A Vindication Of The Rights Of Woman Analysis

A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
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
useful, they must be educated. She says, “All the writers who have written on the subject of female education and manners from Rousseau to Dr. Gregory, have contributed to render women more artificial, weak characters, than they would otherwise have been; and, consequently, more useless members of society” (pg. 594, paragraph 1). Wollstonecraft believes that women haven’t had the opportunity to show society how beneficial their unhindered presence can be because they’re so oppressed by men. She develops this claim by first proving that women play a vital support role in society as both a companion to their husbands and a mother to their children.
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
wives.
Then, Wollstonecraft points out that women can also be valuable for their ideas, since they offer a different perspective than men. On page 595, she gives an example of this, “I have, probably, had an opportunity of observing more girls in their infancy than J.J. Rousseau - I can recollect my own feelings, and I have looked steadily around me” (pg. 595, paragraph 3). And finally, she reminds society that, most importantly, women are essential because of their role in reproduction and raising children. She says, “The mother, who wishes to give true dignity of character to her daughter, must, regardless of the sneers of ignorance, proceed on a plan diametrically opposite to that which Rousseau has recommended with all the deluding charms of eloquence and philosophical sophistry” (pg. 594. paragraph 5). She is reminding society and women that in order for things to change, women have to be taught that they have worth and not to let men make them feel like they don’t.
Wollstonecraft’s purpose is for society and, more importantly, women themselves, to disregard the thought that beauty and grace are what make a women, and that they are less important than intelligence and ideas.
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
6).
She establishes a formal, serious tone that can sometimes turn mocking when discuss ideas that she feels are outrageous towards her audience. For example, she says, “My own sex, I hope, will excuse me, if I treat them like rational creatures, instead of flattering their fascinating graces” (pg. 593, paragraph 2), which is a sarcastic statement. She uses this tone because she finds it ridiculous that women are treated like children instead of the grown adults they are. But in another paragraph, she says, “Nor can it be expected that a woman will resolutely endeavour to strengthen her constitution and abstain from enervating indulgencies” (pg. 595, paragraph 4), which is a very serious, formal statement. Her audience is the men and women of the world that don’t value women the way they should be. This work is significant because it resulted in women being inspired by Wollstonecraft’s boldness, and led to women speaking up and challenging the ideals society has shackled them with. After this work, women began to speak up in their communities and question the way things worked and why they were less than men. This work is significant because it spurred women to fight for their rights.