Tiffiny Wolf
Mr. James B. Harr III
ENG 242-4171
12 October 2015
Women’s Place in Society during the Romantic Era
During the Romantic period of British Literature, society began debating the proper role of women; not only were male poets and writers writing about their views of women’s changing role, women were increasingly prolific writers, writing about their own thoughts and experiences on the topic. Using language that was easy to understand, these women used their experiences to, in many cases, advocate for more egalitarian treatment from both men as individuals as well as society at large. This is especially notable as before this time period, few women were afforded the opportunity to be educated in what were traditionally considered …show more content…
As she notes in Vindication, she has “turned over various books written on the subject of education, [and observed parents and schools, but have come to the “profound conviction” that neglecting education of women leads to misery]; women, in particular, are rendered weak and wretched by a variety of concurring causes, originating from one hasty conclusion” (Wollstonecraft, “Vindication” 215). Furthermore, quoting from Shakespeare to underline this point, she states that “it is acknowledged that [women] spend many of their first years of their lives in acquiring a smattering of accomplishments; meanwhile strength of body and mind are sacrificed to… notions of beauty, to… establishing themselves…when they marry they act as such children may be expected to act – they dress; they paint, and nickname God’s creatures” (Wollstonecraft, “Vindication” 216). This was not met with positive acclaim from all quarters, however; Horace Walpole remarked that Wollstonecraft “was a hyena in petticoats” (qtd. in Gilbert and Gubar 31). Fortunately, through her prolific writings and response to the male-dominated social structure, she succeeded in beginning the …show more content…
Perishing in Caroline’s home, Julia gives her daughter the final advice to “be good and happy”, having repented of her earlier actions. Not all women writers were in agreement with the newly emerging viewpoint. For example, Anna Letitia Barbauld argued the opposite viewpoint, writing her poem “The Rights of Women” as a response against Wollstonecraft’s Vindication; she “was one of the few members of the radical intelligentsia of the time whose opposition to Wollstonecraft was the product of a real engagement with her views on women” (Tomaselli). Barbauld begins her poem by stating:
Yes, injured Woman! Rise, assert thy
Mr. James B. Harr III
ENG 242-4171
12 October 2015
Women’s Place in Society during the Romantic Era
During the Romantic period of British Literature, society began debating the proper role of women; not only were male poets and writers writing about their views of women’s changing role, women were increasingly prolific writers, writing about their own thoughts and experiences on the topic. Using language that was easy to understand, these women used their experiences to, in many cases, advocate for more egalitarian treatment from both men as individuals as well as society at large. This is especially notable as before this time period, few women were afforded the opportunity to be educated in what were traditionally considered …show more content…
As she notes in Vindication, she has “turned over various books written on the subject of education, [and observed parents and schools, but have come to the “profound conviction” that neglecting education of women leads to misery]; women, in particular, are rendered weak and wretched by a variety of concurring causes, originating from one hasty conclusion” (Wollstonecraft, “Vindication” 215). Furthermore, quoting from Shakespeare to underline this point, she states that “it is acknowledged that [women] spend many of their first years of their lives in acquiring a smattering of accomplishments; meanwhile strength of body and mind are sacrificed to… notions of beauty, to… establishing themselves…when they marry they act as such children may be expected to act – they dress; they paint, and nickname God’s creatures” (Wollstonecraft, “Vindication” 216). This was not met with positive acclaim from all quarters, however; Horace Walpole remarked that Wollstonecraft “was a hyena in petticoats” (qtd. in Gilbert and Gubar 31). Fortunately, through her prolific writings and response to the male-dominated social structure, she succeeded in beginning the …show more content…
Perishing in Caroline’s home, Julia gives her daughter the final advice to “be good and happy”, having repented of her earlier actions. Not all women writers were in agreement with the newly emerging viewpoint. For example, Anna Letitia Barbauld argued the opposite viewpoint, writing her poem “The Rights of Women” as a response against Wollstonecraft’s Vindication; she “was one of the few members of the radical intelligentsia of the time whose opposition to Wollstonecraft was the product of a real engagement with her views on women” (Tomaselli). Barbauld begins her poem by stating:
Yes, injured Woman! Rise, assert thy