Infact,thefemalemindhasbeensototallyneglected,thatknowledgewasonlytobeacquiredfromthismuddysource,tillfromreadingnovelssomewomenofsuperiortalentslearnedtodespisethem。
Thebestmethod,Ibelieve,thatcanbeadoptedtocorrectafondnessfornovelsistoridiculethem;notindiscriminately,forthenitwouldhavelittleeffect;but,ifajudiciousperson,withsometurnforhumour,wouldreadseveraltoayounggirl,andpointout,bothbytonesandaptcomparisonswithpatheticincidentsandheroiccharactersinhistory,howfoolishlyandridiculouslytheycaricaturedhumannature,justopinionsmightbesubstitutedinsteadofromanticsentiments。
Inonerespect,however,themajorityofbothsexesresemble,andequallyshowawantoftasteandmodesty。Ignorantwomen,forcedtobechastetopreservetheirreputation,allowtheirimaginationtorevelintheunnaturalandmeretriciousscenessketchedbythenovelwritersoftheday,slightingasinsipidthesoberdignityandmatronlygraceofhistory,*whilstmencarrythesamevitiatedtasteintolife,andflyforamusementtothewanton,fromtheunsophisticatedcharmsofvirtue,andthegraverespectabilityofsense。
（*Footnote。Iamnotnowalludingtothatsuperiorityofmindwhichleadstothecreationofidealbeauty,whenlifesurveyedwithapenetratingeye,appearsatragi—comedy,inwhichlittlecanbeseentosatisfytheheartwithoutthehelpoffancy。）
Besides,thereadingofnovelsmakeswomen,andparticularlyladiesoffashion,veryfondofusingstrongexpressionsandsuperlativesinconversation;and,thoughthedissipatedartificiallifewhichtheyleadpreventstheircherishinganystronglegitimatepassion,thelanguageofpassioninaffectedtonesslipsforeverfromtheirglibtongues,andeverytrifleproducesthosephosphoricburstswhichonlymimickinthedarktheflameofpassion。
SECTION13。3。
Ignoranceandthemistakencunningthatnaturesharpensinweakheads,asaprincipleofself—preservation,renderwomenveryfondofdress,andproduceallthevanitywhichsuchafondnessmaynaturallybeexpectedtogenerate,totheexclusionofemulationandmagnanimity。
IagreewithRousseau,thatthephysicalpartoftheartofpleasingconsistsinornaments,andforthatveryreasonIshouldguardgirlsagainstthecontagiousfondnessfordresssocommontoweakwomen,thattheymaynotrestinthephysicalpart。Yet,weakarethewomenwhoimaginethattheycanlongpleasewithouttheaidofthemind;or,inotherwords,withoutthemoralartofpleasing。
Butthemoralart,ifitbenotaprofanationtousethewordart,whenalludingtothegracewhichisaneffectofvirtue,andnotthemotiveofaction,isnevertobefoundwithignorance;thesportivenessofinnocence,sopleasingtorefinedlibertinesofbothsexes,iswidelydifferentinitsessencefromthissuperiorgracefulness。
Astronginclinationforexternalornamentseverappearsinbarbarousstates,onlythemennotthewomenadornthemselves;forwherewomenareallowedtobesofaronalevelwithmen,societyhasadvancedatleastonestepincivilization。
Theattentiontodress,therefore,whichhasbeenthoughtasexualpropensity,Ithinknaturaltomankind。ButIoughttoexpressmyselfwithmoreprecision。Whenthemindisnotsufficientlyopenedtotakepleasureinreflection,thebodywillbeadornedwithsedulouscare;andambitionwillappearintattooingorpaintingit。
Sofaristhefirstinclinationcarried,thateventhehellishyokeofslaverycannotstiflethesavagedesireofadmirationwhichtheblackheroesinheritfromboththeirparents,forallthehardly—earnedsavingsofaslavearecommonlyexpendedinalittletawdryfinery。AndIhaveseldomknownagoodmaleorfemaleservantthatwasnotparticularlyfondofdress。Theirclothesweretheirriches;andIarguefromanalogy,thatthefondnessfordress,soextravagantinfemales,arisesfromthesamecause——wantofcultivationofmind。Whenmenmeettheyconverseaboutbusiness,politics,orliterature;but,saysSwift,\"hownaturallydowomenapplytheirhandstoeachotherslappetsandruffles。\"
