenttoEngland,shehadsomegloomyforebodingsthattheaffectionsofImlay,hadwaned,iftheywerenotestrangedfromher;onherarrival,thoseforebodingsweresorrowfullyconfirmed。
Hisattentionsweretooformalandconstrainedtopassunobservedbyherpenetration,andthoughheascribedhismanner,andhisabsence,tobusinessduties,shesawhisaffectionforherwasonlysomethingtoberemembered。Touseherownexpression,\"Love,deardelusion！Rigorousreasonhasforcedmetoresign;andnowmyrationalprospectsareblasted,justasIhavelearnedtobecontentedwithrationalenjoyments。\"Topretendtodepicthermiseryatthistimewouldbefutile;thebestideacanbeformedofitfromthefactthatshehadplannedherowndestruction,fromwhichImlaypreventedher。Sheconceivedtheideaofsuicideasecondtime,andthrewherselfintotheThames;sheremainedinthewater,untilconsciousnessforsookher,butshewastakenupandresuscitated。AfterdiversattemptstorevivetheaffectionsofImlay,withsundryexplanationsandprofessionsonhispart,throughthelapseoftwoyears,sheresolvedfinallytoforgoallhopeofreclaiminghim,andendeavourtothinkofhimnomoreinconnexionwithherfutureprospects。Inthisshesucceededsowell,thatsheafterwardshadaprivateinterviewwithhim,whichdidnotproduceanypainfulemotions。
In1796sherevivedorimprovedanacquaintancewhichcommencedyearsbeforewithWm。Godwin,authorof\"PoliticalJustice,\"andotherworksofgreatnotoriety。Thoughtheyhadnotbeenfavourablyimpressedwitheachotherontheirformeracquaintance,theynowmetundercircumstanceswhichpermittedamutualandjustappreciationofcharacter。Theirintimacyincreasedbyregularandalmostimperceptibledegrees。Thepartialitytheyconceivedforeachotherwas,accordingtoherbiographer,\"Inthemostrefinedstyleoflove。Itgrewwithequaladvancesinthemindofeach。
Itwouldhavebeenimpossibleforthemostminuteobservertohavesaidwhowasbefore,orwhoafter。Onesexdidnottaketheprioritywhichlongestablishedcustomhasawardedit,northeotheroverstepthatdelicacywhichissoseverelyimposed。Neitherpartycouldassumetohavebeentheagentorthepatient,thetoil—spreaderorthepreyintheaffair。Wheninthecourseofthingsthedisclosurecame,therewasnothinginamannerforeithertodisclosetotheother。\"
Marylivedbutafewmonthsafterhermarriage,anddiedinchild—bed;havinggivenbirthtoadaughterwhoisnowknowntotheliteraryworldasMrs。Shelly,thewidowofPercyByscheShelly。
Wecanscarcelyavoidregretthatoneofsuchsplendidtalents,andhightonedfeelings,should,aftertheformerseemedtohavebeenfullydeveloped,andthelatterhadfoundanobjectinwhomtheymightrepose,aftertheireccentricandpainfuleffortstofindarestingplace——thatsuchanoneshouldatsuchatime,becutofffromlifeissomethingwhichwecannotcontemplatewithoutfeelingregret;wecanscarcelyrepressthemurmurthatshehadnotbeenremovederecloudsdarkenedherhorizon,orthatshehadremainedtowitnessthebrightnessandserenitywhichmighthavesucceeded。
Butthusitis;wemaytracethecausetoanti—socialarrangements;
itisnotindividualsbutsocietywhichmustchangeit,andthatnotbyenactments,butbyachangeinpublicopinion。
Theauthoressofthe\"RightsofWoman,\"wasbornApril1759,diedSeptember1797。
Thattheremaybenodoubtregardingthefactsinthissketch,theyaretakenfromamemoirwrittenbyherafflictedhusband。Inadditiontomanykindthingshehassaidofher,（hewasnotblindedtoimperfectionsinhercharacter）is,thatshewas\"Lovelyinherperson,andinthebestandmostengagingsensefeminineinhermanners。\"
