Theeducationofwomenhas,oflate,beenmoreattendedtothanformerly;yettheyarestillreckonedafrivoloussex,andridiculedorpitiedbythewriterswhoendeavourbysatireorinstructiontoimprovethem。Itisacknowledgedthattheyspendmanyofthefirstyearsoftheirlivesinacquiringasmatteringofaccomplishments:meanwhile,strengthofbodyandmindaresacrificedtolibertinenotionsofbeauty,tothedesireofestablishingthemselves,theonlywaywomencanriseintheworld——bymarriage。Andthisdesiremakingmereanimalsofthem,whentheymarry,theyactassuchchildrenmaybeexpectedtoact:
theydress;theypaint,andnicknameGod\'screatures。Surelytheseweakbeingsareonlyfitfortheseraglio！Cantheygovernafamily,ortakecareofthepoorbabeswhomtheybringintotheworld？
Ifthenitcanbefairlydeducedfromthepresentconductofthesex,fromtheprevalentfondnessforpleasure,whichtakesplaceofambitionandthosenoblerpassionsthatopenandenlargethesoul;
thattheinstructionwhichwomenhavereceivedhasonlytended,withtheconstitutionofcivilsociety,torendertheminsignificantobjectsofdesire;merepropagatorsoffools！ifitcanbeproved,thatinaimingtoaccomplishthem,withoutcultivatingtheirunderstandings,theyaretakenoutoftheirsphereofduties,andmaderidiculousanduselesswhentheshortlivedbloomofbeautyisover*,IpresumethatRATIONALmenwillexcusemeforendeavouringtopersuadethemtobecomemoremasculineandrespectable。
（*Footnote。Alivelywriter,Icannotrecollecthisname,askswhatbusinesswomenturnedoffortyhavetodointheworld。）
Indeedthewordmasculineisonlyabugbear:thereislittlereasontofearthatwomenwillacquiretoomuchcourageorfortitude;fortheirapparentinferioritywithrespecttobodilystrength,mustrenderthem,insomedegree,dependentonmeninthevariousrelationsoflife;butwhyshoulditbeincreasedbyprejudicesthatgiveasextovirtue,andconfoundsimpletruthswithsensualreveries？
Womenare,infact,somuchdegradedbymistakennotionsoffemaleexcellence,thatIdonotmeantoaddaparadoxwhenIassert,thatthisartificialweaknessproducesapropensitytotyrannize,andgivesbirthtocunning,thenaturalopponentofstrength,whichleadsthemtoplayoffthosecontemptibleinfantileairsthatundermineesteemevenwhilsttheyexcitedesire。Donotfostertheseprejudices,andtheywillnaturallyfallintotheirsubordinate,yetrespectablestationinlife。
Itseemsscarcelynecessarytosay,thatInowspeakofthesexingeneral。Manyindividualshavemoresensethantheirmalerelatives;and,asnothingpreponderateswherethereisaconstantstruggleforanequilibrium,withoutithasnaturallymoregravity,somewomengoverntheirhusbandswithoutdegradingthemselves,becauseintellectwillalwaysgovern。
VINDICATIONOFTHERIGHTSOFWOMAN
CHAPTER1。
THERIGHTSANDINVOLVEDDUTIESOFMANKINDCONSIDERED。
Inthepresentstateofsociety,itappearsnecessarytogobacktofirstprinciplesinsearchofthemostsimpletruths,andtodisputewithsomeprevailingprejudiceeveryinchofground。Toclearmyway,Imustbeallowedtoasksomeplainquestions,andtheanswerswillprobablyappearasunequivocalastheaxiomsonwhichreasoningisbuilt;though,whenentangledwithvariousmotivesofaction,theyareformallycontradicted,eitherbythewordsorconductofmen。
Inwhatdoesman\'spre—eminenceoverthebrutecreationconsist？
Theanswerisasclearasthatahalfislessthanthewhole;inReason。
Whatacquirementexaltsonebeingaboveanother？Virtue;wespontaneouslyreply。
Forwhatpurposewerethepassionsimplanted？Thatmanbystrugglingwiththemmightattainadegreeofknowledgedeniedtothebrutes:whispersExperience。