Andverynaturalitis——fortheyhavenotanybusinesstointerestthem,havenotatasteforliterature,andtheyfindpoliticsdry,becausetheyhavenotacquiredaloveformankindbyturningtheirthoughtstothegrandpursuitsthatexaltthehumanraceandpromotegeneralhappiness。
Besides,variousarethepathstopowerandfame,whichbyaccidentorchoicemenpursue,andthoughtheyjostleagainsteachother,formenofthesameprofessionareseldomfriends,yetthereisamuchgreaternumberoftheirfellow—creatureswithwhomtheyneverclash。Butwomenareverydifferentlysituatedwithrespecttoeachother——fortheyareallrivals。
Beforemarriageitistheirbusinesstopleasemen;andafter,withafewexceptions,theyfollowthesamescent,withalltheperseveringpertinacityofinstinct。Evenvirtuouswomenneverforgettheirsexincompany,fortheyareforevertryingtomakethemselvesAGREEABLE。Afemalebeautyandamalewit,appeartobeequallyanxioustodrawtheattentionofthecompanytothemselves;
andtheanimosityofcontemporarywitsisproverbial。
Isitthensurprising,thatwhenthesoleambitionofwomancentresinbeauty,andinterestgivesvanityadditionalforce,perpetualrivalshipsshouldensue？Theyareallrunningthesamerace,andwouldriseabovethevirtueofmortalsiftheydidnotvieweachotherwithasuspiciousandevenenviouseye。
Animmoderatefondnessfordress,forpleasureandforsway,arethepassionsofsavages;thepassionsthatoccupythoseuncivilizedbeingswhohavenotyetextendedthedominionofthemind,orevenlearnedtothinkwiththeenergynecessarytoconcatenatethatabstracttrainofthoughtwhichproducesprinciples。Andthatwomen,fromtheireducationandthepresentstateofcivilizedlife,areinthesamecondition,cannot,Ithink,becontroverted。
Tolaughatthemthen,orsatirizethefolliesofabeingwhoisnevertobeallowedtoactfreelyfromthelightofherownreason,isasabsurdascruel;forthattheywhoaretaughtblindlytoobeyauthority,willendeavourcunninglytoeludeit,ismostnaturalandcertain。
Yetletitbeproved,thattheyoughttoobeymanimplicitly,andI
shallimmediatelyagreethatitiswoman\'sdutytocultivateafondnessfordress,inordertoplease,andapropensitytocunningforherownpreservation。
Thevirtues,however,whicharesupportedbyignorance,musteverbewavering——thehousebuiltonsandcouldnotendureastorm。Itisalmostunnecessarytodrawtheinference。Ifwomenaretobemadevirtuousbyauthority,whichisacontradictioninterms,letthembeimmuredinseragliosandwatchedwithajealouseye。Fearnotthattheironwillenterintotheirsouls——forthesoulsthatcanbearsuchtreatmentaremadeofyieldingmaterials,justanimatedenoughtogivelifetothebody。
\"Mattertoosoftalastingmarktobear,Andbestdistinguish\'dbyblack,brown,orfair。\"
Themostcruelwoundswillofcoursesoonheal,andtheymaystillpeopletheworld,anddresstopleaseman——allthepurposeswhichcertaincelebratedwritershaveallowedthattheywerecreatedtofill。
SECTION13。4。
Womenaresupposedtopossessmoresensibility,andevenhumanity,thanmen,andtheirstrongattachmentsandinstantaneousemotionsofcompassionaregivenasproofs;buttheclingingaffectionofignorancehasseldomanythingnobleinit,andmaymostlyberesolvedintoselfishness,aswellastheaffectionofchildrenandbrutes。Ihaveknownmanyweakwomenwhosesensibilitywasentirelyengrossedbytheirhusbands;andasfortheirhumanity,itwasveryfaintindeed,orratheritwasonlyatransientemotionofcompassion,\"Humanitydoesnotconsistinasqueamishear,\"saysaneminentorator。\"Itbelongstothemindaswellasthenerves。\"
