Mary+Wollstonecraft,+Mary,+and+the+Wrongs+of+Women

=Mary Wollstonecraft= =Maria, or the Wrongs of Woman=

Mary Wollstonecraft was born in Spitafields, England in 1759. Growing up, she recieved a rather poor education. Her family's income gradually decreased and became unstable. The family moved various times during Mary's youth. However their financial problem became so unstable that Mary's father forced her to turn over money that would have been used for inheritance at an older age. Mary's father was a violent man and as a common activity would get drunk and beat his wife. Mary would try to protect her mother from the violence and attempted to play a maternal role for her sisters as well. At the age of 18, Mary left home for good. Mary accepted a job as a lady's companion to Sarah Dawson, a widow living in Bath. The two women, however, did not get along well. This inspired Mary to describe her experience and struggles through her position in __Thoughts on the Education of Daughters__. In 1780, Mary's mother was slowly dying. After her death, Mary moved in with a friend and realized that she was interested in traditional feminine values. In 1784, at the age of twenty four, Mary and her friend opened up a school for girls at Newington Green, a dissenting community. She became a governess to the children of an aristocratic family on their estate in Ireland, however, this didn't last long due to the sudden illness of her friend. After her friends death, Mary was deeply effected and turned her emotions into writing. Her first novel was __Mary; A fiction__//. (//1788) Major critiques emerged in response to her works. However, Mary responded back by writing __A Vindication of the Rights of Man__ which acted as a defense of the Revolution and its principles. Then, in 1792, __A Vindication of the Rights of Woman__ was published. It was a significant milestone in the arguments around women's rights and has become a feminist classic. Mary died giving birthday to her baby daughter- Mary. After marrying poet Shelley, she became Mary Shelley, and turned famous as the author of __Frankenstein.__

=__**Historical Content**__=

The late eighteenth century was a time of revolution. People were interested in the idea of equality rather than social stratification. Documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen stressed the concept of inherent rights and perfectability, the idea that humans can work make the world a better place to live. In response to these new ideas, writers like Edmund Burke argued that the world could not be fixed and favored traditional regimes especially to protect the royal women. Mary Wollenscraft wrote her Vindication of the Rights of Women to counter Burke. She believed that human were inherently good and he should not worry about the aristocratic woman, but the rest of the women who were treated unfairly in a traditional society. In 1792, Wollenscraft traveled to France to see the impact of the revolution. She admitted that humans had the potential to commit bloody deeds such as those that occurred during the revolution. However, she felt humanity’s good intentions would inevitably lead to a better government.

During her time, women were expected to be wives and mothers. Wollenscraft once said that if she did not marry, she would simply be a burden on her family. While some women received an education, it was not as extensive as a man’s education since they had no economic purpose in life during that era. After the French Revolution, women were excluded or forgotten in all documents claiming that all men have natural rights and should be treated equal. While Wollenscraft was not the first women to criticize the attitudes of the so called revolutionary men, (Olympe de Gauge wrote the Declaration of the Rights of woman first but there is no evidence that their works are connected) she is the first to speak solely about the education and is known to some as the first modern feminist.

Lecture about Wollenscraft:http://www.mala.bc.ca/~Johnstoi/introser/wollst.htm

__**The Wrongs of Woman**__ is Mary Wollstonecraft's unfinished novelistic sequel to her revolutionary political treatise, //A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.// (1792) This novel, published in 1798 by her husband, William Godwin, is considered her most essential feminist work. The main focus of the novel is the societal "wrongs of woman" instead of the individual wrongs and criticized the legal system that protected marraige in the eighteenth century. However, the brave female's incapability to surrender her romantic fantasies also accuses women for self-pitying in a false sentimentalism. Meanwhile, the novel honored the female sexuality and cross-class identification between women. Although unpopular during her lifetime, feminists in the twentieth-century appreciated it. They integrated the novel's history with feminist discourse.

