Asaproofthateducationgivesthisappearanceofweaknesstofemales,wemayinstancetheexampleofmilitarymen,whoare,likethem,sentintotheworldbeforetheirmindshavebeenstoredwithknowledgeorfortifiedbyprinciples。Theconsequencesaresimilar;soldiersacquirealittlesuperficialknowledge,snatchedfromthemuddycurrentofconversation,and,fromcontinuallymixingwithsociety,theygain,whatistermedaknowledgeoftheworld;andthisacquaintancewithmannersandcustomshasfrequentlybeenconfoundedwithaknowledgeofthehumanheart。
Butcanthecrudefruitofcasualobservation,neverbroughttothetestofjudgment,formedbycomparingspeculationandexperience,deservesuchadistinction？Soldiers,aswellaswomen,practicetheminorvirtueswithpunctiliouspoliteness。Whereisthenthesexualdifference,whentheeducationhasbeenthesame;allthedifferencethatIcandiscern,arisesfromthesuperioradvantageoflibertywhichenablestheformertoseemoreoflife。
Itiswanderingfrommypresentsubject,perhaps,tomakeapoliticalremark;butasitwasproducednaturallybythetrainofmyreflections,Ishallnotpassitsilentlyover。
Standingarmiescanneverconsistofresolute,robustmen;theymaybewelldisciplinedmachines,buttheywillseldomcontainmenundertheinfluenceofstrongpassionsorwithveryvigorousfaculties。Andasforanydepthofunderstanding,Iwillventuretoaffirm,thatitisasrarelytobefoundinthearmyasamongstwomen;andthecause,Imaintain,isthesame。Itmaybefurtherobserved,thatofficersarealsoparticularlyattentivetotheirpersons,fondofdancing,crowdedrooms,adventures,andridicule。
LiketheFAIRsex,thebusinessoftheirlivesisgallantry。Theyweretaughttoplease,andtheyonlylivetoplease。Yettheydonotlosetheirrankinthedistinctionofsexes,fortheyarestillreckonedsuperiortowomen,thoughinwhattheirsuperiorityconsists,beyondwhatIhavejustmentioned,itisdifficulttodiscover。
Thegreatmisfortuneisthis,thattheybothacquiremannersbeforemorals,andaknowledgeoflifebeforetheyhavefromreflection,anyacquaintancewiththegrandidealoutlineofhumannature。Theconsequenceisnatural;satisfiedwithcommonnature,theybecomeapreytoprejudices,andtakingalltheiropinionsoncredit,theyblindlysubmittoauthority。Sothatiftheyhaveanysense,itisakindofinstinctiveglance,thatcatchesproportions,anddecideswithrespecttomanners;butfailswhenargumentsaretobepursuedbelowthesurface,oropinionsanalyzed。
Maynotthesameremarkbeappliedtowomen？Nay,theargumentmaybecarriedstillfurther,fortheyareboththrownoutofausefulstationbytheunnaturaldistinctionsestablishedincivilizedlife。Richesandhereditaryhonourshavemadecyphersofwomentogiveconsequencetothenumericalfigure;andidlenesshasproducedamixtureofgallantryanddespotisminsociety,whichleadstheverymenwhoaretheslavesoftheirmistresses,totyrannizeovertheirsisters,wives,anddaughters。Thisisonlykeepingtheminrankandfile,itistrue。Strengthenthefemalemindbyenlargingit,andtherewillbeanendtoblindobedience;but,asblindobedienceiseversoughtforbypower,tyrantsandsensualistsareintherightwhentheyendeavourtokeepwomeninthedark,becausetheformeronlywantslaves,andthelatteraplay—thing。Thesensualist,indeed,hasbeenthemostdangerousoftyrants,andwomenhavebeendupedbytheirlovers,asprincesbytheirministers,whilstdreamingthattheyreignedoverthem。
InowprincipallyalludetoRousseau,forhischaracterofSophiais,undoubtedly,acaptivatingone,thoughitappearstomegrosslyunnatural;however,itisnotthesuperstructure,butthefoundationofhercharacter,theprinciplesonwhichhereducationwasbuilt,thatImeantoattack;nay,warmlyasIadmirethegeniusofthatablewriter,whoseopinionsIshalloftenhaveoccasiontocite,indignationalwaystakesplaceofadmiration,andtherigidfrownofinsultedvirtueeffacesthesmileofcomplacency,whichhiseloquentperiodsarewonttoraise,whenI