Butthiskindofexclusiveaffection,thoughitdegradetheindividual,shouldnotbebroughtforwardasaproofoftheinferiorityofthesex,becauseitisthenaturalconsequenceofconfinedviews:forevenwomenofsuperiorsense,havingtheirattentionturnedtolittleemployments,andprivateplans,rarelyrisetoheroism,unlesswhenspurredonbylove;andloveasanheroicpassion,likegenius,appearsbutonceinanage。I
thereforeagreewiththemoralistwhoasserts,\"thatwomenhaveseldomsomuchgenerosityasmen;\"andthattheirnarrowaffections,towhichjusticeandhumanityareoftensacrificed,renderthesexapparentlyinferior,especiallyastheyarecommonlyinspiredbymen;butIcontend,thattheheartwouldexpandastheunderstandinggainedstrength,ifwomenwerenotdepressedfromtheircradles。
Iknowthatalittlesensibilityandgreatweaknesswillproduceastrongsexualattachment,andthatreasonmustcementfriendship;
consequentlyIallow,thatmorefriendshipistobefoundinthemalethanthefemaleworld,andthatmenhaveahighersenseofjustice。TheexclusiveaffectionsofwomenseemindeedtoresembleCato\'smostunjustloveforhiscountry。HewishedtocrushCarthage,nottosaveRome,buttopromoteitsvainglory;andingeneral,itistosimilarprinciplesthathumanityissacrificed,forgenuinedutiessupporteachother。
Besides,howcanwomenbejustorgenerous,whentheyaretheslavesofinjustice。
SECTION13。5。
Astherearingofchildren,thatis,thelayingafoundationofsoundhealthbothofbodyandmindintherisinggeneration,hasjustlybeeninsistedonasthepeculiardestinationofwoman,theignorancethatincapacitatesthemmustbecontrarytotheorderofthings。AndIcontend,thattheirmindscantakeinmuchmore,andoughttodoso,ortheywillneverbecomesensiblemothers。Manymenattendtothebreedingofhorses,andoverlookthemanagementofthestable,whowould,strangewantofsenseandfeeling！thinkthemselvesdegradedbypayinganyattentiontothenursery;yet,howmanychildrenareabsolutelymurderedbytheignoranceofwomen！Butwhentheyescape,andareneitherdestroyedbyunnaturalnegligencenorblindfondness,howfewaremanagedproperlywithrespecttotheinfantmind！Sothattobreakthespirit,allowedtobecomeviciousathome,achildissenttoschool;andthemethodstakenthere,whichmustbetakentokeepanumberofchildreninorder,scattertheseedsofalmosteveryviceinthesoilthusforciblytornup。
Ihavesometimescomparedthestrugglesofthesepoorchildrenwhooughtnevertohavefeltrestraint,norwould,hadtheybeenalwaysheldinwithanevenhand,tothedespairingplungesofaspiritedfilly,whichIhaveseenbreakingonastrand;itsfeetsinkingdeeperanddeeperinthesandeverytimeitendeavouredtothrowitsrider,tillatlastitsullenlysubmitted。
Ihavealwaysfoundhorses,ananimalIamattachedto,verytractablewhentreatedwithhumanityandsteadiness,sothatI
doubtwhethertheviolentmethodstakentobreakthem,donotessentiallyinjurethem;Iam,however,certainthatachildshouldneverbethusforciblytamedafterithasinjudiciouslybeenallowedtorunwild;foreveryviolationofjusticeandreason,inthetreatmentofchildren,weakenstheirreason。And,soearlydotheycatchacharacter,thatthebaseofthemoralcharacter,experienceleadsmetoinfer,isfixedbeforetheirseventhyear,theperiodduringwhichwomenareallowedthesolemanagementofchildren。Afterwardsittoooftenhappensthathalfthebusinessofeducationistocorrect,andveryimperfectlyisitdone,ifdonehastily,thefaults,whichtheywouldneverhaveacquirediftheirmothershadhadmoreunderstanding。
Onestrikinginstanceofthefollyofwomenmustnotbeomitted。