Consequentlytheperfectionofournatureandcapabilityofhappiness,mustbeestimatedbythedegreeofreason,virtue,andknowledge,thatdistinguishtheindividual,anddirectthelawswhichbindsociety:andthatfromtheexerciseofreason,knowledgeandvirtuenaturallyflow,isequallyundeniable,ifmankindbeviewedcollectively。
Therightsanddutiesofmanthussimplified,itseemsalmostimpertinenttoattempttoillustratetruthsthatappearsoincontrovertible:yetsuchdeeplyrootedprejudiceshavecloudedreason,andsuchspuriousqualitieshaveassumedthenameofvirtues,thatitisnecessarytopursuethecourseofreasonasithasbeenperplexedandinvolvedinerror,byvariousadventitiouscircumstances,comparingthesimpleaxiomwithcasualdeviations。
Men,ingeneral,seemtoemploytheirreasontojustifyprejudices,whichtheyhaveimbibed,theycannottracehow,ratherthantorootthemout。Themindmustbestrongthatresolutelyformsitsownprinciples;forakindofintellectualcowardiceprevailswhichmakesmanymenshrinkfromthetask,oronlydoitbyhalves。Yettheimperfectconclusionsthusdrawn,arefrequentlyveryplausible,becausetheyarebuiltonpartialexperience,onjust,thoughnarrow,views。
Goingbacktofirstprinciples,viceskulks,withallitsnativedeformity,fromcloseinvestigation;butasetofshallowreasonersarealwaysexclaimingthattheseargumentsprovetoomuch,andthatameasurerottenatthecoremaybeexpedient。Thusexpediencyiscontinuallycontrastedwithsimpleprinciples,tilltruthislostinamistofwords,virtueinforms,andknowledgerenderedasoundingnothing,bythespeciousprejudicesthatassumeitsname。
Thatthesocietyisformedinthewisestmanner,whoseconstitutionisfoundedonthenatureofman,strikes,intheabstract,everythinkingbeingsoforcibly,thatitlookslikepresumptiontoendeavourtobringforwardproofs;thoughproofmustbebrought,orthestrongholdofprescriptionwillneverbeforcedbyreason;yettourgeprescriptionasanargumenttojustifythedeprivingmen（orwomen）oftheirnaturalrights,isoneoftheabsurdsophismswhichdailyinsultcommonsense。
ThecivilizationofthebulkofthepeopleofEurope,isverypartial;nay,itmaybemadeaquestion,whethertheyhaveacquiredanyvirtuesinexchangeforinnocence,equivalenttothemiseryproducedbythevicesthathavebeenplasteredoverunsightlyignorance,andthefreedomwhichhasbeenbarteredforsplendidslavery。Thedesireofdazzlingbyriches,themostcertainpre—eminencethatmancanobtain,thepleasureofcommandingflatteringsycophants,andmanyothercomplicatedlowcalculationsofdotingself—love,haveallcontributedtooverwhelmthemassofmankind,andmakelibertyaconvenienthandleformockpatriotism。
Forwhilstrankandtitlesareheldoftheutmostimportance,beforewhichGenius\"musthideitsdiminishedhead,\"itis,withafewexceptions,veryunfortunateforanationwhenamanofabilities,withoutrankorproperty,pusheshimselfforwardtonotice。Alas！whatunheardofmiseryhavethousandssufferedtopurchaseacardinal\'shatforanintriguingobscureadventurer,wholongedtoberankedwithprinces,orlorditoverthembyseizingthetriplecrown！
Such,indeed,hasbeenthewretchednessthathasflowedfromhereditaryhonours,riches,andmonarchy,thatmenoflivelysensibilityhavealmostutteredblasphemyinordertojustifythedispensationsofprovidence。Manhasbeenheldoutasindependentofhispowerwhomadehim,orasalawlessplanetdartingfromitsorbittostealthecelestialfireofreason;andthevengeanceofheaven,lurkinginthesubtileflame,sufficientlypunishedhistemerity,byintroducingevilintotheworld。