TO
M。TALLEYRANDPERIGORD,LATEBISHOPOFAUTUN。
Sir:——
Havingreadwithgreatpleasureapamphlet,whichyouhavelatelypublished,onNationalEducation,Idedicatethisvolumetoyou,thefirstdedicationthatIhaveeverwritten,toinduceyoutoreaditwithattention;and,becauseIthinkthatyouwillunderstandme,whichIdonotsupposemanypertwitlingswill,whomayridiculetheargumentstheyareunabletoanswer。But,sir,I
carrymyrespectforyourunderstandingstillfarther:sofar,thatIamconfidentyouwillnotthrowmyworkaside,andhastilyconcludethatIaminthewrongbecauseyoudidnotviewthesubjectinthesamelightyourself。Andpardonmyfrankness,butI
mustobserve,thatyoutreateditintoocursoryamanner,contentedtoconsideritasithadbeenconsideredformerly,whentherightsofman,nottoadverttowoman,weretrampledonaschimerical。Icalluponyou,therefore,nowtoweighwhatIhaveadvancedrespectingtherightsofwoman,andnationaleducation;
andIcallwiththefirmtoneofhumanity。Formyarguments,sir,aredictatedbyadisinterestedspirit:Ipleadformysex,notformyself。IndependenceIhavelongconsideredasthegrandblessingoflife,thebasisofeveryvirtue;andindependenceI
willeversecurebycontractingmywants,thoughIweretoliveonabarrenheath。
Itis,then,anaffectionforthewholehumanracethatmakesmypendartrapidlyalongtosupportwhatIbelievetobethecauseofvirtue:andthesamemotiveleadsmeearnestlytowishtoseewomanplacedinastationinwhichshewouldadvance,insteadofretarding,theprogressofthosegloriousprinciplesthatgiveasubstancetomorality。Myopinion,indeed,respectingtherightsanddutiesofwoman,seemstoflowsonaturallyfromthesesimpleprinciples,thatIthinkitscarcelypossible,butthatsomeoftheenlargedmindswhoformedyouradmirableconstitution,willcoincidewithme。
InFrance,thereisundoubtedlyamoregeneraldiffusionofknowledgethaninanypartoftheEuropeanworld,andIattributeit,inagreatmeasure,tothesocialintercoursewhichhaslongsubsistedbetweenthesexes。Itistrue,Iuttermysentimentswithfreedom,thatinFrancetheveryessenceofsensualityhasbeenextractedtoregalethevoluptuary,andakindofsentimentallusthasprevailed,which,togetherwiththesystemofduplicitythatthewholetenoroftheirpoliticalandcivilgovernmenttaught,havegivenasinistersortofsagacitytotheFrenchcharacter,properlytermedfinesse;andapolishofmannersthatinjuresthesubstance,byhuntingsincerityoutofsociety。And,modesty,thefairestgarbofvirtuehasbeenmoregrosslyinsultedinFrancethaneveninEngland,tilltheirwomenhavetreatedasPRUDISHthatattentiontodecencywhichbrutesinstinctivelyobserve。
Mannersandmoralsaresonearlyallied,thattheyhaveoftenbeenconfounded;but,thoughtheformershouldonlybethenaturalreflectionofthelatter,yet,whenvariouscauseshaveproducedfactitiousandcorruptmanners,whichareveryearlycaught,moralitybecomesanemptyname。Thepersonalreserve,andsacredrespectforcleanlinessanddelicacyindomesticlife,whichFrenchwomenalmostdespise,arethegracefulpillarsofmodesty;but,farfromdespisingthem,ifthepureflameofpatriotismhavereachedtheirbosoms,theyshouldlabourtoimprovethemoralsoftheirfellow—citizens,byteachingmen,notonlytorespectmodestyinwomen,buttoacquireitthemselves,astheonlywaytomerittheiresteem。