readhisvoluptuousreveries。Isthistheman,who,inhisardourforvirtue,wouldbanishallthesoftartsofpeace,andalmostcarryusbacktoSpartandiscipline？Isthisthemanwhodelightstopainttheusefulstrugglesofpassion,thetriumphsofgooddispositions,andtheheroicflightswhichcarrytheglowingsouloutofitself？Howarethesemightysentimentsloweredwhenhedescribestheprettyfootandenticingairsofhislittlefavourite！
But,forthepresent,Iwaivethesubject,and,insteadofseverelyreprehendingthetransienteffusionsofoverweeningsensibility,I
shallonlyobserve,thatwhoeverhascastabenevolenteyeonsociety,mustoftenhavebeengratifiedbythesightofhumblemutuallove,notdignifiedbysentiment,norstrengthenedbyaunioninintellectualpursuits。Thedomestictriflesofthedayhaveaffordedmatterforcheerfulconverse,andinnocentcaresseshavesoftenedtoilswhichdidnotrequiregreatexerciseofmind,orstretchofthought:yet,hasnotthesightofthismoderatefelicityexcitedmoretendernessthanrespect？Anemotionsimilartowhatwefeelwhenchildrenareplaying,oranimalssporting,whilstthecontemplationofthenoblestrugglesofsufferingmerithasraisedadmiration,andcarriedourthoughtstothatworldwheresensationwillgiveplacetoreason。
Womenare,therefore,tobeconsideredeitherasmoralbeings,orsoweakthattheymustbeentirelysubjectedtothesuperiorfacultiesofmen。
Letusexaminethisquestion。Rousseaudeclares,thatawomanshouldnever,foramomentfeelherselfindependent,thatsheshouldbegovernedbyfeartoexerciseherNATURALcunning,andmadeacoquetishslaveinordertorenderheramorealluringobjectofdesire,aSWEETERcompaniontoman,wheneverhechoosestorelaxhimself。Hecarriesthearguments,whichhepretendstodrawfromtheindicationsofnature,stillfurther,andinsinuatesthattruthandfortitudethecornerstonesofallhumanvirtue,shallbecultivatedwithcertainrestrictions,becausewithrespecttothefemalecharacter,obedienceisthegrandlessonwhichoughttobeimpressedwithunrelentingrigour。
Whatnonsense！Whenwillagreatmanarisewithsufficientstrengthofmindtopuffawaythefumeswhichprideandsensualityhavethusspreadoverthesubject！Ifwomenarebynatureinferiortomen,theirvirtuesmustbethesameinquality,ifnotindegree,orvirtueisarelativeidea;consequently,theirconductshouldbefoundedonthesameprinciples,andhavethesameaim。
Connectedwithmanasdaughters,wives,andmothers,theirmoralcharactermaybeestimatedbytheirmanneroffulfillingthosesimpleduties;buttheend,thegrandendoftheirexertionsshouldbetounfoldtheirownfaculties,andacquirethedignityofconsciousvirtue。Theymaytrytorendertheirroadpleasant;butoughtnevertoforget,incommonwithman,thatlifeyieldsnotthefelicitywhichcansatisfyanimmortalsoul。Idonotmeantoinsinuate,thateithersexshouldbesolost,inabstractreflectionsordistantviews,astoforgettheaffectionsanddutiesthatliebeforethem,andare,intruth,themeansappointedtoproducethefruitoflife;onthecontrary,Iwouldwarmlyrecommendthem,evenwhileIassert,thattheyaffordmostsatisfactionwhentheyareconsideredintheirtruesubordinatelight。
Probablytheprevailingopinion,thatwomanwascreatedforman,mayhavetakenitsrisefromMoses\'spoeticalstory;yet,asveryfewitispresumed,whohavebestowedanyseriousthoughtonthesubject,eversupposedthatEvewas,literallyspeaking,oneofAdam\'sribs,thedeductionmustbeallowedtofalltotheground;
