In A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, Mary Wollstonecraft argues that women need to have strength both mentally and physically. Wollstonecraft says, “I wish to persuade women to endeavour to acquire strength, both of mind and body, and to convince them that the soft phrases, susceptibility of heart, delicacy of sentiment, and refinement of taste, are almost synonymous with epithets of weakness” (pg. 593, paragraph 2). This shows that Wollstonecraft wanted women to strengthen their minds and bodies, to stop being so content with the way things were, and to realize that they deserve more.
She claims that women are essential in order to have a productive and functional society, but for the women to be …show more content…
Wollstonecraft states, “it might be proper, in order to make a man and his wife one, that she should rely entirely on his understanding; and the graceful ivy, clasping the oak that supported it, would form a whole in which strength and beauty would be equally conspicuous” (page. 594, paragraph 3). This shows that Wollstonecraft believes that woman should be able to rely on their husbands, and be of good companionship, but for that to happen, men have to rethink their ideas and do what’s best for their …show more content…
She says, “I wish to shrew that elegance is inferior to virtue, that the first object of laudable ambition is to obtain a character as a human being, regardless of distinction of sex; and that secondary views should be brought to this simple touchstone” (pg, 593, paragraph 3). She has this purpose, because she believes it will be the precursor to a new generation of women that will value what she deems important: intelligence, self worth, and respect for themselves. She says, “In fact, the care necessary for self-preservation is the first natural exercise of the understanding, as little inventions to amuse the present moment unfold the imagination” (pg. 594, paragraph