The Great Lawsuit Summary
Ariella Borah Professor Miller Transcendentalism March 1, 2024.
Written Response: Roots of Feminism.
Margaret Fuller was arguably the most brilliant female scholar of the nineteenth century. She was a well-respected academic and aligned herself strongly with the Transcendentalist Movement. In her essay, “The Great Lawsuit”, Fuller focuses on a radical cause – feminism. Predating the Seneca Falls Convention, Fuller’s trailblazing essay set the framework for The First Wave of American feminism that would soon follow. In line with her philosophical beliefs, Fuller states that equality is the moral destiny of mankind. This is consistent with the Transcendentalist idea that all things flow from a common source. They therefore believe that to be close to …show more content…
They use the channels available to them to taste the freedom of their male counterparts. Therefore, Fuller argues, if more opportunities were open to women, they would simply replace these frivolous endeavors with some of more substance. Houses would continue to run as they always have, and society would have the benefit of its women and everything they have to offer. Beyond social implications is prejudice against women. Since this is mainly subconscious, it is therefore more difficult to address. No spoken argument can remove prejudice from the hearts of men. Fuller has a creative solution. She acknowledges this prejudice and claims that therefore the furtherance of women’s rights needs to start with the women. She proposes this in two ways: first, women need to want their rights. Women need to begin to respect themselves and conduct themselves in a way that warrants the respect of others. Secondly, women need to openly advocate for themselves. No man, however well-intentioned, can do it for them. This is because by having a male spokesperson, they are simply contributing to the image of the man-woman relationship that they are trying to move away from. Once again, the man takes charge and comes to save
Written Response: Roots of Feminism.
Margaret Fuller was arguably the most brilliant female scholar of the nineteenth century. She was a well-respected academic and aligned herself strongly with the Transcendentalist Movement. In her essay, “The Great Lawsuit”, Fuller focuses on a radical cause – feminism. Predating the Seneca Falls Convention, Fuller’s trailblazing essay set the framework for The First Wave of American feminism that would soon follow. In line with her philosophical beliefs, Fuller states that equality is the moral destiny of mankind. This is consistent with the Transcendentalist idea that all things flow from a common source. They therefore believe that to be close to …show more content…
They use the channels available to them to taste the freedom of their male counterparts. Therefore, Fuller argues, if more opportunities were open to women, they would simply replace these frivolous endeavors with some of more substance. Houses would continue to run as they always have, and society would have the benefit of its women and everything they have to offer. Beyond social implications is prejudice against women. Since this is mainly subconscious, it is therefore more difficult to address. No spoken argument can remove prejudice from the hearts of men. Fuller has a creative solution. She acknowledges this prejudice and claims that therefore the furtherance of women’s rights needs to start with the women. She proposes this in two ways: first, women need to want their rights. Women need to begin to respect themselves and conduct themselves in a way that warrants the respect of others. Secondly, women need to openly advocate for themselves. No man, however well-intentioned, can do it for them. This is because by having a male spokesperson, they are simply contributing to the image of the man-woman relationship that they are trying to move away from. Once again, the man takes charge and comes to save