Contendingfortherightsofwomen,mymainargumentisbuiltonthissimpleprinciple,thatifshebenotpreparedbyeducationtobecomethecompanionofman,shewillstoptheprogressofknowledge,fortruthmustbecommontoall,oritwillbeinefficaciouswithrespecttoitsinfluenceongeneralpractice。
Andhowcanwomanbeexpectedtoco—operate,unlesssheknowwhysheoughttobevirtuous？Unlessfreedomstrengthenherreasontillshecomprehendherduty,andseeinwhatmanneritisconnectedwithherrealgood？Ifchildrenaretobeeducatedtounderstandthetrueprincipleofpatriotism,theirmothermustbeapatriot;andtheloveofmankind,fromwhichanorderlytrainofvirtuesspring,canonlybeproducedbyconsideringthemoralandcivilinterestofmankind;buttheeducationandsituationofwoman,atpresent,shutsheroutfromsuchinvestigations。
InthisworkIhaveproducedmanyarguments,whichtomewereconclusive,toprove,thattheprevailingnotionrespectingasexualcharacterwassubversiveofmorality,andIhavecontended,thattorenderthehumanbodyandmindmoreperfect,chastitymustmoreuniversallyprevail,andthatchastitywillneverberespectedinthemaleworldtillthepersonofawomanisnot,asitwere,idolizedwhenlittlevirtueorsenseembellishitwiththegrandtracesofmentalbeauty,ortheinterestingsimplicityofaffection。
Consider,Sir,dispassionately,theseobservations,foraglimpseofthistruthseemedtoopenbeforeyouwhenyouobserved,\"thattoseeonehalfofthehumanraceexcludedbytheotherfromallparticipationofgovernment,wasapoliticalphenomenonthat,accordingtoabstractprinciples,itwasimpossibletoexplain。\"
Ifso,onwhatdoesyourconstitutionrest？Iftheabstractrightsofmanwillbeardiscussionandexplanation,thoseofwoman,byaparityofreasoning,willnotshrinkfromthesametest:thoughadifferentopinionprevailsinthiscountry,builtontheveryargumentswhichyouusetojustifytheoppressionofwoman,prescription。
Consider,Iaddressyouasalegislator,whether,whenmencontendfortheirfreedom,andtobeallowedtojudgeforthemselves,respectingtheirownhappiness,itbenotinconsistentandunjusttosubjugatewomen,eventhoughyoufirmlybelievethatyouareactinginthemannerbestcalculatedtopromotetheirhappiness？
Whomademantheexclusivejudge,ifwomanpartakewithhimthegiftofreason？
Inthisstyle,arguetyrantsofeverydenominationfromtheweakkingtotheweakfatherofafamily;theyarealleagertocrushreason;yetalwaysassertthattheyusurpitsthroneonlytobeuseful。Doyounotactasimilarpart,whenyouFORCEallwomen,bydenyingthemcivilandpoliticalrights,toremainimmuredintheirfamiliesgropinginthedark？Forsurely,sir,youwillnotassert,thatadutycanbebindingwhichisnotfoundedonreason？
If,indeed,thisbetheirdestination,argumentsmaybedrawnfromreason;andthusaugustlysupported,themoreunderstandingwomenacquire,themoretheywillbeattachedtotheirduty,comprehendingit,forunlesstheycomprehendit,unlesstheirmoralsbefixedonthesameimmutableprinciplesasthoseofman,noauthoritycanmakethemdischargeitinavirtuousmanner。Theymaybeconvenientslaves,butslaverywillhaveitsconstanteffect,degradingthemasterandtheabjectdependent。
But,ifwomenaretobeexcluded,withouthavingavoice,fromaparticipationofthenaturalrightsofmankind,provefirst,towardoffthechargeofinjusticeandinconsistency,thattheywantreason,elsethisflawinyourNEWCONSTITUTION,thefirstconstitutionfoundedonreason,willevershowthatmanmust,insomeshape,actlikeatyrant,andtyranny,inwhateverpartofsocietyitrearsitsbrazenfront,willeverunderminemorality。