Plot
The story is based on an upper-class woman named Maria who is unjustly imprisoned by her husband, George Venables. Her husband has condemned Maria to live in an insane asylum while taking their child away from her. While befriending one of her neighbors in the insane asylum, a lower class woman named Jemima brings Maria some books. The books have scribbled notes in them by a man named Henry Darnford, who Maria ultimately falls in love with. After communicating for a great deal of time, the two finally meet. Henry confesses to his past which consisted of waking up in the asylum after a night of drinking. Since then, the doctors had been unwilling to release him. Jemima shares her life story to both Maria and Darnford, telling them about her mothers death, how she was forced to become a servant in her father's house, and shortly after, her master beat her, starved her, and raped her. Then, when Jemima was discovered to be pregnant, she was thrown out. She was not able to support herself and therefore aborted her child and became a prostitute.When the man she was staying with passed away, she became an attendant at the asylum. Maria then relates her life story to Jemima's in a narrative dedicated to her daughter. In her writing, she explains how her mother and father loved their eldest son, Robert, more than their other children. With desire to runaway, Maria visited a neighbor and ultimately fell in love with George. On the outside, respectable, and on the inside, crazy. Maria's life went downhill. Her husband became out of control by gambling, becoming bankrupt, etc. While trying to avoid him, Maria concentrated on appreciating literature and arts. She became pregnant when her Uncle made her aware of her right to separate from her husband. Maria tries to leave him, but she does not succeed. She escapes from him and lives in different locations with other women who have also been mistreated by their husbands. Yet George always finds her. When she tries to leave England with her newborn child, her husband seizes the child and imprisons Maria in the asylum. The novel does not have a set ending.

Themes

 * Marraige and Slavery**- Wollstonecraft describes marriage as a prison and women as slaves. "A wife being as much a man's property as his horse, or his ass, she has nothing she can call her own." The reader is shown a series of disastrous marriages in which women are abused, robbed, and abandoned. Wollstonecraft deconstructs the ideology of marriage, by which women are exchangeable commodities, are objectified, and are denied their natural rights.
 * Sensibility and sentimentalism-** considered a physical and moral phenomenon. Sensibility was viewed as "profoundly separatist." She explains that understanding of one's emotions leads to a transcendent virtue. Maria and Jemima can be identified under the categories of reason (Jemima) and sensibility (Maria) but since such couples were usually male and female, Wollstonecraft's characterization challenges the definitions of gender.
 * Female Desire-** value of female emotion. Accepts, relishes, and uses sexualized female body as a medium of communication. Falls in love with Darnford--> addition to sexual fantasy.
 * Class and feminism**- middle class Maria vs. Lower class Jemima. Jemima is representation of the shared concerns of women in a patriarchal society. Wollstonecraft "aimed to show the wrongs of different classes of women, equally oppressive, though, from the difference of education, necessarily various. Maria's relationship with Jemima displays something of the class fissures and prejudices that have marked organized feminist politics from their inception. Jemima is taught to appreciate the finer things in life when she is a kept mistress and Maria later promises to care for her. Importantly, though, in one version of the ending, it is Jemima who rescues Maria and finds her child."
 * Motherhood**- Maria's role as a mother allows her to instruct herself. She creates her own sense of self by advising her daughter through her writings. She learns about herself and her mistakes. She forms her own selfhood. Women's wrong= lack of independence. "The novel fragments also suggest that the tale might not end with a marriage, but rather with the creation of a new kind of family, one constituted by two mothers for Maria's child. With Jemima's rescue of Maria, Wollstonecraft appears to reject the traditional romance of male and famale, and instead, grants women their natural rights."
 * Autobiographical elements-** "Maria's family history shows clear similarities to Wollstonecraft's own. Like Maria, Wollstonecraft had a mother who favored an elder brother and she also devotedly cared for that mother during her dying days, only to be pushed away during the final moments of her life. Wollstonecraft also looked after her sisters like Maria does, albeit without the help of a wealthy uncle. Perhaps most strikingly, Wollstonecraft's sister Eliza left her husband, at Wollstonecraft's prodding, much as Maria leaves hers. As Kelly explains, autobiography is common in Jacobin novels. Philisophical novels were expected to be autobiographical; audiences believed that the philosophizing novelists would draw on their own experiences in order to illustrate their abstract principles."


