Jane Austen

Jane Austen , like the heroines in her novels , is the picture of a headstrong , intellectual woman whose wit can compare to the men in her time . Despite this , she was unable to publish her books under her name because writing was not quite an accepted profession for women , if they were allowed a profession at all other than as housewives , during the time . In her novel , Emma , her heroine , Emma Woodhouse , has high regard for intellectual capacity as well as class . Although , initially , she was convinced that she would not marry , her encounters

with the other characters proved it otherwise . Though , perhaps unwittingly , Emma 's journey to matrimony may well be compared to that of Mary Wollstonecarft 's idea of marriage and love , since she is an intellectual equal (though rash in decision-making , a friend , and a lover , even before she became Mrs . George Knightley . Another relationship which explores Wollstonecraft 's idea is that of Miss Snith and Mr . Martins which will be discussed later on in the text

In A Vindication of the Rights of Woman , Mary Wollstonecraft argues in favor of the education of women . Although feminism had not yet risen during her time , her ideas explore the ways in which a woman 's standing in society may be elevated through a change in perception . This perception through which women are seen are the prejudices of society which keeps them from sharing equal footing with men , both as an individual , since women are seen as investments for marriage (because of inheritance , and intellectually , for the lack of , or more accurately controlled education . This education , rather , mis-education , can be treated as a tool for suppression by those of , perhaps , higher status males who wish to keep women as subordinates . As Wollstonecraft had argued , strengthen the female mind by enlarging it , and there will be an end to blind obedience but as blind obedience is ever sought for by power , tyrants and sensualists are in the right endeavor to keep woman in the dark [ .] (21 . By keeping woman in the dark , they are easily misguided into thinking and doing only what is favored , without realizing that it is already an abuse of their rights as humans . They are , as Wollstonecraft terms it , both slaves ' and playthings ' As such , women are considered inferior to man , yet this inferiority should be held questionable since their virtues must be the same in quality if not in degree , or virtue is a relative idea consequently their conduct should be founded on the same principles , and have the same aim (22 . To put it simply , man and woman are beings who share the same beginnings and should have equal claim to rights and education

The prejudiced perception of women inevitably found its way in literature . For instance , she says that all the who have written on the subject of female education and manners , from Rousseau to Dr . Gregory , have contributed to render women more artificial , weak characters , than they would otherwise have...