Millenium Hall Research Paper

The Importance of Education in Young Women in Millenium Hall Throughout the course of Millenium Hall, Sarah Scott introduces her readers to a variety of female characters, all who have experienced hardship and have learned some lesson along the way. Harriot Trentham, the last story in Scott’s novel, is no exception to this rule. The story of Mrs. Trentham fits in nicely with the rest of the tales, as a method for Scott to not only provide radical ideas, but still remains firmly rooted in its conservative past. Harriot is reminded that she has more to offer the world, her friends, and herself, than the physical appearance that has earned her so much attention in her community. The lessons, and lack thereof, her father taught her before he …show more content…
While he keeps her away from the society, he allows her to learn about pain, about caring, and being able to feel more and attain more independence, while still remaining a woman who could be an integrated member of society. Yet, with a different type of education, Scott still retains the authority of the father over his daughter, and the importance of her maintaining the propriety of being a woman: “Any thought therefore that could hurt she suppressed as an indispensable duty, and to please by her actions, and not offend by her words, was an essential part of the religion in which she was educated: but in every thing whereby no one could suffer, she was innocence and simplicity itself; and in her nature shone pure and uncorrupted either by natural or acquired vices,” (225). Harriot was taught to prevent pain, and therefore, while she was seemingly given more freedom she was still limited by her education. It was a step up for a woman of Harriot’s time, but it was still a limitation of a woman’s abilities. However, her education allows her to understand that she had more to offer than her looks; she has the ability to communicate and help people through her words and actions. She can rely on her personality to appeal to