Warsan Shire's On Making An Agreeable Marriage

Wollstonecraft’s use of nonfiction prose for A Vindication of the Rights of Woman sets her apart

Perhaps the most important thing that Wollstonecraft believes should be extended to women is education. She deems the main hindrance on women in her day is their lack of education. She strongly thought that if women were to be educated, they would be liberated, and be able to generate the same thoughts and brilliant ideas as men. On the education of women, Wollstonecraft writes:

states, “I may be accused of arrogance; still I must declare firmly what I believe that 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 have other wise been; and consequently more useless members of society” (22). Wollstonecraft believed that men who advocated for the trivial education that women received, if they received any education at all, did not even adequately prepare them for the one role that they were allowed, that of a wife.

Romantic Period built an environment where women were painted with flowery diction (Wollstonecraft, 216) and were incapable of independence. The rights of women became a crucial topic, particularly in poetry which allowed women the freedom of expression. During the early eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, women writers did not need the prop of their male contemporaries – yet were able, successful, and professional writers in their own right – who often influenced male writers (Dustin, 42). Both Mary Wollstonecraft and Anna Letitia Barbauld are evidence that women did not need to rely on their male peers to become successful poets. Consequently, many poets took inspiration from them (Dustin, 32). In The Rights of Woman and Vindication of the Rights of Woman, Anna Letitia Barbauld and Mary Wollstonecraft had contrasting ideas. Barbauld’s The Rights of Woman was a documented reaction towards Wollstonecraft’s extremely controversial Vindication. Therefore, both indicate a separate message for the rights of the woman. Assumedly, Barbauld misinterpreted Wollstonecraft and readings of The Rights of Woman in the twenty-first century appear antifeminist.

Unlike the men, Mary Wollstonecraft agreed that individual freedom was very important to society, but that it also lead to more desirable equality for woman. “Women must be allowed to find their virtue on knowledge, which is scarcely possible unless women be educated by the same pursuits as men” (Doc D). Wollstonecraft believed the primary source was to educate woman the same as men. If a woman were educated the same as men the woman would have a greater value to society.

When writing “A Vindication of the Rights of Men”, Wollstonecraft was a woman in a “man’s world”. Her voice was a lone female amongst the opinions and politics of men and she “went up against two of the

Jane Austen, author, successfully used the literary technique of sentence structure (or syntax) to showcase identity in Pride and Prejudice. Austen uses an extremely characteristic voice in order to construct an authentic selfhood. Austen gives each character a distinct voice, sentence structure, and communication style.

In Wollstonecraft’s work, she addresses the differences between men and women as being something that should be considered negligible, but instead is used to practically enslave one half of the population. The work details how women are akin to playthings when they lack an education, and that for her to truly be herself and practice her own free will, she must be knowledgeable. However, there are many different kinds of education, Wollstonecraft points out. Men received a formal education, consisting of a proper teaching of many subjects, while also aiding the young men in personal growth. Women, on the other hand, received a much less formal education. In their day to day lives, women observed, they leeched off

Wollstonecraft begins the excerpt by predicting the status of women in time to come and the liberties they might later receive. She then proceeds to listing the justified respect that women deserve by using parallel sentences, that “[men] will not impede their improvement merely to gratify his sensual appetites. He will not… advise them to submit

Wollstonecraft has a serious problem with the lack of education for women. She believes that when men say that women should be soft and innocent, what they really mean is that they should be kept ignorant and quiet. This is not an idea that Wollstonecraft agrees with. Her argument against this is a religious one, as she believes that for a woman to be good Christian and a good wife, she must be educated. If a woman is not educated and cannot think for herself, it is as if she is a beast who does not have a soul.

The Romantic Period built an environment where women were painted with flowery diction (Wollstonecraft, 216) and were incapable of independence. The Rights of Woman became a crucial topic, particularly in poetry which allowed women the freedom of expression. Accordingly, during the early eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, women writers did not need the prop of their male contemporaries like suggested. Evidently, women were able, successful, and professional writers in their own right. In fact, women often influenced male writers (Dustin, 42). Both Mary Wollstonecraft and Anna Letitia Barbauld are evidence that women did not need to rely on their male peers to become successful poets. Consequently, many poets took inspiration from them (Dustin, 32). In The Rights of Woman and Vindication of the Rights of Woman, Anna Letitia Barbauld and Mary Wollstonecraft had contrasting ideas. Barbauld’s The Rights of Woman was a documented reaction towards Wollstonecraft’s extremely controversial Vindication. Henceforth, both indicate a separate message for the Rights of the Woman. Assumedly, Barbauld misinterpreted Wollstonecraft and readings of The Rights of Woman in the twenty-first century appear antifeminist as a result.

As readers', one understands that many writers have their own styles. It varies from their sentence structures to a writer’s distinctive vocabulary choice. Mark Twain, famous writer from the late 1800s, brought a new voice into American writing - an incomparable style. Another writer named Suzanne Britt is well known for her two essay collections - Skinny People Are Dull and Crunchy Like Carrots (1982) and Show and Tell (1983). Both are recognized for their use of sarcasm and humor.

Shire highlights the importance of pronunciation within the last sentence of this poem. She shows her commitment to avoiding those who fail to pronounce her name correctly. Pronunciation is a symbol of one's level of respect for Shire. Shire declares her ability to understand how much a person respects her cultural identity based on how one pronounces her name. Furthermore, pronunciation is a symbol of the self-respect Shire possesses. She wants to protect herself from those who don't have her best interests at heart.

Wollstonecraft’s book is divided into thirteen chapter and she addressed topics such as the importance of educating women equally, treating women with dignity and providing women with the proper tools to be good wives, mother and intelligent companions for their husbands “Women spend many of the first years of their lives acquiring a smattering of accomplishments; meanwhile strength of body and mind are sacrificed to libertine notions of beauty… Can they govern a family with judgment, or take care of the poor babes whom they bring into the world” (Wollstonecraft, 10). Wollstonecraft argued how could women teach and raise children and run a household if they only focus on their minor accomplishments such as knowing French, playing the piano

This shows how influential her writing has become throughout the years. Austen’s writing opened the door for other writers to explore romantic literature. “J.K Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, grew up reading Austen, who she described as ‘the pinnacle to which all other authors aspire’” (Redman). She inspires others, not only to write romance, but science fiction like Rowling has done. Her influence on the literature work is is astonishing considering she lived in the 1700’s. Many writers of that time are forgotten by most, but she has lived on way past her death. Austen is taught in high school and college English classes. She has been a huge inspiration for female writers as well. “Jane Austen is now thought of as one of the greatest English authors and considered by many as the first great woman novelist” (Jane Austen [b.1775-d. 1817]). Being considered as one of the first female novelist is a great accomplishment and a huge honor, it is a great shame the “creator” of romance did not get the recognition until after her death. She could have helped develop most extraordinary writers in her