a vindication of the rights of woman-第53节
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innocent frivolous mind； inspires。 Unable to grasp any thing great； is it surprising that they find the reading of history a very dry task； and disquisitions addressed to the understanding； intolerably tedious； and almost unintelligible？ Thus are they necessarily dependent on the novelist for amusement。 Yet； when I exclaim against novels； I mean when contrasted with those works which exercise the understanding and regulate the imagination。 For any kind of reading I think better than leaving a blank still a blank； because the mind must receive a degree of enlargement； and obtain a little strength by a slight exertion of its thinking powers； besides； even the productions that are only addressed to the imagination； raise the reader a little above the gross gratification of appetites； to which the mind has not given a shade of delicacy。 This observation is the result of experience； for I have known several notable women； and one in particular； who was a very good womanas good as such a narrow mind would allow her to be； who took care that her daughters （three in number） should never see a novel。 As she was a woman of fortune and fashion； they had various masters to attend them； and a sort of menial governess to watch their footsteps。 From their masters they learned how tables； chairs； etc。 were called in French and Italian； but as the few books thrown in their way were far above their capacities； or devotional； they neither acquired ideas nor sentiments； and passed their time； when not compelled to repeat WORDS； in dressing； quarrelling with each other； or conversing with their maids by stealth； till they were brought into company as marriageable。 Their mother； a widow； was busy in the mean time in keeping up her connexions； as she termed a numerous acquaintance lest her girls should want a proper introduction into the great world。 And these young ladies； with minds vulgar in every sense of the word； and spoiled tempers； entered life puffed up with notions of their own consequence； and looking down with contempt on those who could not vie with them in dress and parade。 With respect to love； nature； or their nurses； had taken care to teach them the physical meaning of the word； and； as they had few topics of conversation； and fewer refinements of sentiment； they expressed their gross wishes not in very delicate phrases； when they spoke freely； talking of matrimony。 Could these girls have been injured by the perusal of novels？ I almost forgot a shade in the character of one of them； she affected a simplicity bordering on folly； and with a simper would utter the most immodest remarks and questions； the full meaning of which she had learned whilst secluded from the world； and afraid to speak in her mother's presence； who governed with a high hand； they were all educated； as she prided herself； in a most exemplary manner； and read their chapters and psalms before breakfast； never touching a silly novel。 This is only one instance； but I recollect many other women who； not led by degrees to proper studies； and not permitted to choose for themselves； have indeed been overgrown children； or have obtained； by mixing in the world； a little of what is termed common sense； that is； a distinct manner of seeing common occurrences； as they stand detached： but what deserves the name of intellect； the power of gaining general or abstract ideas； or even intermediate ones； was out of the question。 Their minds were quiescent； and when they were not roused by sensible objects and employments of that kind； they were low…spirited； would cry； or go to sleep。 When； therefore； I advise my sex not to read such flimsy works； it is to induce them to read something superior； for I coincide in opinion with a sagacious man； who； having a daughter and niece under his care； pursued a very different plan with each。 The niece； who had considerable abilities； had； before she was left to his guardianship； been indulged in desultory reading。 Her he endeavoured to lead； and did lead； to history and moral essays； but his daughter whom a fond weak mother had indulged； and who consequently was averse to every thing like application； he allowed to read novels； and used to justify his conduct by saying； that if she ever attained a relish for reading them； he should have some foundation to work upon； and that erroneous opinions were better than none at all。 In fact； the female mind has been so totally neglected； that knowledge was only to be acquired from this muddy source； till from reading novels some women of superior talents learned to despise them。 The best method； I believe； that can be adopted to correct a fondness for novels is to ridicule them； not indiscriminately； for then it would have little effect； but； if a judicious person； with some turn for humour； would read several to a young girl； and point out； both by tones and apt comparisons with pathetic incidents and heroic characters in history； how foolishly and ridiculously they caricatured human nature； just opinions might be substituted instead of romantic sentiments。 In one respect； however； the majority of both sexes resemble； and equally show a want of taste and modesty。 Ignorant women； forced to be chaste to preserve their reputation； allow their imagination to revel in the unnatural and meretricious scenes sketched by the novel writers of the day； slighting as insipid the sober dignity and matronly grace of history；* whilst men carry the same vitiated taste into life； and fly for amusement to the wanton； from the unsophisticated charms of virtue； and the grave respectability of sense。 （*Footnote。 I am not now alluding to that superiority of mind which leads to the creation of ideal beauty； when life surveyed with a penetrating eye； appears a tragi…comedy； in which little can be seen to satisfy the heart without the help of fancy。） Besides； the reading of novels makes women； and particularly ladies of fashion； very fond of using strong expressions and superlatives in conversation； and； though the dissipated artificial life which they lead prevents their cherishing any strong legitimate passion； the language of passion in affected tones slips for ever from their glib tongues； and every trifle produces those phosphoric bursts which only mimick in the dark the flame of passion。 SECTION 13。3。 Ignorance and the mistaken cunning that nature sharpens in weak heads； as a principle of self…preservation； render women very fond of dress； and produce all the vanity which such a fondness may naturally be expected to generate； to the exclusion of emulation and magnanimity。 I agree with Rousseau； that the physical part of the art of pleasing consists in ornaments； and for that very reason I should guard girls against the contagious fondness for dress so common to weak women； that they may not rest in the physical part。 Yet； weak are the women who imagine that they can long please without the aid of the mind； or； in other words； without the moral art of pleasing。 But the moral art； if it be not a profanation to use the word art； when alluding to the grace which is an effect of virtue； and not the motive of action； is never to be found with ignorance； the sportiveness of innocence； so pleasing to refined libertines of both sexes； is widely different in its essence from this superior gracefulness。 A strong inclination for external ornaments ever appears in barbarous states； only the men not the women adorn themselves； for where women are allowed to be so far on a level with men； society has advanced at least one step in civilization。 The attention to dress； therefore； which has been thought a sexual propensity； I think natural to mankind。 But I ought to express myself with more precision。 When the mind is not sufficiently opened to take pleasure in reflection； the body will be adorned with sedulous care； and ambition will appear in tattooing or painting it。 So far is the first inclination carried； that even the hellish yoke of slavery cannot stifle the savage desire of admiration which the black heroes inherit from both their parents； for all the hardly…earned savings of a slave are commonly expended in a little tawdry finery。 And I have seldom known a good male or female servant that was not particularly fond of dress。 Their clothes were their riches； and I argue from analogy； that the fondness for dress； so extravagant in females； arises from the same causewant of cultivation of mind。 When men meet they converse about business； politics； or literature； but； says Swift； 〃how naturally do women apply their hands to each others lappets and ruffles。〃 And very natural it isfor they have not any business to interest them； have not a taste for literature； and they find politics dry； because they have not acquired a love for mankind by turning their thoughts to the grand pursuits that exalt the human race and promote general happiness。 Besides； various are the paths to power and fame； which by accident or choice men pursue； and though they jostle against each other； for men of the same profession are seldom friends； yet there is a much greater number of their fellow…creatures with whom they never clash。 But women are very differently situated with respect to each otherfor they are all rivals。 Before marriage it is thei