 * __[[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/WollstonecraftWrongsPageOne.jpg width="140" height="315" align="left" caption="Image:WollstonecraftWrongsPageOne.jpg" link="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/WollstonecraftWrongsPageOne.jpg"]]Richard Polwhele__**- He wrote a poem that criticized Mary Wollstonecraft and other feminist writers. This poem was used as a way to illustrate all of the things that women do wrong and how their actions all have hidden meanings. He made women seem sneaky and destructive. As a result of this poem, many people who were once interested in Mary's ideas became instantly disinterested.


 * __Horace Walpole__**- He criticized the book by calling it "a hyena in petticoats." He thought that the whole idea of the book was completely unrealistic and he felt that no one should pay attention to it because it wasn't worth anyone's time.

//Critical Review//- This review says that Mary's ideas are inconclusive and vague. It says that her ideas are imperfect and says that they are scared of losing thousands of domestic wives due to the publication of Mary's ideas.

Many people criticized Mary Wollstonecraft's thoughts in __The Wrongs of Woman.__ For example, she describes virtue as an individual's happiness, not through the good of society as a whole. People, especially critics, felt that she wasn't using her common sense because many people would agree that the survival of everything depends on the good of society as a whole, not just on the happiness of an individual. Saying that virtue is based on an individual's happiness puts the society second to the individual, when in actuality, the good of the society should come first, before the happiness of one specific individual in the society.

Relation to Frankenstein [[image:http://www.solarnavigator.net/mythology/mythology_images/Frankenstein_monster_Boris_Karloff.jpg width="113" height="162"]]
Many of Mary Wollenstonecrafts ideas and themes were integrated into the work of her daughter’s novel, Frankenstein. Similar ideas were conveyed in Frankenstein leading us to believe these works were closely related.

The relevant themes were portrayed through the quotes and sayings of each character..

**Communication betweens sexes**
//"There was a considerable difference between the ages of my parents, but this circumstance seemed to unite them only closer in bonds of devoted affection. There was a sense justice in my father's upright mind which rendered it necessary that he should approve highly to love strongly. Perhaps during former years he had suffered from the late-discovered unworthiness of one beloved and so was disposed to set a greater value on tried worth. There was a show of gratitude and worship in his attachment to my mother, differing wholly from the doting fondness of ago, for it was inspired by reverence for her virtues and a desire to be the means of, in some degree, recompensing her for the sorrows she had endured, but which gave inexpressible grace to his behavior to her. Everything was made to yield to her wishes and her convenience. He strove to shelter her, as fair exotic is sheltered by the gardener, from every rougher wind and to surround her with all that could tend to excited pleasurable emotion in her soft and benevolent mind."//

Here we see Shelly discuss the male and female relationship. In this instance Victors father adored his mother. Despite the difference in age this man would have given anything in the world for his wife. Every action of his was for the sole purpose of making her happy. She was his prized possession. We see here the closeness and love shared between a married couple. She portrayed a healthy relationship with a man and a women who were perfect for each other.

//"With his permission my mother prevailed on her rustic guardians to yield their charge to her."//

HIS permission shows a different side to the communication between sexes. As opposed to the equality and steady relationship we saw above we see the male dominate in this one. In deciding on keeping Elizabeth Victors father would be the only and ultimate decision.

//"They often I believe, suffered the pangs of hungry very poignantly, especially the two younger cottagers, for several times they placed food before the old man when they reserved none for themselves."//
 * Economic** **Independence**

Not everything was easy in the novel. As the monster watches upon this family he notices the hardships they must face. A shortage of food forces the younger to feeds their elders first and leave a small amount for themselves. Shelley shows a different side of society and how the economy affects the home of a family.