Impressedbythisviewofthemiseryanddisorderwhichpervadedsociety,andfatiguedwithjostlingagainstartificialfools,Rousseaubecameenamouredofsolitude,and,beingatthesametimeanoptimist,helabourswithuncommoneloquencetoprovethatmanwasnaturallyasolitaryanimal。MisledbyhisrespectforthegoodnessofGod,whocertainlyforwhatmanofsenseandfeelingcandoubtit！gavelifeonlytocommunicatehappiness,heconsidersevilaspositive,andtheworkofman;notawarethathewasexaltingoneattributeattheexpenseofanother,equallynecessarytodivineperfection。
Rearedonafalsehypothesis,hisargumentsinfavourofastateofnatureareplausible,butunsound。Isayunsound;fortoassertthatastateofnatureispreferabletocivilizationinallitspossibleperfection,is,inotherwords,toarraignsupremewisdom;
andtheparadoxicalexclamation,thatGodhasmadeallthingsright,andthatevilhasbeenintroducedbythecreaturewhomheformed,knowingwhatheformed,isasunphilosophicalasimpious。
WhenthatwiseBeing,whocreatedusandplacedushere,sawthefairidea,hewilled,byallowingittobeso,thatthepassionsshouldunfoldourreason,becausehecouldseethatpresentevilwouldproducefuturegood。Couldthehelplesscreaturewhomhecalledfromnothing,breakloosefromhisprovidence,andboldlylearntoknowgoodbypractisingevilwithouthispermission？No。
Howcouldthatenergeticadvocateforimmortalityarguesoinconsistently？Hadmankindremainedforeverinthebrutalstateofnature,whichevenhismagicpencannotpaintasastateinwhichasinglevirtuetookroot,itwouldhavebeenclear,thoughnottothesensitiveunreflectingwanderer,thatmanwasborntorunthecircleoflifeanddeath,andadornGod\'sgardenforsomepurposewhichcouldnoteasilybereconciledwithhisattributes。
Butif,tocrownthewhole,thereweretoberationalcreaturesproduced,allowedtoriseinexcellencybytheexerciseofpowersimplantedforthatpurpose;ifbenignityitselfthoughtfittocallintoexistenceacreatureabovethebrutes,whocouldthinkandimprovehimself,whyshouldthatinestimablegift,foragiftitwas,ifamanwassocreatedastohaveacapacitytoriseabovethestateinwhichsensationproducedbrutalease,becalled,indirectterms,acurse？Acurseitmightbereckoned,ifallourexistencewasboundedbyourcontinuanceinthisworld;forwhyshouldthegraciousfountainoflifegiveuspassions,andthepowerofreflecting,onlytoembitterourdays,andinspireuswithmistakennotionsofdignity？Whyshouldheleadusfromloveofourselvestothesublimeemotionswhichthediscoveryofhiswisdomandgoodnessexcites,ifthesefeelingswerenotsetinmotiontoimproveournature,ofwhichtheymakeapart,andrenderuscapableofenjoyingamoregodlikeportionofhappiness？FirmlypersuadedthatnoevilexistsintheworldthatGoddidnotdesigntotakeplace,IbuildmybeliefontheperfectionofGod。
Rousseauexertshimselftoprove,thatallWASrightoriginally:acrowdofauthorsthatallISnowright:andI,thatallWILLBE
right。
But,truetohisfirstposition,nexttoastateofnature,Rousseaucelebratesbarbarism,and,apostrophizingtheshadeofFabricius,heforgetsthat,inconqueringtheworld,theRomansneverdreamedofestablishingtheirownlibertyonafirmbasis,orofextendingthereignofvirtue。Eagertosupporthissystem,hestigmatizes,asvicious,everyeffortofgenius;andutteringtheapotheosisofsavagevirtues,heexaltsthosetodemigods,whowerescarcelyhuman——thebrutalSpartans,whoindefianceofjusticeandgratitude,sacrificed,incoldblood,theslavesthathadshownthemselvesmentorescuetheiroppressors。