or,onlybesofaradmittedasitprovesthatman,fromtheremotestantiquity,founditconvenienttoexerthisstrengthtosubjugatehiscompanion,andhisinventiontoshowthatsheoughttohaveherneckbentundertheyoke;becausesheaswellasthebrutecreation,wascreatedtodohispleasure。
Letitnotbeconcluded,thatIwishtoinverttheorderofthings;
Ihavealreadygranted,that,fromtheconstitutionoftheirbodies,menseemtobedesignedbyProvidencetoattainagreaterdegreeofvirtue。Ispeakcollectivelyofthewholesex;butIseenottheshadowofareasontoconcludethattheirvirtuesshoulddifferinrespecttotheirnature。Infact,howcanthey,ifvirtuehasonlyoneeternalstandard？Imust,therefore,ifI
reasonconsequentially,asstrenuouslymaintain,thattheyhavethesamesimpledirection,asthatthereisaGod。
Itfollowsthen,thatcunningshouldnotbeopposedtowisdom,littlecarestogreatexertions,norinsipidsoftness,varnishedoverwiththenameofgentleness,tothatfortitudewhichgrandviewsalonecaninspire。
Ishallbetold,thatwomanwouldthenlosemanyofherpeculiargraces,andtheopinionofawellknownpoetmightbequotedtorefutemyunqualifiedassertions。ForPopehassaid,inthenameofthewholemalesex,\"Yetne\'ersosureourpassionstocreate,Aswhenshetouch\'dthebrinkofallwehate。\"
Inwhatlightthissallyplacesmenandwomen,Ishallleavetothejudicioustodetermine;meanwhileIshallcontentmyselfwithobserving,thatIcannotdiscoverwhy,unlesstheyaremortal,femalesshouldalwaysbedegradedbybeingmadesubservienttoloveorlust。
Tospeakdisrespectfullyofloveis,Iknow,hightreasonagainstsentimentandfinefeelings;butIwishtospeakthesimplelanguageoftruth,andrathertoaddresstheheadthantheheart。
Toendeavourtoreasonloveoutoftheworld,wouldbetooutQuixoteCervantes,andequallyoffendagainstcommonsense;butanendeavourtorestrainthistumultuouspassion,andtoprovethatitshouldnotbeallowedtodethronesuperiorpowers,ortousurpthesceptrewhichtheunderstandingshouldevercoollywield,appearslesswild。
Youthistheseasonforloveinbothsexes;butinthosedaysofthoughtlessenjoyment,provisionshouldbemadeforthemoreimportantyearsoflife,whenreflectiontakesplaceofsensation。
ButRousseau,andmostofthemalewriterswhohavefollowedhissteps,havewarmlyinculcatedthatthewholetendencyoffemaleeducationoughttobedirectedtoonepointtorenderthempleasing。
Letmereasonwiththesupportersofthisopinion,whohaveanyknowledgeofhumannature,dotheyimaginethatmarriagecaneradicatethehabitudeoflife？Thewomanwhohasonlybeentaughttoplease,willsoonfindthathercharmsareobliquesun—beams,andthattheycannothavemucheffectonherhusband\'sheartwhentheyareseeneveryday,whenthesummerispastandgone。Willshethenhavesufficientnativeenergytolookintoherselfforcomfort,andcultivateherdormantfaculties？or,isitnotmorerationaltoexpect,thatshewilltrytopleaseothermen;and,intheemotionsraisedbytheexpectationofnewconquests,endeavourtoforgetthemortificationherloveorpridehasreceived？Whenthehusbandceasestobealover——andthetimewillinevitablycome,herdesireofpleasingwillthengrowlanguid,orbecomeaspringofbitterness;andlove,perhaps,themostevanescentofallpassions,givesplacetojealousyorvanity。
Inowspeakofwomenwhoarerestrainedbyprincipleorprejudice;
suchwomenthoughtheywouldshrinkfromanintriguewithrealabhorrence,yet,nevertheless,wishtobeconvincedbythehomageofgallantry,thattheyarecruellyneglectedbytheirhusbands;
or,daysandweeksarespentindreamingofthehappinessenjoyedbycongenialsouls,tillthehealthisunderminedandthespiritsbrokenbydiscontent。Howthencanthegreatartofpleasingbesuchanecessarystudy？itisonlyusefultoamistress;thechastewife,andseriousmother,shouldonlyconsiderherpowertopleaseasthepolishofhervirtues,andtheaffectionofherhusbandasoneofthecomfortsthatrenderhertasklessdifficult,andherlifehappier。But,whethershebelovedorneglected,herfirstwishshouldbetomakeherselfrespectable,andnotrelyforallherhappinessonabeingsubjecttolikeinfirmitieswithherself。
