Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication Of The Rights Of Women

Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Woman was her response to educational theorists during the 18th century who believed women should not receive an education. Wollstonecraft fights back by stating that women deserve to have an education that corresponds to their unarguably high position in society: women are essential because they educate the youth and act as companions for their husbands. Women hold such an important role, they should not be treated as arm candy or property that can be bartered. Wollstonecraft was ahead of her time, yet opened the doors for many other female writers to take up her torch in the fight for equal rights. Authors such as Jane Austen in her work Pride and Prejudice portrayed her female characters

All praises bestowed on her I received as made to a possession of my own” which indicates the strong, male control over the women during the Romantic time period (Shelley 21). The idea of Elizabeth, Frankenstein’s fiancee, being “owned” like a pet creates the feeling of helplessness and weakness, both mentally and physically. The point is driven further when Frankenstein’s says “till death she was to be mine only” (Shelley 21). Frankenstein’s view of Elizabeth serves as foreshadowing for what’s to come. Frankenstein does not love, cherish or protect Elizabeth throughout the novel, in fact, it’s the other way around. Elizabeth is nothing but supportive of him and is consistently concerned about his health and overall wellbeing. Despite Victor making the decision to leave, she does not object, but continues to offer emotional support and affection; on top of this, she patiently awaits for his return. Her letters to him offer comfort and help him persevere in his endeavors. Similarly, this is the same psychological support that his creation craves; the termination of the female monster shows that Victor Frankenstein is fearful of creating something he cannot control, unlike Elizabeth especially after “failure” of his

Despite her efforts, Mr. Collins’ somehow invades every area of Elizabeth’s life. Mr. Collins accomplishes this by overstaying his welcome at Longbourne, even after Elizabeth refused his marriage proposal. After all, “He was always to have gone on Saturday, and to Saturday he still meant to stay” (Austen 78). Despite Elizabeth refusing to marry him, Mr. Collins still doesn’t give her the physical privacy she needs. When she said “no,” he states that “it is usual with young ladies to reject the addresses of the man whom they secretly wish to accept, when he first applies for her favor; and that sometimes the refusal is repeated on a second or even third time” he then follows up by saying he will pursue her anyway (Austen 73). This quote adds another dimension to the idea of personal privacy since it sounds like a sexual violence threat. Sexual violence may be the most serious violation of a woman’s emotional, mental and maybe even physical well-being. Mr. Collins’, probably unintentional, hint towards rape reflects a deep disregard for Elizabeth’s physical privacy but also introduces female privacy on a mental