//"My children she said, "my firmest hopes of future happiness were placed on the prospect of your union. This expectation will now be the consolation of your father. Elizabeth, my love, you must supply my place to my younger children. Alas! I regret that I am taken from you; and happy and beloved as I have been, it is not hard to quit you all? But these thoughts befitting me; I will endeavor to resign myself cheerfully to death and will indulge in a hope of meeting you in another world"//
 * Single Parents**

//"My mother was dead, but we had still duties we ought to perform; we must continue our course with the rest and learn to think ourselves fortunate whilst one remains whom the spoiler has not seized."//

//"She indeed veiled her grief and strove to act the comforter to us all. She looked steadily on life and assumed its duties with courage and zeal. She devoted herself to those whom had been taught to call her uncle and cousins. Never was she so enchanting as at this time, when she recalled the sunshine of her smiles and spent them upon us. She forgot even her own regret in her endeavors to make us forget."//

After their mothers death the family was in trouble. No longer did they have that responsible, loving creature around. A mother plays a very important role in the family that is irreplaceable. Upon her death Elizabeth assumes the mother role. She put all of her time and energy into satisfying everyone around her trying as hard as she could to fill the shoes of her "mother."

Parents as caregivers/Midwifery (parental bonding)
//"My mother's tender caresses and my father's smile of benevolent pleasure while regarding me are my first recollections. I was their plaything and their idol, and some thing better- their child, the innocent and helpless creature bestowed on them by heaven, whom to bring up to good, and whose future lot it was in their hands to direct to happiness of misery, according as they fulfilled their duties towards me. With this deep consciousness of what they owed towards the being to which they had given life, added to the active spirit of tenderness that animated both, it may be imagined that while during every hour of my infant life I received a lesson of patience, of charity, and of self control, I was so guided by a silken cord that all seemed but one train of enjoyment to me."

"For a long time i was their only care."//

All of these quotes reflect the parental care in the novel. Each one includes a constant affectionate tone and shows the persistency of the adults. Happy memories of his parents, surrounding him, smiling and playing, always taking care and watching after him. They way he describes their dedication and love to him proves how involved and important parents were. = =

Child questions answered truthfully
//"William is dead! That sweet child, whose smiles delighted and warmed my heart who was so gentle, yet so gay! Victor, he is murdered!"//

Honesty was a must. Here you can see how straightforward and open Elizabeth is with Victor. Despite the horrific event, she will not sugar coat it for him. She comes out and tells him exactly what happened.

Right action comes from within-from an educated capacity to make judgments
//"I learned the ideas appropriated to each of these sounds and was able to pronounce them. I distinguished several other words without being able as yet to understand or apply them."

"The gently manners and beauty of the cottagers greatly endeared them to me; when they were unhappy, I felt depressed; when they rejoiced, I sympathized in their joys. I saw few human beings besides them, and if any other happened to enter the cottage, their harsh manners and rude gait only enhanced to me the superior accomplishments of my friends."

"my thoughts now became more active, and I longed to discover the motives and feelings of these lovely creatures."

"I heard the difference of sexes, and the birth and growth of children, how the father doted on the smiles of the infant, and the lively sallies of the older child, how all the life and cares of the mother were wrapped up in the precious charge, how the mind of youth expanded and gained knowledge, of brother, sister, and all the various relationships which bind one human being to another in bonds"//

Here the monster is slowly learning new things. From each step in this process he is gaining intelligence and making judgments along the way. He observes first simple words then sentences, and once he masters the language he moves on to human interactions. He notices each reaction and can understand without words (facial expressions) the thoughts of those he watches. Gradually he realized from his education that he is alone. Watching the others he notices that he needs someone to interact with. Someone of his own kind.

//"You must create a female for me with whom I can live in the interchange of those sympathies necessary for my being."

"Begone! I do break my promise; never will i create another like yourself, equal in deformity and wickedness."//

Victor realizes through his education of the monster, that nothing good could come of the creation of another. Killing is brother and wife, Victor learns that this monster is evil. He chooses the right action despite the sacrifice of Elizabeth. He refused to make another horrific creature.

