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Lifespan of Mary Wollstonecraft
Mary Wollstonecraft was a moral and political philosopher who focused much of her work on the treatment and position of women in and by society. Her writings were key in the development of original radicalism. -
Self-Education
One of seven children in a poorer home, Mary was unable to attend school officially, though her older brother, Edward, was able to study extensively. In her youth, Mary taught herself writing and several ancient philosophers' works. Mary’s self-teaching was common for girls raised in poorer families, who had little access to education.
This event in Mary’s life led to her valuing education highly. She later worked as a teacher and created a school with a friend and her sister Everina. -
Opening the Girls' School
Mary, with her close friend Franny and sister Eliza, starts a school for girls in London. The school is open for only a few years but develops a prestigious reputation. Ultimately the school is shut down after failing to provide financially. Mary’s work in her school reinforces her value for education, particularly for girls. The challenges of keeping the all-girls school running further fuel her activism for education accessibility and quality for girls and inspired later literary works. -
Going into Hiding
Moving in with her sister Eliza to help her with her newborn baby, Mary observes that she is unwell with her husband. Mary takes her sister away to live in hiding, leaving Eliza’s infant behind; the baby dies later that year. Eliza becomes outcasted due to these events.
Mary’s reasons are unknown, but she was likely concerned for Eliza’s wellbeing. Her experiences aiding her sister inspired her to advocate further for women's rights. She later writes on the transactive nature of marriage. -
Single Life
Mary and Imlay face challenges as a pair. The couple part unamicably and Mary later has a daughter whom she names Fanny in honor of her closest friend who died in childbirth. Mary is left as an unmarried woman with a newborn, and returns to England. Mary’s harsh experiences with Imlay and the limits on women in a traditional culture affect her decision to remain in France. She reacquaints with William Godwin, a fellow writer and activist. They later marry. -
Inspiration from the French Revolution
The French Revolution is unfolding. The Revolution inspires Mary and her contemporaries. Mary travels to France and meets American writer Gilbert Imlay. The two travel through revolutionary France, posing as a married couple. The ideations of Revolutionary France influence many of Mary’s future literary works, namely ‘A Vindication of the Rights of Man'. In the changing political climate, Mary wrote to bring attention to gender inequality in politics and education. -
References
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2022, September 6). Mary Wollstonecraft. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mary-Wollstonecraft Tomaselli, Sylvana, "Mary Wollstonecraft", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2020 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2020/entries/wollstonecraft/.