TheamiableDr。Gregoryfellintoasimilarerror。Irespecthisheart;butentirelydisapproveofhiscelebratedLegacytohisDaughters。
Headvisesthemtocultivateafondnessfordress,becauseafondnessfordress,heasserts,isnaturaltothem。IamunabletocomprehendwhateitherheorRousseaumean,whentheyfrequentlyusethisindefiniteterm。Iftheytoldus,thatinapre—existentstatethesoulwasfondofdress,andbroughtthisinclinationwithitintoanewbody,Ishouldlistentothemwithahalfsmile,asI
oftendowhenIheararantaboutinnateelegance。Butifheonlymeanttosaythattheexerciseofthefacultieswillproducethisfondness,Idenyit。Itisnotnatural;butarises,likefalseambitioninmen,fromaloveofpower。
Dr。Gregorygoesmuchfurther;heactuallyrecommendsdissimulation,andadvisesaninnocentgirltogivethelietoherfeelings,andnotdancewithspirit,whengaietyofheartwouldmakeherfeeteloquent,withoutmakinghergesturesimmodest。Inthenameoftruthandcommonsense,whyshouldnotonewomanacknowledgethatshecantakemoreexercisethananother？or,inotherwords,thatshehasasoundconstitution;andwhytodampinnocentvivacity,isshedarklytobetold,thatmenwilldrawconclusionswhichshelittlethinksof？Letthelibertinedrawwhatinferencehepleases;but,Ihope,thatnosensiblemotherwillrestrainthenaturalfranknessofyouth,byinstillingsuchindecentcautions。Outoftheabundanceoftheheartthemouthspeaketh;andawiserthanSolomonhathsaid,thattheheartshouldbemadeclean,andnottrivialceremoniesobserved,whichitisnotverydifficulttofulfillwithscrupulousexactnesswhenvicereignsintheheart。
Womenoughttoendeavourtopurifytheirhearts;butcantheydosowhentheiruncultivatedunderstandingsmakethementirelydependentontheirsensesforemploymentandamusement,whennonoblepursuitsetsthemabovethelittlevanitiesoftheday,orenablesthemtocurbthewildemotionsthatagitateareedoverwhicheverypassingbreezehaspower？Togaintheaffectionsofavirtuousman,isaffectationnecessary？
Naturehasgivenwomanaweakerframethanman;but,toensureherhusband\'saffections,mustawife,who,bytheexerciseofhermindandbody,whilstshewasdischargingthedutiesofadaughter,wife,andmother,hasallowedherconstitutiontoretainitsnaturalstrength,andhernervesahealthytone,isshe,Isay,tocondescend,touseart,andfeignasicklydelicacy,inordertosecureherhusband\'saffection？Weaknessmayexcitetenderness,andgratifythearrogantprideofman;butthelordlycaressesofaprotectorwillnotgratifyanoblemindthatpantsforanddeservestoberespected。Fondnessisapoorsubstituteforfriendship！
Inaseraglio,Igrant,thatalltheseartsarenecessary;theepicuremusthavehispalatetickled,orhewillsinkintoapathy;
buthavewomensolittleambitionastobesatisfiedwithsuchacondition？Cantheysupinelydreamlifeawayinthelapofpleasure,orinthelanguorofweariness,ratherthanasserttheirclaimtopursuereasonablepleasures,andrenderthemselvesconspicuous,bypractisingthevirtueswhichdignifymankind？
Surelyshehasnotanimmortalsoulwhocanloiterlifeaway,merelyemployedtoadornherperson,thatshemayamusethelanguidhours,andsoftenthecaresofafellow—creaturewhoiswillingtobeenlivenedbyhersmilesandtricks,whentheseriousbusinessoflifeisover。
Besides,thewomanwhostrengthensherbodyandexerciseshermindwill,bymanagingherfamilyandpractisingvariousvirtues,becomethefriend,andnotthehumbledependentofherhusband;andifshedeserveshisregardbypossessingsuchsubstantialqualities,shewillnotfinditnecessarytoconcealheraffection,nortopretendtoanunnaturalcoldnessofconstitutiontoexciteherhusband\'spassions。Infact,ifwereverttohistory,weshallfindthatthewomenwhohavedistinguishedthemselveshaveneitherbeenthemostbeautifulnorthemostgentleoftheirsex。
