In chapter two there was a particular quote Wollstonecraft stated, which is, “Women are, therefore, to be considered either as moral beings, or so weak that they must be entirely subjected to the superior faculties of men.” Wollstonecraft is great at picking men’s flaw apart,and shows how they’re actually pretty equal to women.
I want to back track though to Paradise Lost for a second though. I hated Eve in Paradise Lost. I hated how she was too naive and honestly a dumb blonde. I hated how she reacted the first time she saw her reflection, and was so enamored by it. When I say I didn’t like Eve, I didn’t. In fact I thought she got what she deserved. If anything I felt bad for Adam.
After reading Vindication though, I realized I really do feel bad for Eve now. Eve’s character was made to be entirely dependent on Adam. She had no knowledge except for what she learned from him, and for a good bit he was her morality. She didn’t have a individualized mind to suffice herself. She was made fully dependent on Adam. Even Wollstonecraft pointed out that it makes no sense for Eve to be a dependency or beneath Adam because she literally came out of his side. I found myself feeling so bad for Adam, and now I feel bad for Eve, and how Milton set up her character.
Wollstonecraft’s point, in that quote, was to show that women were being done like Eve in Paradise Lost. It reminds me of the song, “Sit still, Look pretty,” and that was truly the expectation of women. They weren’t expected to actually carry on a philosophical conversation. They were there honestly to be arm candy for their husbands so they could play show and tell with them at public events. Oh and wait I forgot the men had to have them to reproduce too. I’m not a hardcore feminist, but as much as I love to talk, I couldn’t have sat still and looked pretty.
I commented on Caroline and Moriah’s post.
I commented on Caroline and Moriah’s post.
Comments