Disgustedwithartificialmannersandvirtues,thecitizenofGeneva,insteadofproperlysiftingthesubject,threwawaythewheatwiththechaff,withoutwaitingtoinquirewhethertheevils,whichhisardentsoulturnedfromindignantly,weretheconsequenceofcivilization,orthevestigesofbarbarism。Hesawvicetramplingonvirtue,andthesemblanceofgoodnesstakingplaceofthereality;hesawtalentsbentbypowertosinisterpurposes,andneverthoughtoftracingthegiganticmischiefuptoarbitrarypower,uptothehereditarydistinctionsthatclashwiththementalsuperioritythatnaturallyraisesamanabovehisfellows。Hedidnotperceive,thattheregalpower,inafewgenerations,introducesidiotismintothenoblestem,andholdsoutbaitstorenderthousandsidleandvicious。
Nothingcansettheregalcharacterinamorecontemptiblepointofview,thanthevariouscrimesthathaveelevatedmentothesupremedignity。Vileintrigues,unnaturalcrimes,andeveryvicethatdegradesournature,havebeenthestepstothisdistinguishedeminence;yetmillionsofmenhavesupinelyallowedthenervelesslimbsoftheposterityofsuchrapaciousprowlers,torestquietlyontheirensanguinedthrones。
Whatbutapestilentialvapourcanhoveroversociety,whenitschiefdirectorisonlyinstructedintheinventionofcrimes,orthestupidroutineofchildishceremonies？Willmenneverbewise？
willtheyneverceasetoexpectcornfromtares,andfigsfromthistles？
Itisimpossibleforanyman,whenthemostfavourablecircumstancesconcur,toacquiresufficientknowledgeandstrengthofmindtodischargethedutiesofaking,entrustedwithuncontrolledpower;howthenmusttheybeviolatedwhenhisveryelevationisaninsuperablebartotheattainmentofeitherwisdomorvirtue;whenallthefeelingsofamanarestifledbyflattery,andreflectionshutoutbypleasure！Surelyitismadnesstomakethefateofthousandsdependonthecapriceofaweakfellowcreature,whoseverystationsinkshimNECESSARILYbelowthemeanestofhissubjects！Butonepowershouldnotbethrowndowntoexaltanother——forallpowerintoxicatesweakman;anditsabuseproves,thatthemoreequalitythereisestablishedamongmen,themorevirtueandhappinesswillreigninsociety。Butthis,andanysimilarmaximdeducedfromsimplereason,raisesanoutcry——thechurchorthestateisindanger,iffaithinthewisdomofantiquityisnotimplicit;andtheywho,rousedbythesightofhumancalamity,daretoattackhumanauthority,arereviledasdespisersofGod,andenemiesofman。Thesearebittercalumnies,yettheyreachedoneofthebestofmen,（Dr。Price。）whoseashesstillpreachpeace,andwhosememorydemandsarespectfulpause,whensubjectsarediscussedthatlaysonearhisheart。
Afterattackingthesacredmajestyofkings,Ishallscarcelyexcitesurprise,byaddingmyfirmpersuasion,thateveryprofession,inwhichgreatsubordinationofrankconstitutesitspower,ishighlyinjurioustomorality。
Astandingarmy,forinstance,isincompatiblewithfreedom;
becausesubordinationandrigouraretheverysinewsofmilitarydiscipline;anddespotismisnecessarytogivevigourtoenterprisesthatonewilldirects。Aspiritinspiredbyromanticnotionsofhonour,akindofmoralityfoundedonthefashionoftheage,canonlybefeltbyafewofficers,whilstthemainbodymustbemovedbycommand,likethewavesofthesea;forthestrongwindofauthoritypushesthecrowdofsubalternsforward,theyscarcelyknoworcarewhy,withheadlongfury。
Besides,nothingcanbesoprejudicialtothemoralsoftheinhabitantsofcountrytowns,astheoccasionalresidenceofasetofidlesuperficialyoungmen,whoseonlyoccupationisgallantry,andwhosepolishedmannersrendervicemoredangerous,byconcealingitsdeformityundergayornamentaldrapery。Anairoffashion,whichisbutabadgeofslavery,andprovesthatthesoulhasnotastrongindividualcharacter,awessimplecountrypeopleintoanimitationofthevices,whentheycannotcatchtheslipperygracesofpoliteness。Everycorpsisachainofdespots,who,submittingandtyrannizingwithoutexercisingtheirreason,becomedeadweightsofviceandfollyonthecommunity。Amanofrankorfortune,sureofrisingbyinterest,hasnothingtodobuttopursuesomeextravagantfreak;whilsttheneedyGENTLEMAN,whoistorise,asthephraseturns,byhismerit,becomesaservileparasiteorvilepander。
