ahead of her time?
Posted by P. Bingham on April 20, 1998 at 01:28:48:
In response to You, me and a million others, written by Caroline on April 17, 1998 at 13:14:49
I would not necessarily put Jane ahead of her time in this respect. On the contrary, I feel she was very much a part of her time. Don't forget the other ladies that were making a place for themselves and other women. All the women writers that came out from behind the confining walls of their husband's homes to write all those gothic novels, those same books that Jane Austen was playing fun at. Writing books, any book, was a man's place and the men strongly resented the women for even thinking of writing one. These women went through many obstacles to publish these books. I believe that this great wave of book writing by women paved the way for feminism, showing women that there were many things that they could do just as well as men. They were able to prove this by publishing anonymously at first, but then they became bold enough to show the world what they were doing.
And there was Mary Wolstencraft, who may have been a little too much for Jane Austen but must have influenced her some. And there was Hannah More as well. She was not a feminist, of course, but she was a very outspoken female. Just being an outspoken writer and being female is enough to influence other women to appreciate being a woman more. And don't forget Princess Caroline. She certainly did not do things expected of her sex. And then there was the Prinny & Caroline's daughter. This was the age of outspoken, outraged, outrageous women, for one thing or another. All of these women may have been ones which Jane Austen would have been appalled with, but they were women who too did not appreciate the confines of their time and were brave enough to fight them.
As far as feminism, I feel you certainly can speak of this term during this period. I think that Mary Wolstencraft would be a little disheartened to think that we might not, after all, she pioneered feminism. Feminism indeed takes on different connotations, but it does not necessarily denote every connotation. So you can use it any way you feel like.
Patricia
- The difference with JA being.... Carolyn B 19:18:04 4/20/98
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- Thanks, Patricia, those were some good examples. (nfm) Marie Bernadette 18:41:47 4/20/98
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