Nature,ortospeakwithstrictproprietyGod,hasmadeallthingsright;butmanhassoughthimoutmanyinventionstomarthework。
InowalludetothatpartofDr。Gregory\'streatise,whereheadvisesawifenevertoletherhusbandknowtheextentofhersensibilityoraffection。Voluptuousprecaution;andasineffectualasabsurd。Love,fromitsverynature,mustbetransitory。Toseekforasecretthatwouldrenderitconstant,wouldbeaswildasearchasforthephilosopher\'sstone,orthegrandpanacea;andthediscoverywouldbeequallyuseless,orratherpernicioustomankind。Themostholybandofsocietyisfriendship。Ithasbeenwellsaid,byashrewdsatirist,\"thatrareastrueloveis,truefriendshipisstillrarer。\"
Thisisanobvioustruth,andthecausenotlyingdeep,willnoteludeaslightglanceofinquiry。
Love,thecommonpassion,inwhichchanceandsensationtakeplaceofchoiceandreason,isinsomedegree,feltbythemassofmankind;foritisnotnecessarytospeak,atpresent,oftheemotionsthatriseaboveorsinkbelowlove。Thispassion,naturallyincreasedbysuspenseanddifficulties,drawsthemindoutofitsaccustomedstate,andexaltstheaffections;butthesecurityofmarriage,allowingthefeveroflovetosubside,ahealthytemperatureisthoughtinsipid,onlybythosewhohavenotsufficientintellecttosubstitutethecalmtendernessoffriendship,theconfidenceofrespect,insteadofblindadmiration,andthesensualemotionsoffondness。
Thisis,mustbe,thecourseofnature——friendshiporindifferenceinevitablysucceedslove。Andthisconstitutionseemsperfectlytoharmonizewiththesystemofgovernmentwhichprevailsinthemoralworld。Passionsarespurstoaction,andopenthemind;buttheysinkintomereappetites,becomeapersonalmomentarygratification,whentheobjectisgained,andthesatisfiedmindrestsinenjoyment。Themanwhohadsomevirtuewhilsthewasstrugglingforacrown,oftenbecomesavoluptuoustyrantwhenitgraceshisbrow;and,whentheloverisnotlostinthehusband,thedotardapreytochildishcaprices,andfondjealousies,neglectstheseriousdutiesoflife,andthecaresseswhichshouldexciteconfidenceinhischildrenarelavishedontheovergrownchild,hiswife。
Inordertofulfilthedutiesoflife,andtobeabletopursuewithvigourthevariousemploymentswhichformthemoralcharacter,amasterandmistressofafamilyoughtnottocontinuetoloveeachotherwithpassion。Imeantosay,thattheyoughtnottoindulgethoseemotionswhichdisturbtheorderofsociety,andengrossthethoughtsthatshouldbeotherwiseemployed。Themindthathasneverbeenengrossedbyoneobjectwantsvigour——ifitcanlongbeso,itisweak。
Amistakeneducation,anarrow,uncultivatedmind,andmanysexualprejudices,tendtomakewomenmoreconstantthanmen;but,forthepresent,Ishallnottouchonthisbranchofthesubject。Iwillgostillfurther,andadvance,withoutdreamingofaparadox,thatanunhappymarriageisoftenveryadvantageoustoafamily,andthattheneglectedwifeis,ingeneral,thebestmother。Andthiswouldalmostalwaysbetheconsequence,ifthefemalemindwasmoreenlarged;for,itseemstobethecommondispensationofProvidence,thatwhatwegaininpresentenjoymentshouldbedeductedfromthetreasureoflife,experience;andthatwhenwearegatheringtheflowersofthedayandrevellinginpleasure,thesolidfruitoftoilandwisdomshouldnotbecaughtatthesametime。Thewayliesbeforeus,wemustturntotherightorleft;
andhewhowillpasslifeawayinboundingfromonepleasuretoanother,mustnotcomplainifheneitheracquireswisdomnorrespectabilityofcharacter。