Sailors,thenavalgentlemen,comeunderthesamedescription,onlytheirvicesassumeadifferentandagrossercast。Theyaremorepositivelyindolent,whennotdischargingtheceremonialsoftheirstation;whilsttheinsignificantflutteringofsoldiersmaybetermedactiveidleness。Moreconfinedtothesocietyofmen,theformeracquireafondnessforhumourandmischievoustricks;whilstthelatter,mixingfrequentlywithwell—bredwomen,catchasentimentalcant。Butmindisequallyoutofthequestion,whethertheyindulgethehorse—laughorpolitesimper。
MayIbeallowedtoextendthecomparisontoaprofessionwheremoremindiscertainlytobefound;fortheclergyhavesuperioropportunitiesofimprovement,thoughsubordinationalmostequallycrampstheirfaculties？Theblindsubmissionimposedatcollegetoformsofbelief,servesasanoviciatetothecuratewhomostobsequiouslyrespectstheopinionofhisrectororpatron,ifhemeanstoriseinhisprofession。Perhapstherecannotbeamoreforciblecontrastthanbetweentheservile,dependentgaitofapoorcurate,andthecourtlymienofabishop。Andtherespectandcontempttheyinspirerenderthedischargeoftheirseparatefunctionsequallyuseless。
Itisofgreatimportancetoobserve,thatthecharacterofeverymanis,insomedegree,formedbyhisprofession。Amanofsensemayonlyhaveacastofcountenancethatwearsoffasyoutracehisindividuality,whilsttheweak,commonman,hasscarcelyeveranycharacter,butwhatbelongstothebody;atleast,allhisopinionshavebeensosteepedinthevatconsecratedbyauthority,thatthefaintspiritwhichthegrapeofhisownvineyieldscannotbedistinguished。
Society,therefore,asitbecomesmoreenlightened,shouldbeverycarefulnottoestablishbodiesofmenwhomustnecessarilybemadefoolishorviciousbytheveryconstitutionoftheirprofession。
Intheinfancyofsociety,whenmenwerejustemergingoutofbarbarism,chiefsandpriests,touchingthemostpowerfulspringsofsavageconduct——hopeandfear——musthavehadunboundedsway。Anaristocracy,ofcourse,isnaturallythefirstformofgovernment。
Butclashinginterestssoonlosingtheirequipoise,amonarchyandhierarchybreakoutoftheconfusionofambitiousstruggles,andthefoundationofbothissecuredbyfeudaltenures。Thisappearstobetheoriginofmonarchialandpriestlypower,andthedawnofcivilization。Butsuchcombustiblematerialscannotlongbepentup;andgettingventinforeignwarsandintestineinsurrections,thepeopleacquiresomepowerinthetumult,whichobligestheirrulerstoglossovertheiroppressionwithashowofright。Thus,aswars,agriculture,commerce,andliterature,expandsthemind,despotsarecompelled,tomakecovertcorruptionholdfastthepowerwhichwasformerlysnatchedbyopenforce。*Andthisbanefullurkinggangreneismostquicklyspreadbyluxuryandsuperstition,thesuredregsofambition。Theindolentpuppetofacourtfirstbecomesaluxuriousmonster,orfastidioussensualist,andthenmakesthecontagionwhichhisunnaturalstatespreads,theinstrumentoftyranny。
（*Footnote。Menofabilitiesscatterseedsthatgrowup,andhaveagreatinfluenceontheformingopinion;andwhenoncethepublicopinionpreponderates,throughtheexertionofreason,theoverthrowofarbitrarypowerisnotverydistant。）