Themannerinwhichtheytreatservantsinthepresenceofchildren,permittingthemtosuppose,thattheyoughttowaitonthem,andbeartheirhumours。Achildshouldalwaysbemadetoreceiveassistancefromamanorwomanasafavour;and,asthefirstlessonofindependence,theyshouldpracticallybetaught,bytheexampleoftheirmother,nottorequirethatpersonalattendancewhichitisaninsulttohumanitytorequire,wheninhealth;andinsteadofbeingledtoassumeairsofconsequence,asenseoftheirownweaknessshouldfirstmakethemfeelthenaturalequalityofman。Yet,howfrequentlyhaveIindignantlyheardservantsimperiouslycalledtoputchildrentobed,andsentawayagainandagain,becausemasterormisshungaboutmamma,tostayalittlelonger。Thusmadeslavishlytoattendthelittleidol,allthosemostdisgustinghumourswereexhibitedwhichcharacterizeaspoiledchild。
Inshort,speakingofthemajorityofmothers,theyleavetheirchildrenentirelytothecareofservants:or,becausetheyaretheirchildren,treatthemasiftheywerelittledemi—gods,thoughIhavealwaysobserved,thatthewomenwhothusidolizetheirchildren,seldomshowcommonhumanitytoservants,orfeeltheleasttendernessforanychildrenbuttheirown。
Itis,however,theseexclusiveaffections,andanindividualmannerofseeingthings,producedbyignorance,whichkeepwomenforeveratastand,withrespecttoimprovement,andmakemanyofthemdedicatetheirlivestotheirchildrenonlytoweakentheirbodiesandspoiltheirtempers,frustratingalsoanyplanofeducationthatamorerationalfathermayadopt;forunlessamotherconcurs,thefatherwhorestrainswilleverbeconsideredasatyrant。
But,fulfillingthedutiesofamother,awomanwithasoundconstitution,maystillkeepherpersonscrupulouslyneat,andassisttomaintainherfamily,ifnecessary,orbyreadingandconversationswithbothsexes,indiscriminately,improvehermind。
Fornaturehassowiselyorderedthings,thatdidwomensuckletheirchildren,theywouldpreservetheirownhealth,andtherewouldbesuchanintervalbetweenthebirthofeachchild,thatweshouldseldomseeahousefullofbabes。Anddidtheypursueaplanofconduct,andnotwastetheirtimeinfollowingthefashionablevagariesofdress,themanagementoftheirhouseholdandchildrenneednotshutthemoutfromliterature,norpreventtheirattachingthemselvestoascience,withthatsteadyeyewhichstrengthensthemind,orpractisingoneofthefineartsthatcultivatethetaste。
But,visitingtodisplayfinery,cardplaying,andballs,nottomentiontheidlebustleofmorningtrifling,drawwomenfromtheirduty,torendertheminsignificant,torenderthempleasing,accordingtothepresentacceptationoftheword,toeveryman,buttheirhusband。Foraroundofpleasuresinwhichtheaffectionsarenotexercised,cannotbesaidtoimprovetheunderstanding,thoughitbeerroneouslycalledseeingtheworld;yettheheartisrenderedcoldandaversetoduty,bysuchasenselessintercourse,whichbecomesnecessaryfromhabit,evenwhenithasceasedtoamuse。
But,tillmoreequalitybeestablishedinsociety,tillranksareconfoundedandwomenfreed,weshallnotseethatdignifieddomestichappiness,thesimplegrandeurofwhichcannotberelishedbyignorantorvitiatedminds;norwilltheimportanttaskofeducationeverbeproperlybeguntillthepersonofawomanisnolongerpreferredtohermind。Foritwouldbeaswisetoexpectcornfromtares,orfigsfromthistles,asthatafoolishignorantwomanshouldbeagoodmother。
SECTION13。6。
Itisnotnecessarytoinformthesagaciousreader,nowIenteronmyconcludingreflections,thatthediscussionofthissubjectmerelyconsistsinopeningafewsimpleprinciples,andclearingawaytherubbishwhichobscuredthem。But,asallreadersarenotsagacious,Imustbeallowedtoaddsomeexplanatoryremarkstobringthesubjecthometoreason——tothatsluggishreason,whichsupinelytakesopinionsontrust,andobstinatelysupportsthemtospareitselfthelabourofthinking。