Supposingforamoment,thatthesoulisnotimmortal,andthatmanwasonlycreatedforthepresentscene;Ithinkweshouldhavereasontocomplainthatlove,infantinefondness,evergrewinsipidandpalleduponthesense。Letuseat,drink,andlove,forto—morrowwedie,wouldbeinfactthelanguageofreason,themoralityoflife;andwhobutafoolwouldpartwitharealityforafleetingshadow？But,ifawedbyobservingtheimprovablepowersofthemind,wedisdaintoconfineourwishesorthoughtstosuchacomparativelymeanfieldofaction;thatonlyappearsgrandandimportantasitisconnectedwithaboundlessprospectandsublimehopes;whatnecessityisthereforfalsehoodinconduct,andwhymustthesacredmajestyoftruthbeviolatedtodetainadeceitfulgoodthatsapstheveryfoundationofvirtue？Whymustthefemalemindbetaintedbycoquetishartstogratifythesensualist,andpreventlovefromsubsidingintofriendshiporcompassionatetenderness,whentherearenotqualitiesonwhichfriendshipcanbebuilt？Letthehonestheartshowitself,andREASONteachpassiontosubmittonecessity;or,letthedignifiedpursuitofvirtueandknowledgeraisethemindabovethoseemotionswhichratherimbitterthansweetenthecupoflife,whentheyarenotrestrainedwithinduebounds。
Idonotmeantoalludetotheromanticpassion,whichistheconcomitantofgenius。Whocanclipitswings？Butthatgrandpassionnotproportionedtothepunyenjoymentsoflife,isonlytruetothesentiment,andfeedsonitself。Thepassionswhichhavebeencelebratedfortheirdurabilityhavealwaysbeenunfortunate。Theyhaveacquiredstrengthbyabsenceandconstitutionalmelancholy。Thefancyhashoveredroundaformofbeautydimlyseen——butfamiliaritymighthaveturnedadmirationintodisgust;or,atleast,intoindifference,andallowedtheimaginationleisuretostartfreshgame。Withperfectpropriety,accordingtothisviewofthings,doesRousseaumakethemistressofhissoul,Eloisa,loveSt。Preux,whenlifewasfadingbeforeher;butthisisnoproofoftheimmortalityofthepassion。
OfthesamecomplexionisDr。Gregory\'sadvicerespectingdelicacyofsentiment,whichheadvisesawomannottoacquire,ifshehasdeterminedtomarry。Thisdetermination,however,perfectlyconsistentwithhisformeradvice,hecallsINDELICATE,andearnestlypersuadeshisdaughterstoconcealit,thoughitmaygoverntheirconduct:asifitwereindelicatetohavethecommonappetitesofhumannature。
Noblemorality！andconsistentwiththecautiousprudenceofalittlesoulthatcannotextenditsviewsbeyondthepresentminutedivisionofexistence。Ifallthefacultiesofwoman\'smindareonlytobecultivatedastheyrespectherdependenceonman;if,whensheobtainsahusbandshehasarrivedathergoal,andmeanlyproud,issatisfiedwithsuchapaltrycrown,lethergrovelcontentedly,scarcelyraisedbyheremploymentsabovetheanimalkingdom;but,ifsheisstrugglingfortheprizeofherhighcalling,lethercultivateherunderstandingwithoutstoppingtoconsiderwhatcharacterthehusbandmayhavewhomsheisdestinedtomarry。Letheronlydetermine,withoutbeingtooanxiousaboutpresenthappiness,toacquirethequalitiesthatennoblearationalbeing,andarough,ineleganthusbandmayshockhertastewithoutdestroyingherpeaceofmind。Shewillnotmodelhersoultosuitthefrailtiesofhercompanion,buttobearwiththem:hischaractermaybeatrial,butnotanimpedimenttovirtue。
IfDr。Gregoryconfinedhisremarktoromanticexpectationsofconstantloveandcongenialfeelings,heshouldhaverecollected,thatexperiencewillbanishwhatadvicecannevermakeusceasetowishfor,whentheimaginationiskeptaliveattheexpenceofreason。