Itisthepestiferouspurplewhichrenderstheprogressofcivilizationacurse,andwarpstheunderstanding,tillmenofsensibilitydoubtwhethertheexpansionofintellectproducesagreaterportionofhappinessormisery。Butthenatureofthepoisonpointsouttheantidote;andhadRousseaumountedonestephigherinhisinvestigation;orcouldhiseyehavepiercedthroughthefoggyatmosphere,whichhealmostdisdainedtobreathe,hisactivemindwouldhavedartedforwardtocontemplatetheperfectionofmanintheestablishmentoftruecivilization,insteadoftakinghisferociousflightbacktothenightofsensualignorance。
CHAPTER2。
THEPREVAILINGOPINIONOFASEXUALCHARACTERDISCUSSED。
Toaccountfor,andexcusethetyrannyofman,manyingeniousargumentshavebeenbroughtforwardtoprove,thatthetwosexes,intheacquirementofvirtue,oughttoaimatattainingaverydifferentcharacter:or,tospeakexplicitly,womenarenotallowedtohavesufficientstrengthofmindtoacquirewhatreallydeservesthenameofvirtue。Yetitshouldseem,allowingthemtohavesouls,thatthereisbutonewayappointedbyprovidencetoleadMANKINDtoeithervirtueorhappiness。
Ifthenwomenarenotaswarmofephemerontriflers,whyshouldtheybekeptinignoranceunderthespeciousnameofinnocence？
Mencomplain,andwithreason,ofthefolliesandcapricesofoursex,whentheydonotkeenlysatirizeourheadstrongpassionsandgrovelingvices。Behold,Ishouldanswer,thenaturaleffectofignorance！Themindwilleverbeunstablethathasonlyprejudicestoreston,andthecurrentwillrunwithdestructivefurywhentherearenobarrierstobreakitsforce。Womenaretoldfromtheirinfancy,andtaughtbytheexampleoftheirmothers,thatalittleknowledgeofhumanweakness,justlytermedcunning,softnessoftemper,OUTWARDobedience,andascrupulousattentiontoapuerilekindofpropriety,willobtainforthemtheprotectionofman;andshouldtheybebeautiful,everythingelseisneedless,foratleasttwentyyearsoftheirlives。
ThusMiltondescribesourfirstfrailmother;thoughwhenhetellsusthatwomenareformedforsoftnessandsweetattractivegrace,I
cannotcomprehendhismeaning,unless,inthetrueMahometanstrain,hemeanttodepriveusofsouls,andinsinuatethatwewerebeingsonlydesignedbysweetattractivegrace,anddocileblindobedience,togratifythesensesofmanwhenhecannolongersoaronthewingofcontemplation。
Howgrosslydotheyinsultus,whothusadviseusonlytorenderourselvesgentle,domesticbrutes！Forinstance,thewinningsoftness,sowarmly,andfrequentlyrecommended,thatgovernsbyobeying。Whatchildishexpressions,andhowinsignificantisthebeing——canitbeanimmortalone？whowillcondescendtogovernbysuchsinistermethods！\"Certainly,\"saysLordBacon,\"manisofkintothebeastsbyhisbody:andifhebenotofkintoGodbyhisspirit,heisabaseandignoblecreature！\"Men,indeed,appeartometoactinaveryunphilosophicalmanner,whentheytrytosecurethegoodconductofwomenbyattemptingtokeepthemalwaysinastateofchildhood。Rousseauwasmoreconsistentwhenhewishedtostoptheprogressofreasoninbothsexes;forifmeneatofthetreeofknowledge,womenwillcomeinforataste:but,fromtheimperfectcultivationwhichtheirunderstandingsnowreceive,theyonlyattainaknowledgeofevil。
Children,Igrant,shouldbeinnocent;butwhentheepithetisappliedtomen,orwomen,itisbutaciviltermforweakness。ForifitbeallowedthatwomenweredestinedbyProvidencetoacquirehumanvirtues,andbytheexerciseoftheirunderstandings,thatstabilityofcharacterwhichisthefirmestgroundtorestourfuturehopesupon,theymustbepermittedtoturntothefountainoflight,andnotforcedtoshapetheircoursebythetwinklingofameresatellite。Milton,Igrant,wasofaverydifferentopinion;forheonlybendstotheindefeasiblerightofbeauty,thoughitwouldbedifficulttorendertwopassages,whichInowmeantocontrast,consistent:butintosimilarinconsistenciesaregreatmenoftenledbytheirsenses:——