Ihaverepeatedlyasserted,andproducedwhatappearedtomeirrefragableargumentsdrawnfrommattersoffact,toprovemyassertion,thatwomencannot,byforce,beconfinedtodomesticconcerns;fortheywillhoweverignorant,intermeddlewithmoreweightyaffairs,neglectingprivatedutiesonlytodisturb,bycunningtricks,theorderlyplansofreasonwhichriseabovetheircomprehension。
Besides,whilsttheyareonlymadetoacquirepersonalaccomplishments,menwillseekforpleasureinvariety,andfaithlesshusbandswillmakefaithlesswives;suchignorantbeings,indeed,willbeveryexcusablewhen,nottaughttorespectpublicgood,norallowedanycivilright,theyattempttodothemselvesjusticebyretaliation。
Theboxofmischiefthusopenedinsociety,whatistopreserveprivatevirtue,theonlysecurityofpublicfreedomanduniversalhappiness？
LettherebethennocoercionESTABLISHEDinsociety,andthecommonlawofgravityprevailing,thesexeswillfallintotheirproperplaces。And,nowthatmoreequitablelawsareformingyourcitizens,marriagemaybecomemoresacred;youryoungmenmaychoosewivesfrommotivesofaffection,andyourmaidensallowlovetorootoutvanity。
Thefatherofafamilywillnotthenweakenhisconstitutionanddebasehissentiments,byvisitingtheharlot,norforget,inobeyingthecallofappetite,thepurposeforwhichitwasimplanted;andthemotherwillnotneglectherchildrentopractisetheartsofcoquetry,whensenseandmodestysecureherthefriendshipofherhusband。
But,tillmenbecomeattentivetothedutyofafather,itisvaintoexpectwomentospendthattimeintheirnurserywhichthey,\"wiseintheirgeneration,\"choosetospendattheirglass;forthisexertionofcunningisonlyaninstinctofnaturetoenablethemtoobtainindirectlyalittleofthatpowerofwhichtheyareunjustlydeniedashare;for,ifwomenarenotpermittedtoenjoylegitimaterights,theywillrenderbothmenandthemselvesvicious,toobtainillicitprivileges。
Iwish,sir,tosetsomeinvestigationsofthiskindafloatinFrance;andshouldtheyleadtoaconfirmationofmyprinciples,whenyourconstitutionisrevised,therightsofwomanmayberespected,ifitbefullyprovedthatreasoncallsforthisrespect,andloudlydemandsJUSTICEforonehalfofthehumanrace。
Iam,sir,Yoursrespectfully,M。W。
INTRODUCTION
Afterconsideringthehistoricpage,andviewingthelivingworldwithanxioussolicitude,themostmelancholyemotionsofsorrowfulindignationhavedepressedmyspirits,andIhavesighedwhenobligedtoconfess,thateithernaturehasmadeagreatdifferencebetweenmanandman,orthatthecivilization,whichhashithertotakenplaceintheworld,hasbeenverypartial。Ihaveturnedovervariousbookswrittenonthesubjectofeducation,andpatientlyobservedtheconductofparentsandthemanagementofschools;butwhathasbeentheresult？aprofoundconviction,thattheneglectededucationofmyfellowcreaturesisthegrandsourceofthemiseryIdeplore;andthatwomeninparticular,arerenderedweakandwretchedbyavarietyofconcurringcauses,originatingfromonehastyconclusion。Theconductandmannersofwomen,infact,evidentlyprove,thattheirmindsarenotinahealthystate;