Iownitfrequentlyhappens,thatwomenwhohavefosteredaromanticunnaturaldelicacyoffeeling,wastetheirlivesinIMAGININGhowhappytheyshouldhavebeenwithahusbandwhocouldlovethemwithafervidincreasingaffectioneveryday,andallday。Buttheymightaswellpinemarriedassingle,andwouldnotbeajotmoreunhappywithabadhusbandthanlongingforagoodone。Thatapropereducation;or,tospeakwithmoreprecision,awellstoredmind,wouldenableawomantosupportasinglelifewithdignity,Igrant;butthatsheshouldavoidcultivatinghertaste,lestherhusbandshouldoccasionallyshockit,isquittingasubstanceforashadow。Tosaythetruth,Idonotknowofwhatuseisanimprovedtaste,iftheindividualbenotrenderedmoreindependentofthecasualtiesoflife;ifnewsourcesofenjoyment,onlydependentonthesolitaryoperationsofthemind,arenotopened。Peopleoftaste,marriedorsingle,withoutdistinction,willeverbedisgustedbyvariousthingsthattouchnotlessobservingminds。Onthisconclusiontheargumentmustnotbeallowedtohinge;butinthewholesumofenjoymentistastetobedenominatedablessing？
Thequestionis,whetheritprocuresmostpainorpleasure？TheanswerwilldecidetheproprietyofDr。Gregory\'sadvice,andshowhowabsurdandtyrannicitisthustolaydownasystemofslavery;
ortoattempttoeducatemoralbeingsbyanyotherrulesthanthosededucedfrompurereason,whichapplytothewholespecies。
Gentlenessofmanners,forbearance,andlongsuffering,aresuchamiablegodlikequalities,thatinsublimepoeticstrainstheDeityhasbeeninvestedwiththem;and,perhaps,norepresentationofhisgoodnesssostronglyfastensonthehumanaffectionsasthosethatrepresenthimabundantinmercyandwillingtopardon。Gentleness,consideredinthispointofview,bearsonitsfrontallthecharacteristicsofgrandeur,combinedwiththewinninggracesofcondescension;butwhatadifferentaspectitassumeswhenitisthesubmissivedemeanourofdependence,thesupportofweaknessthatloves,becauseitwantsprotection;andisforbearing,becauseitmustsilentlyendureinjuries;smilingunderthelashatwhichitdarenotsnarl。Abjectasthispictureappears,itistheportraitofanaccomplishedwoman,accordingtothereceivedopinionoffemaleexcellence,separatedbyspeciousreasonersfromhumanexcellence。Or,they（VideRousseau,andSwedenborg）kindlyrestoretherib,andmakeonemoralbeingofamanandwoman;notforgettingtogiveherallthe\"submissivecharms。\"
Howwomenaretoexistinthatstatewherethereistobeneithermarryingnorgivinginmarriage,wearenottold。Forthoughmoralistshaveagreed,thatthetenoroflifeseemstoprovethatMANispreparedbyvariouscircumstancesforafuturestate,theyconstantlyconcurinadvisingWOMANonlytoprovideforthepresent。Gentleness,docility,andaspaniel—likeaffectionare,onthisground,consistentlyrecommendedasthecardinalvirtuesofthesex;and,disregardingthearbitraryeconomyofnature,onewriterhasdeclaredthatitismasculineforawomantobemelancholy。Shewascreatedtobethetoyofman,hisrattle,anditmustjingleinhisears,whenever,dismissingreason,hechoosestobeamused。
Torecommendgentleness,indeed,onabroadbasisisstrictlyphilosophical。Afrailbeingshouldlabourtobegentle。Butwhenforbearanceconfoundsrightandwrong,itceasestobeavirtue;
and,howeverconvenientitmaybefoundinacompanion,thatcompanionwilleverbeconsideredasaninferior,andonlyinspireavapidtenderness,whicheasilydegeneratesintocontempt。Still,ifadvicecouldreallymakeabeinggentle,whosenaturaldispositionadmittednotofsuchafinepolish,somethingtowardtheadvancementoforderwouldbeattained;butif,asmightquicklybedemonstrated,onlyaffectationbeproducedbythisindiscriminatecounsel,whichthrowsastumblingblockinthewayofgradualimprovement,andtruemeliorationoftemper,thesexisnotmuchbenefitedbysacrificingsolidvirtuestotheattainmentofsuperficialgraces,thoughforafewyearstheymayprocuretheindividual\'sregalsway。