\"TowhomthusEvewithperfectbeautyadorned:
Myauthoranddisposer,whatthoubidstUnarguedIobey;soGodordains;
Godisthylaw,thoumine;toknownomoreIswoman\'shappiestknowledgeandherpraise。\"
TheseareexactlytheargumentsthatIhaveusedtochildren;butI
haveadded,\"Yourreasonisnowgainingstrength,and,tillitarrivesatsomedegreeofmaturity,youmustlookuptomeforadvice:thenyououghttoTHINK,andonlyrelyonGod。\"
Yet,inthefollowinglines,Miltonseemstocoincidewithme,whenhemakesAdamthusexpostulatewithhisMaker:——
\"Hastthounotmademeherethysubstitute,Andtheseinferiorfarbeneathmeset？
AmongunequalswhatsocietyCansort,whatharmonyordelight？
Whichmustbemutual,inproportiondueGivenandreceived;butindisparityTheoneintense,theotherstillremissCannotwellsuitwitheither,butsoonproveTediousalike:offellowshipIspeakSuchasIseekfittoparticipateAllrationaldelight。\"
Intreating,therefore,ofthemannersofwomen,letus,disregardingsensualarguments,tracewhatweshouldendeavourtomaketheminordertoco—operate,iftheexpressionbenottoobold,withtheSupremeBeing。
Byindividualeducation,Imean——forthesenseofthewordisnotpreciselydefined——suchanattentiontoachildaswillslowlysharpenthesenses,formthetemper,regulatethepassions,astheybegintoferment,andsettheunderstandingtoworkbeforethebodyarrivesatmaturity;sothatthemanmayonlyhavetoproceed,nottobegin,theimportanttaskoflearningtothinkandreason。
Topreventanymisconstruction,Imustadd,thatIdonotbelievethataprivateeducationcanworkthewonderswhichsomesanguinewritershaveattributedtoit。Menandwomenmustbeeducated,inagreatdegree,bytheopinionsandmannersofthesocietytheylivein。Ineveryagetherehasbeenastreamofpopularopinionthathascarriedallbeforeit,andgivenafamilycharacter,asitwere,tothecentury。Itmaythenfairlybeinferred,that,tillsocietybedifferentlyconstituted,muchcannotbeexpectedfromeducation。Itis,however,sufficientformypresentpurposetoassert,that,whatevereffectcircumstanceshaveontheabilities,everybeingmaybecomevirtuousbytheexerciseofitsownreason;
forifbutonebeingwascreatedwithviciousinclinations——thatis,positivelybad——whatcansaveusfromatheism？orifweworshipaGod,isnotthatGodadevil？
Consequently,themostperfecteducation,inmyopinion,issuchanexerciseoftheunderstandingasisbestcalculatedtostrengthenthebodyandformtheheart;or,inotherwords,toenabletheindividualtoattainsuchhabitsofvirtueaswillrenderitindependent。Infact,itisafarcetocallanybeingvirtuouswhosevirtuesdonotresultfromtheexerciseofitsownreason。
ThiswasRousseau\'sopinionrespectingmen:Iextendittowomen,andconfidentlyassertthattheyhavebeendrawnoutoftheirspherebyfalserefinement,andnotbyanendeavourtoacquiremasculinequalities。Stilltheregalhomagewhichtheyreceiveissointoxicating,that,tillthemannersofthetimesarechanged,andformedonmorereasonableprinciples,itmaybeimpossibletoconvincethemthattheillegitimatepower,whichtheyobtainbydegradingthemselves,isacurse,andthattheymustreturntonatureandequality,iftheywishtosecuretheplacidsatisfactionthatunsophisticatedaffectionsimpart。Butforthisepochwemustwait——wait,perhaps,tillkingsandnobles,enlightenedbyreason,and,preferringtherealdignityofmantochildishstate,throwofftheirgaudyhereditarytrappings;andifthenwomendonotresignthearbitrarypowerofbeauty,theywillprovethattheyhaveLESSmindthanman。Imaybeaccusedofarrogance;stillI
