A Vindication Of The Rights Of Women Analysis

Candice Jacobs
Test 1- “The Importance of Women Reaching their Full Potential”
Eng. 206- English Literature II

In “A Vindication of the Rights of Women” by Mary Wollstonecraft she is deplored by the fact that “women are rendered weak and wretched by a variety of concurring causes” (290). She implies that women were not in a “healthy state” of mind because beauty took priority over all things, so their “strength” and “usefulness” were always less important in society. In her literary work she stated that, “they are treated as a kind of subordinate beings, and not as a part of the human species” (291). Women were ruled by society and their independence was not an urgent matter. They were not afforded the same educational and civil opportunities
According to Wollstonecraft’s reading, one must “strengthen the female mind by enlarging it and there will be an end to blind obedience” (298). This emphasizes that as women learn more, they will be able to distinguish between what is appropriate and what is not. An example of being strong in body and mind was when Miss Celie was sold off to Alfred in “The Color Purple” for her to care for his children. She was only used for her domestic qualities and to please him whenever he wanted to be pleased. Her strength in mind and body was evident when even though she was mistreated she stood strong and she persevered. If she was not poor then this would have never happened to her. Wollstonecraft stated that “the education of the rich tends to render them vain and helpless” (292). The same should be said for obtaining domestic qualities too. The rich do not have to lift a finger in the home. They have the means to provide food, shelter and caretakers for their children. The middleclass and lower-class have to fend for themselves. You have to be strong of the mind and body to endure the struggles of poverty. If a woman cannot provide food, shelter or care for her children they would be left to fend for themselves. If a man is not prepared to do the same things as a woman in the home then the children would be left alone to fend for them selves too. Men and women have to make compromises when
Wollstonecraft attributes to this by saying to dismiss the pretty feminine phrases that men use to soften our slavish dependence and weaken the elegancy of the mind and focus on virtue instead of elegance because elegance is inferior to virtue (292). She went on to show her observation by saying that “the first object of laudable ambition is to obtain a character as a human being regardless of the distinction of sex” (292). This seeks to show that women are human being first and women second, and that women are therefore virtuous and rational beings. Wollstonecraft also insinuated that some women govern their husbands without degrading themselves because of the intellectual women they are. This shows the innate ability of virtuous women. With this quality, women will be more respected. However, in contrast, Wollstonecraft states that when women appear to imitate manly virtues, they are quick to be called masculine women. She disagrees and responds by saying that these manly virtues are nothing but talents and virtues that ennobles the human character on a whole, not only for men. Therefore she encourages women with these various virtues to “grow more and more masculine” (291). She wants women to ignore the ‘name-calling’ and continue to use these virtues to enhance their well-being as part of mankind. According to Wollstonecraft, after many ingenious arguments, it was concluded that women should not be allowed to have sufficient