Moralistshaveunanimouslyagreed,thatunlessvirtuebenursedbyliberty,itwillneverattainduestrength——andwhattheysayofmanIextendtomankind,insisting,thatinallcasesmoralsmustbefixedonimmutableprinciples;andthatthebeingcannotbetermedrationalorvirtuous,whoobeysanyauthoritybutthatofreason。
Torenderwomentrulyusefulmembersofsociety,Iargue,thattheyshouldbeled,byhavingtheirunderstandingscultivatedonalargescale,toacquirearationalaffectionfortheircountry,foundedonknowledge,becauseitisobvious,thatwearelittleinterestedaboutwhatwedonotunderstand。Andtorenderthisgeneralknowledgeofdueimportance,Ihaveendeavouredtoshowthatprivatedutiesareneverproperlyfulfilled,unlesstheunderstandingenlargestheheart;andthatpublicvirtueisonlyanaggregateofprivate。But,thedistinctionsestablishedinsocietyundermineboth,bybeatingoutthesolidgoldofvirtue,tillitbecomesonlythetinsel—coveringofvice;for,whilstwealthrendersamanmorerespectablethanvirtue,wealthwillbesoughtbeforevirtue;and,whilstwomen\'spersonsarecaressed,whenachildishsimpershowsanabsenceofmind——themindwillliefallow。
Yet,truevoluptuousnessmustproceedfromthemind——forwhatcanequalthesensationsproducedbymutualaffection,supportedbymutualrespect？Whatarethecoldorfeverishcaressesofappetite,butsinembracingdeath,comparedwiththemodestoverflowingsofapureheartandexaltedimagination？Yes,letmetellthelibertineoffancywhenhedespisesunderstandinginwoman——thatthemind,whichhedisregards,giveslifetotheenthusiasticaffectionfromwhichrapture,short—livedasitis,alonecanflow！And,that,withoutvirtue,asexualattachmentmustexpire,likeatallowcandleinthesocket,creatingintolerabledisgust。Toprovethis,Ineedonlyobserve,thatmenwhohavewastedgreatpartoftheirliveswithwomen,andwithwhomtheyhavesoughtforpleasurewitheagerthirst,entertainthemeanestopinionofthesex。Virtue,truerefinerofjoy！iffoolishmenweretofrighttheefromearth,inordertogiveloosetoalltheirappetiteswithoutacheck——somesensualwightoftastewouldscaletheheavenstoinvitetheeback,togiveazesttopleasure！
Thatwomenatpresentarebyignorancerenderedfoolishorvicious,is,Ithink,nottobedisputed;and,thatthemostsalutaryeffectstendingtoimprovemankind,mightbeexpectedfromaREVOLUTIONinfemalemanners,appearsatleast,withafaceofprobability,toriseoutoftheobservation。Forasmarriagehasbeentermedtheparentofthoseendearingcharities,whichdrawmanfromthebrutalherd,thecorruptingintercoursethatwealth,idleness,andfollyproducebetweenthesexes,ismoreuniversallyinjurioustomorality,thanalltheothervicesofmankindcollectivelyconsidered。Toadulterouslustthemostsacreddutiesaresacrificed,because,beforemarriage,men,byapromiscuousintimacywithwomen,learnedtoconsiderloveasaselfishgratification——learnedtoseparateitnotonlyfromesteem,butfromtheaffectionmerelybuiltonhabit,whichmixesalittlehumanitywithit。Justiceandfriendshiparealsosetatdefiance,andthatpurityoftasteisvitiated,whichwouldnaturallyleadamantorelishanartlessdisplayofaffection,ratherthanaffectedairs。Butthatnoblesimplicityofaffection,whichdarestoappearunadorned,hasfewattractionsforthelibertine,thoughitbethecharm,which,bycementingthematrimonialtie,securestothepledgesofawarmerpassionthenecessaryparentalattention;
forchildrenwillneverbeproperlyeducatedtillfriendshipsubsistsbetweenparents。Virtuefliesfromahousedividedagainstitself——andawholelegionofdevilstakeuptheirresidencethere。
