EXHIBITS
Constructing Women's Reputations: Gender and the Public Self: Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin
"It has long since occurred to me that advice respecting behaviour, and all the various modes of preserving a good reputation, which have been so strenuously inculcated on the female world, were specious poisons, that incrusting morality eat away the substance. And, that this measuring of shadows produced a false calculation, because their length depends so much on the height of the sun, and other adventitious circumstances."
—Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, 139
Mary Wollstonecraft responded to the idea that women needed to appear to be perfect in order to get a good reputation. Wollstonecraft was an advocate for women’s rights, and she wanted women and men to be treated equally. In one of her most well-known publications, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792), Wollstonecraft discusses the debate between surface appearance and depth of character when she states that women spend “many of their first years of their lives in acquiring a smattering of accomplishments; meanwhile strength of body and mind are sacrificed to libertine notions of beauty.” [1] By focusing on accomplishments such as art and music, women focus on their appearance because they are activities people can see women doing, whereas focusing on strength of mind cannot be seen.
Mary Wollstonecraft responded to the idea that women needed to appear to be perfect in order to get a good reputation. Wollstonecraft was an advocate for women’s rights, and she wanted women and men to be treated equally. In one of her most well-known publications, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792), Wollstonecraft discusses the debate surface appearance and depth of character when she states that women spend “many of their first years of their lives in acquiring a smattering of accomplishments; meanwhile strength of body and mind are sacrificed to libertine notions of beauty.” [1] By focusing on accomplishments such as art and music, women focus on their appearance because they are activities people can see women doing, whereas focusing on strength of mind cannot be seen.
Like Mary Astell, Wollstonecraft explains that morality, or character, should be regarded more highly than reputation. Wollstonecraft explains that women uphold their reputations on a higher plane than their character because they are trained to keep their reputations “free from spot,” but she argues that character needs to be the focus and not reputation. [1] Although Wollstonecraft chastises women, she explains that women cannot fully be blamed for this because they are trained to think that respect “for the opinion of the world, has, however, been termed the principal duty of woman” which explains the confusion. [1] Women have lived up to the expectations set for them by the world, but the expectation is skewed, and Wollstonecraft calls for a change. Women need to focus on their characters so they can truly be good.
Wollstonecraft’s argument that morality should not be overshadowed by reputation is convincing, but, after Wollstonecraft died, her husband, William Godwin, published Memoirs from the Author of A Vindication of the Rights of Women. He praised Wollstonecraft, but also explained she was an unwed mother and had attempted suicide twice. Godwin even states that the main reason why Wollstonecraft and Godwin married was “the circumstance of Mary’s being in a state of pregnancy” which implies Wollstonecraft and Godwin’s immorality.[2] People during the era were appalled that Wollstonecraft was an unwed mother and had attempted suicide twice. Critics of Wollstonecraft used this knowledge as a weapon to explain why people should not regard Wollstonecraft’s views. Even though Godwin and Wollstonecraft remedied their situation by getting married, Wollstonecraft was not spoken of directly when people mentioned her views because people looked down on her. Wollstonecraft’s reputation was ruined because she no longer appeared perfect to society.
[1] Wollstonecraft, Mary. A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, Edited by Deidre Shauna Lynch, 3rd ed., W.W. Norton & Company, 2009.
[2] Godwin, William. Memoirs of the Author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, 2nd ed. Google Books ed., London, 1798. Web.
Image Credits:
John Opie (artist) and James Heath (engraver). "Image of Mary Wollstonecraft, half-length portrait, facing left," Rockwood Photographer, 1850-70. Library of Congress.
Wollstonecraft, Mary. A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. Boston, 1792. Library of Congress.
“Image of William Godwin,” Literary Landmarks of London ... Eighth edition, revised and enlarged, etc, Osgood, McIlrain & Co. 1892, p. 191. The British Library.
Godwin, William. Memoirs of the Author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. 2nd ed., London, 1798. Eighteenth Century Collections Online.