Asaphilosopher,Ireadwithindignationtheplausibleepithetswhichmenusetosoftentheirinsults;and,asamoralist,Iaskwhatismeantbysuchheterogeneousassociations,asfairdefects,amiableweaknesses,etc。？Ifthereisbutonecriterionofmorals,butonearchetypeforman,womenappeartobesuspendedbydestiny,accordingtothevulgartaleofMahomet\'scoffin;theyhaveneithertheunerringinstinctofbrutes,norareallowedtofixtheeyeofreasononaperfectmodel。Theyweremadetobeloved,andmustnotaimatrespect,lesttheyshouldbehuntedoutofsocietyasmasculine。
Buttoviewthesubjectinanotherpointofview。Dopassiveindolentwomenmakethebestwives？Confiningourdiscussiontothepresentmomentofexistence,letusseehowsuchweakcreaturesperformtheirpart？Dothewomenwho,bytheattainmentofafewsuperficialaccomplishments,havestrengthenedtheprevailingprejudice,merelycontributetothehappinessoftheirhusbands？
Dotheydisplaytheircharmsmerelytoamusethem？Andhavewomen,whohaveearlyimbibednotionsofpassiveobedience,sufficientcharactertomanageafamilyoreducatechildren？Sofarfromit,that,aftersurveyingthehistoryofwoman,Icannothelpagreeingwiththeseverestsatirist,consideringthesexastheweakestaswellasthemostoppressedhalfofthespecies。Whatdoeshistorydisclosebutmarksofinferiority,andhowfewwomenhaveemancipatedthemselvesfromthegallingyokeofsovereignman？Sofew,thattheexceptionsremindmeofaningeniousconjecturerespectingNewton:thathewasprobablyabeingofasuperiororder,accidentallycagedinahumanbody。InthesamestyleI
havebeenledtoimaginethatthefewextraordinarywomenwhohaverushedineccentricaldirectionsoutoftheorbitprescribedtotheirsex,wereMALEspirits,confinedbymistakeinafemaleframe。Butifitbenotphilosophicaltothinkofsexwhenthesoulismentioned,theinferioritymustdependontheorgans;ortheheavenlyfire,whichistofermenttheclay,isnotgiveninequalportions。
Butavoiding,asIhavehithertodone,anydirectcomparisonofthetwosexescollectively,orfranklyacknowledgingtheinferiorityofwoman,accordingtothepresentappearanceofthings,Ishallonlyinsist,thatmenhaveincreasedthatinferioritytillwomenarealmostsunkbelowthestandardofrationalcreatures。Lettheirfacultieshaveroomtounfold,andtheirvirtuestogainstrength,andthendeterminewherethewholesexmuststandintheintellectualscale。Yet,letitberemembered,thatforasmallnumberofdistinguishedwomenIdonotaskaplace。
Itisdifficultforuspurblindmortalstosaytowhatheighthumandiscoveriesandimprovementsmayarrive,whenthegloomofdespotismsubsides,whichmakesusstumbleateverystep;but,whenmoralityshallbesettledonamoresolidbasis,then,withoutbeinggiftedwithapropheticspirit,Iwillventuretopredict,thatwomanwillbeeitherthefriendorslaveofman。Weshallnot,asatpresent,doubtwhethersheisamoralagent,orthelinkwhichunitesmanwithbrutes。But,shoulditthenappear,thatlikethebrutestheywereprincipallycreatedfortheuseofman,hewillletthempatientlybitethebridle,andnotmockthemwithemptypraise;or,shouldtheirrationalitybeproved,hewillnotimpedetheirimprovementmerelytogratifyhissensualappetites。
Hewillnotwithallthegracesofrhetoric,advisethemtosubmitimplicitlytheirunderstandingstotheguidanceofman。Hewillnot,whenhetreatsoftheeducationofwomen,assert,thattheyoughtnevertohavethefreeuseofreason,norwouldherecommendcunninganddissimulationtobeingswhoareacquiring,inlikemannerashimself,thevirtuesofhumanity。
Surelytherecanbebutoneruleofright,ifmoralityhasaneternalfoundation,andwhoeversacrificesvirtue,strictlysocalled,topresentconvenience,orwhoseDUTYitistoactinsuchamanner,livesonlyforthepassingday,andcannotbeanaccountablecreature。