for,liketheflowersthatareplantedintoorichasoil,strengthandusefulnessaresacrificedtobeauty;andtheflauntingleaves,afterhavingpleasedafastidiouseye,fade,disregardedonthestalk,longbeforetheseasonwhentheyoughttohavearrivedatmaturity。OnecauseofthisbarrenbloomingIattributetoafalsesystemofeducation,gatheredfromthebookswrittenonthissubjectbymen,who,consideringfemalesratheraswomenthanhumancreatures,havebeenmoreanxioustomakethemalluringmistressesthanrationalwives;andtheunderstandingofthesexhasbeensobubbledbythisspecioushomage,thatthecivilizedwomenofthepresentcentury,withafewexceptions,areonlyanxioustoinspirelove,whentheyoughttocherishanoblerambition,andbytheirabilitiesandvirtuesexactrespect。
Inatreatise,therefore,onfemalerightsandmanners,theworkswhichhavebeenparticularlywrittenfortheirimprovementmustnotbeoverlooked;especiallywhenitisasserted,indirectterms,thatthemindsofwomenareenfeebledbyfalserefinement;thatthebooksofinstruction,writtenbymenofgenius,havehadthesametendencyasmorefrivolousproductions;andthat,inthetruestyleofMahometanism,theyareonlyconsideredasfemales,andnotasapartofthehumanspecies,whenimprovablereasonisallowedtobethedignifieddistinction,whichraisesmenabovethebrutecreation,andputsanaturalsceptreinafeeblehand。
Yet,becauseIamawoman,Iwouldnotleadmyreaderstosuppose,thatImeanviolentlytoagitatethecontestedquestionrespectingtheequalityandinferiorityofthesex;butasthesubjectliesinmyway,andIcannotpassitoverwithoutsubjectingthemaintendencyofmyreasoningtomisconstruction,Ishallstopamomenttodeliver,inafewwords,myopinion。Inthegovernmentofthephysicalworld,itisobservablethatthefemale,ingeneral,isinferiortothemale。Themalepursues,thefemaleyields——thisisthelawofnature;anditdoesnotappeartobesuspendedorabrogatedinfavourofwoman。Thisphysicalsuperioritycannotbedenied——anditisanobleprerogative！Butnotcontentwiththisnaturalpre—eminence,menendeavourtosinkusstilllower,merelytorenderusalluringobjectsforamoment;andwomen,intoxicatedbytheadorationwhichmen,undertheinfluenceoftheirsenses,paythem,donotseektoobtainadurableinterestintheirhearts,ortobecomethefriendsofthefellowcreatureswhofindamusementintheirsociety。
Iamawareofanobviousinference:fromeveryquarterhaveIheardexclamationsagainstmasculinewomen;butwherearetheytobefound？If,bythisappellation,menmeantoinveighagainsttheirardourinhunting,shooting,andgaming,Ishallmostcordiallyjoininthecry;butifitbe,againsttheimitationofmanlyvirtues,or,moreproperlyspeaking,theattainmentofthosetalentsandvirtues,theexerciseofwhichennoblesthehumancharacter,andwhichraisefemalesinthescaleofanimalbeing,whentheyarecomprehensivelytermedmankind——allthosewhoviewthemwithaphilosophicaleyemust,Ishouldthink,wishwithme,thattheymayeverydaygrowmoreandmoremasculine。
Thisdiscussionnaturallydividesthesubject。Ishallfirstconsiderwomeninthegrandlightofhumancreatures,who,incommonwithmen,areplacedonthisearthtounfoldtheirfaculties;andafterwardsIshallmoreparticularlypointouttheirpeculiardesignation。
