a vindication of the rights of woman-第22节
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expected guest。 Like Milton's； it would only contain angels； or men sunk below the dignity of rational creatures。 Happiness is not material； it cannot be seen or felt！ Yet the eager pursuit of the good which every one shapes to his own fancy； proclaims man the lord of this lower world； and to be an intelligential creature； who is not to receive； but acquire happiness。 They； therefore； who complain of the delusions of passion； do not recollect that they are exclaiming against a strong proof of the immortality of the soul。 But； leaving superior minds to correct themselves； and pay dearly for their experience； it is necessary to observe； that it is not against strong； persevering passions； but romantic； wavering feelings； that I wish to guard the female heart by exercising the understanding； for these paradisiacal reveries are oftener the effect of idleness than of a lively fancy。 Women have seldom sufficient serious employment to silence their feelings； a round of little cares； or vain pursuits； frittering away all strength of mind and organs； they become naturally only objects of sense。 In short； the whole tenor of female education （the education of society） tends to render the best disposed； romantic and inconstant； and the remainder vain and mean。 In the present state of society； this evil can scarcely be remedied； I am afraid； in the slightest degree； should a more laudable ambition ever gain ground； they may be brought nearer to nature and reason； and become more virtuous and useful as they grow more respectable。 But I will venture to assert； that their reason will never acquire sufficient strength to enable it to regulate their conduct； whilst the making an appearance in the world is the first wish of the majority of mankind。 To this weak wish the natural affections and the most useful virtues are sacrificed。 Girls marry merely to BETTER THEMSELVES； to borrow a significant vulgar phrase； and have such perfect power over their hearts as not to permit themselves to FALL IN LOVE till a man with a superior fortune offers。 On this subject I mean to enlarge in a future chapter； it is only necessary to drop a hint at present； because women are so often degraded by suffering the selfish prudence of age to chill the ardour of youth。 》From the same source flows an opinion that young girls ought to dedicate great part of their time to needle work； yet； this employment contracts their faculties more than any other that could have been chosen for them； by confining their thoughts to their persons。 Men order their clothes to be made； and have done with the subject； women make their own clothes； necessary or ornamental； and are continually talking about them； and their thoughts follow their hands。 It is not indeed the making of necessaries that weakens the mind； but the frippery of dress。 For when a woman in the lower rank of life makes her husband's and children's clothes； she does her duty； this is part of her business； but when women work only to dress better than they could otherwise afford； it is worse than sheer loss of time。 To render the poor virtuous； they must be employed； and women in the middle rank of life did they not ape the fashions of the nobility； without catching their ease； might employ them； whilst they themselves managed their families； instructed their children； and exercised their own minds。 Gardening； experimental philosophy； and literature； would afford them subjects to think of； and matter for conversation； that in some degree would exercise their understandings。 The conversation of French women； who are not so rigidly nailed to their chairs； to twist lappets； and knot ribbands； is frequently superficial； but； I contend； that it is not half so insipid as that of those English women； whose time is spent in making caps； bonnets； and the whole mischief of trimmings； not to mention shopping； bargain…hunting； etc。 etc。： and it is the decent； prudent women； who are most degraded by these practices； for their motive is simply vanity。 The wanton； who exercises her taste to render her person alluring； has something more in view。 These observations all branch out of a general one； which I have before made； and which cannot be too often insisted upon； for； speaking of men； women； or professions； it will be found； that the employment of the thoughts shapes the character both generally and individually。 The thoughts of women ever hover around their persons； and is it surprising that their persons are reckoned most valuable？ Yet some degree of liberty of mind is necessary even to form the person； and this may be one reason why some gentle wives have so few attractions beside that of sex。 Add to this； sedentary employments render the majority of women sickly； and false notions of female excellence make them proud of this delicacy； though it be another fetter； that by calling the attention continually to the body； cramps the activity of the mind。 Women of quality seldom do any of the manual part of their dress； consequently only their taste is exercised； and they acquire； by thinking less of the finery； when the business of their toilet is over； that ease； which seldom appears in the deportment of women； who dress merely for the sake of dressing。 In fact； the observation with respect to the middle rank； the one in which talents thrive best； extends not to women； for those of the superior class； by catching； at least a smattering of literature； and conversing more with men； on general topics； acquire more knowledge than the women who ape their fashions and faults without sharing their advantages。 With respect to virtue； to use the word in a comprehensive sense； I have seen most in low life。 Many poor women maintain their children by the sweat of their brow； and keep together families that the vices of the fathers would have scattered abroad； but gentlewomen are too indolent to be actively virtuous； and are softened rather than refined by civilization。 Indeed the good sense which I have met with among the poor women who have had few advantages of education； and yet have acted heroically； strongly confirmed me in the opinion； that trifling employments have rendered women a trifler。 Men； taking her （'I take her body；' says Ranger。） body； the mind is left to rust； so that while physical love enervates man； as being his favourite recreation； he will endeavour to enslave woman： and who can tell how many generations may be necessary to give vigour to the virtue and talents of the freed posterity of abject slaves？ （'Supposing that women are voluntary slavesslavery of any kind is unfavourable to human happiness and improvement。''Knox's Essays'。） In tracing the causes that in my opinion； have degraded woman； I have confined my observations to such as universally act upon the morals and manners of the whole sex； and to me it appears clear； that they all spring from want of understanding。 Whether this arises from a physical or accidental weakness of faculties； time alone can determine； for I shall not lay any great stress upon the example of a few women （Sappho； Eloisa； Mrs。 Macaulay； the Empress of Russia； Madame d'Eon； etc。 These； and many more； may be reckoned exceptions； and； are not all heroes； as well as heroines； exceptions to general rules？ I wish to see women neither heroines nor brutes； but reasonable creatures。） who； from having received a masculine education； have acquired courage and resolution； I only contend that the men who have been placed in similar situations have acquired a similar character； I speak of bodies of men； and that men of genius and talents have started out of a class； in which women have never yet been placed。
CHAPTER 5。 ANIMADVERSIONS ON SOME OF THE WRITERS WHO HAVE RENDERED WOMEN OBJECTS OF PITY； BORDERING ON CONTEMPT。 The opinions speciously supported； in some modern publications on the female character； and education； which have given the tone to most of the observations made； in a more cursory manner； on the sex； remain now to be examined。 SECTION 5。1。 I shall begin with Rousseau； and give a sketch of the character of women in his own words； interspersing comments and reflections。 My comments； it is true； will all spring from a few simple principles； and might have been deduced from what I have already said； but the artificial structure has been raised with so much ingenuity； that it seems necessary to attack it in a more circumstantial manner； and make the application myself。 Sophia； says Rousseau； should be as perfect a woman as Emilius is a man； and to render her so； it is necessary to examine the character which nature has given to the sex。 He then proceeds to prove； that women ought to be weak and passive； because she has less bodily strength than man； and from hence infers； that she was formed to please and to be subject to him； and that it is her duty to render herself AGREEABLE to her masterthis being the grand end of her existence。 Supposing women to have been formed only to please； and be subject to man； the conclusion is just； she ought to sacrifice every other consideration to render herself agreeable to him： and let this brutal desire of self…preservation be the grand spring of all her actions； when it is proved to be the iron bed of fate； to fit which； her character sh