mustdeclare,whatIfirmlybelieve,thatallthewriterswhohavewrittenonthesubjectoffemaleeducationandmanners,fromRousseautoDr。Gregory,havecontributedtorenderwomenmoreartificial,weakercharacters,thantheywouldotherwisehavebeen;
and,consequently,moreuselessmembersofsociety。Imighthaveexpressedthisconvictioninalowerkey;butIamafraiditwouldhavebeenthewhineofaffectation,andnotthefaithfulexpressionofmyfeelings,oftheclearresult,whichexperienceandreflectionhaveledmetodraw。WhenIcometothatdivisionofthesubject,IshalladverttothepassagesthatImoreparticularlydisapproveof,intheworksoftheauthorsIhavejustalludedto;butitisfirstnecessarytoobserve,thatmyobjectionextendstothewholepurportofthosebooks,whichtend,inmyopinion,todegradeonehalfofthehumanspecies,andrenderwomenpleasingattheexpenseofeverysolidvirtue。
ThoughtoreasononRousseau\'sground,ifmandidattainadegreeofperfectionofmindwhenhisbodyarrivedatmaturity,itmightbeproperinordertomakeamanandhiswifeONE,thatsheshouldrelyentirelyonhisunderstanding;andthegracefulivy,claspingtheoakthatsupportedit,wouldformawholeinwhichstrengthandbeautywouldbeequallyconspicuous。But,alas！husbands,aswellastheirhelpmates,areoftenonlyovergrownchildren;nay,thankstoearlydebauchery,scarcelymenintheiroutwardform,andiftheblindleadtheblind,oneneednotcomefromheaventotellustheconsequence。
Manyarethecausesthat,inthepresentcorruptstateofsociety,contributetoenslavewomenbycrampingtheirunderstandingsandsharpeningtheirsenses。One,perhaps,thatsilentlydoesmoremischiefthanalltherest,istheirdisregardoforder。
Todoeverythinginanorderlymanner,isamostimportantprecept,whichwomen,who,generallyspeaking,receiveonlyadisorderlykindofeducation,seldomattendtowiththatdegreeofexactnessthatmen,whofromtheirinfancyarebrokenintomethod,observe。Thisnegligentkindofguesswork,forwhatotherepithetcanbeusedtopointouttherandomexertionsofasortofinstinctivecommonsense,neverbroughttothetestofreason？
preventstheirgeneralizingmattersoffact,sotheydoto—day,whattheydidyesterday,merelybecausetheydidityesterday。
Thiscontemptoftheunderstandinginearlylifehasmorebanefulconsequencesthaniscommonlysupposed;forthelittleknowledgewhichwomenofstrongmindsattain,is,fromvariouscircumstances,ofamoredesultorykindthantheknowledgeofmen,anditisacquiredmorebysheerobservationsonreallife,thanfromcomparingwhathasbeenindividuallyobservedwiththeresultsofexperiencegeneralizedbyspeculation。Ledbytheirdependentsituationanddomesticemploymentsmoreintosociety,whattheylearnisratherbysnatches;andaslearningiswiththem,ingeneral,onlyasecondarything,theydonotpursueanyonebranchwiththatperseveringardournecessarytogivevigourtothefaculties,andclearnesstothejudgment。Inthepresentstateofsociety,alittlelearningisrequiredtosupportthecharacterofagentleman;andboysareobligedtosubmittoafewyearsofdiscipline。Butintheeducationofwomenthecultivationoftheunderstandingisalwayssubordinatetotheacquirementofsomecorporealaccomplishment;evenwhileenervatedbyconfinementandfalsenotionsofmodesty,thebodyispreventedfromattainingthatgraceandbeautywhichrelaxedhalf—formedlimbsneverexhibit。
Besides,inyouththeirfacultiesarenotbroughtforwardbyemulation;andhavingnoseriousscientificstudy,iftheyhavenaturalsagacityitisturnedtoosoononlifeandmanners。Theydwelloneffects,andmodifications,withouttracingthembacktocauses;andcomplicatedrulestoadjustbehaviourareaweaksubstituteforsimpleprinciples。