Iwishalsotosteerclearofanerror,whichmanyrespectablewritershavefalleninto;fortheinstructionwhichhashithertobeenaddressedtowomen,hasratherbeenapplicabletoLADIES,ifthelittleindirectadvice,thatisscatteredthroughSandfordandMerton,beexcepted;but,addressingmysexinafirmertone,Ipayparticularattentiontothoseinthemiddleclass,becausetheyappeartobeinthemostnaturalstate。Perhapstheseedsoffalserefinement,immorality,andvanityhaveeverbeenshedbythegreat。Weak,artificialbeingsraisedabovethecommonwantsandaffectionsoftheirrace,inaprematureunnaturalmanner,underminetheveryfoundationofvirtue,andspreadcorruptionthroughthewholemassofsociety！Asaclassofmankindtheyhavethestrongestclaimtopity！theeducationoftherichtendstorenderthemvainandhelpless,andtheunfoldingmindisnotstrengthenedbythepracticeofthosedutieswhichdignifythehumancharacter。Theyonlylivetoamusethemselves,andbythesamelawwhichinnatureinvariablyproducescertaineffects,theysoononlyaffordbarrenamusement。
ButasIpurposetakingaseparateviewofthedifferentranksofsociety,andofthemoralcharacterofwomen,ineach,thishintis,forthepresent,sufficient;andIhaveonlyalludedtothesubject,becauseitappearstometobetheveryessenceofanintroductiontogiveacursoryaccountofthecontentsoftheworkitintroduces。
Myownsex,Ihope,willexcuseme,ifItreatthemlikerationalcreatures,insteadofflatteringtheirFASCINATINGgraces,andviewingthemasiftheywereinastateofperpetualchildhood,unabletostandalone。Iearnestlywishtopointoutinwhattruedignityandhumanhappinessconsists——Iwishtopersuadewomentoendeavourtoacquirestrength,bothofmindandbody,andtoconvincethem,thatthesoftphrases,susceptibilityofheart,delicacyofsentiment,andrefinementoftaste,arealmostsynonymouswithepithetsofweakness,andthatthosebeingswhoareonlytheobjectsofpityandthatkindoflove,whichhasbeentermeditssister,willsoonbecomeobjectsofcontempt。
Dismissingthenthoseprettyfemininephrases,whichthemencondescendinglyusetosoftenourslavishdependence,anddespisingthatweakelegancyofmind,exquisitesensibility,andsweetdocilityofmanners,supposedtobethesexualcharacteristicsoftheweakervessel,Iwishtoshowthateleganceisinferiortovirtue,thatthefirstobjectoflaudableambitionistoobtainacharacterasahumanbeing,regardlessofthedistinctionofsex;
andthatsecondaryviewsshouldbebroughttothissimpletouchstone。
Thisisaroughsketchofmyplan;andshouldIexpressmyconvictionwiththeenergeticemotionsthatIfeelwheneverIthinkofthesubject,thedictatesofexperienceandreflectionwillbefeltbysomeofmyreaders。Animatedbythisimportantobject,I
shalldisdaintocullmyphrasesorpolishmystyle——Iaimatbeinguseful,andsinceritywillrendermeunaffected;forwishingrathertopersuadebytheforceofmyarguments,thandazzlebytheeleganceofmylanguage,Ishallnotwastemytimeinroundingperiods,norinfabricatingtheturgidbombastofartificialfeelings,which,comingfromthehead,neverreachtheheart。I
shallbeemployedaboutthings,notwords！and,anxioustorendermysexmorerespectablemembersofsociety,Ishalltrytoavoidthatflowerydictionwhichhasslidedfromessaysintonovels,andfromnovelsintofamiliarlettersandconversation。
Theseprettynothings,thesecaricaturesoftherealbeautyofsensibility,droppinggliblyfromthetongue,vitiatethetaste,andcreateakindofsicklydelicacythatturnsawayfromsimpleunadornedtruth;andadelugeoffalsesentimentsandover—stretchedfeelings,stiflingthenaturalemotionsoftheheart,renderthedomesticpleasuresinsipid,thatoughttosweetentheexerciseofthosesevereduties,whicheducatearationalandimmortalbeingforanoblerfieldofaction。