Theaffectionofhusbandsandwivescannotbepurewhentheyhavesofewsentimentsincommon,andwhensolittleconfidenceisestablishedathome,asmustbethecasewhentheirpursuitsaresodifferent。Thatintimacyfromwhichtendernessshouldflow,willnot,cannotsubsistbetweenthevicious。
Contending,therefore,thatthesexualdistinction,whichmenhavesowarmlyinsistedupon,isarbitrary,Ihavedweltonanobservation,thatseveralsensiblemen,withwhomIhaveconversedonthesubject,allowedtobewellfounded;anditissimplythis,thatthelittlechastitytobefoundamongstmen,andconsequentdisregardofmodesty,tendtodegradebothsexes;andfurther,thatthemodestyofwomen,characterizedassuch,willoftenbeonlytheartfulveilofwantonness,insteadofbeingthenaturalreflectionofpurity,tillmodestybeuniversallyrespected。
Fromthetyrannyofman,Ifirmlybelieve,thegreaternumberoffemalefolliesproceed;andthecunning,whichIallow,makesatpresentapartoftheircharacter,Ilikewisehaverepeatedlyendeavouredtoprove,isproducedbyoppression。Werenotdissenters,forinstance,aclassofpeople,withstricttruthcharacterizedascunning？AndmayInotlaysomestressonthisfacttoprove,thatwhenanypowerbutreasoncurbsthefreespiritofman,dissimulationispractised,andthevariousshiftsofartarenaturallycalledforth？Greatattentiontodecorum,whichwascarriedtoadegreeofscrupulosity,andallthatpuerilebustleabouttriflesandconsequentialsolemnity,whichButler\'scaricatureofadissenterbringsbeforetheimagination,shapedtheirpersonsaswellastheirmindsinthemouldofprimlittleness。Ispeakcollectively,forIknowhowmanyornamentstohumannaturehavebeenenrolledamongstsectaries;yet,Iassert,thatthesamenarrowprejudicefortheirsect,whichwomenhavefortheirfamilies,prevailedinthedissentingpartofthecommunity,howeverworthyinotherrespects;andalsothatthesametimidprudence,orheadstrongefforts,oftendisgracedtheexertionsofboth。Oppressionthusformedmanyofthefeaturesoftheircharacterperfectlytocoincidewiththatoftheoppressedhalfofmankind;forisitnotnotorious,thatdissenterswerelikewomen,fondofdeliberatingtogether,andaskingadviceofeachother,tillbyacomplicationoflittlecontrivances,somelittleendwasbroughtabout？Asimilarattentiontopreservetheirreputationwasconspicuousinthedissentingandfemaleworld,andwasproducedbyasimilarcause。
Assertingtherightswhichwomenincommonwithmenoughttocontendfor,Ihavenotattemptedtoextenuatetheirfaults;buttoprovethemtobethenaturalconsequenceoftheireducationandstationinsociety。Ifso,itisreasonabletosuppose,thattheywillchangetheircharacter,andcorrecttheirvicesandfollies,whentheyareallowedtobefreeinaphysical,moral,andcivilsense。
Letwomansharetherights,andshewillemulatethevirtuesofman;forshemustgrowmoreperfectwhenemancipated,orjustifytheauthoritythatchainssuchaweakbeingtoherduty。Ifthelatter,itwillbeexpedienttoopenafreshtradewithRussiaforwhips;apresentwhichafathershouldalwaysmaketohisson—in—lawonhisweddingday,thatahusbandmaykeephiswholefamilyinorderbythesamemeans;andwithoutanyviolationofjusticereign,wieldingthissceptre,solemasterofhishouse,becauseheistheonlybeinginitwhohasreason;thedivine,indefeasible,earthlysovereigntybreathedintomanbytheMasteroftheuniverse。Allowingthisposition,womenhavenotanyinherentrightstoclaim;and,bythesameruletheirdutiesvanish,forrightsanddutiesareinseparable。
Bejustthen,Oyemenofunderstanding！andmarknotmoreseverelywhatwomendoamiss,thanthevicioustricksofthehorseortheassforwhomyeprovideprovender,andallowhertheprivilegesofignorance,towhomyedenytherightsofreason,oryewillbeworsethanEgyptiantask—masters,expectingvirtuewherenaturehasnotgivenunderstanding！