=**//Safie vs. Elizabeth (education as a theme)//**= Safie

//"On hearing this word, Felix came up hastily to the lady,who, when she saw him, threw up her veil, and I beheld the countenance of angelic beauty and expression. Her hair of a shining raven black, and curiously braided; her eyes were dark, but gently, although animated; her features of a regular proportion, and her complexion wondrously fair, each check tinged with a lovely pink."// //"She was endeavoring to learn their language; and the idea instantly occurred to me that I should make use of the same instructions to the same end. The stranger learned about twenty words at the first lesson; most of them, indeed, were those which I had before understood, but I profited by the others."

"The Arabian sat at the feet of the old man, and taking his guitar, played some airs so entrancingly beautiful that they at once drew tears of sorrow and delight from my eyes. She sang, and her voice flowed in a rich cadence, swelling or dying away like a nightingale of the woods."//

Elizabeth
//"Elizabeth Lavenza became the inmate of my parents' house my more than sister-the beautiful and adored companion of all my occupations and my pleasures"

"The passionate and almost reverential attachment with which all regarded her became, while I shared it, my pride and my delight."

"Elizabeth was of a calmer and more concentrated disposition; ......She busied herself with the following the aerial creations of the poets; and in the majestic and wondrous scenes which surrounded our Swiss home-"

"The saintly soul of Elizabath shone like a shrine-dedicated lamp in our peaceful home. Her sympathy was ours; her smile. her soft voice, the sweet glance of her celestial eyes, were ever there to bless and animate us. She was the living spirit of love to soften and attract."

"She indeed veiled her grief and strove to act the comforter to us all. She looked steadily on life and assumed its duties with courage and zeal. She devoted herself to those whom had been taught to call her uncle and cousins. Never was she so enchanting as at this time, when she recalled the sunshine of her smiles and spent them upon us. She forgot even her own regret in her endeavors to make us forget."//

Education was also another theme in the works of Mary Wollstonecraft. Education was a major issue and many women were looked down upon for a lack of education. In the novel, we see a contrast between a women learning language(educated) and another whom knows no such thing. Elizabeth, assumes the role as the "mother" after a sudden death. Taking over, she does all the things necessary things to satisfy those around her. Despite her lack of education, Shelley portrays Elizabeth as an amazing creature, constantly helping those around her. Cooking, cleainng, taking care of the younger etc. prove to be just as valuable as numbers and letters. Safie, an Arabian who comes into the novel in the middle, is gradually becoming educated by the books and people around her. Her first appearance we see how musically enhanced she is. However, even with this she and Elizabeth still are described in the same fashion. Shelley creates two similar, amazing, beautiful women, and shows that you can still shine when uneducated.

Word Cited Page
Johnston, Ian. "Lecture on Mary Wollstonecraft's Vindication of the Rights of Woman." August 1998. 29 Nov 2007 http://www.mala.bc.ca/~Johnstoi/introser/wollst.htm.

Johnson Lewis, Joan. "Rights in the Air: the context of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman ." __About.com Womens rights__. 29 Nov 2007 http://womenshistory.about.com/library/weekly/aa083099.htm.

Simkin, John. "Spartacus Educational" on Mary Wollstonecraft. http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Wwollstonecraft.htm.

Wikipedia. "Mary Wollstonecraft". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Wollstonecraft

DeVito, Denise. "Mary Wollstonecraft: A blueprint for human change." Paper presented at the University of Maine at Farmington, November 9, 2005. Retrieved ___. http://hua.umf.maine.edu/Reading_Revolutions/Wollstonecraft.html>.

Polwhele, Richard. "Richard Polwhele's Poem." 29 Nov 2007 .

Ovidius, "Mary Wollstonecraft, Vindication of the Rights of Women and Patriarchal Society." __Mary Wollstonecraft, Vindication of the Rights of Women and Patriarchal Society__. 23 Apr 2007. 29 Nov 2007.