Female Empowerment in Restoration and 18th-Century Literature
The aim of this essay is to analyze eighteenth-century literary works in which a certain feminine empowerment can be appreciated, and which, therefore, contributed to a social discussion about the figure and role of women in society.
The Role of Women in the 18th Century
First of all, it is important to take into account the predominant role attributed to women in the 18th century. At that time, women were subjected to numerous social rules and constraints that were intended to direct their behavior towards a point of submission. Moreover, women were seen as a kind of instrument to satisfy the needs of the male figures around them. Marriage was therefore of vital importance in women’s lives, as were religion and motherhood. These socially imposed rules were reflected in the church and in women’s conduct books, which were mainly focused on male dominance in the home and the concept of the “proper wife”. In addition, at this time, the vision and conception of marriage as a contract of interests and a business transaction was also prominent.
Emerging Voices: Challenging the Norms
However, there were a number of authors who reflected in their artistic productions new ideas that broke with the molds imposed by society. Therefore, these ideas marked the beginning of a change in the conception of women and a new perspective that began to propose a change in the role of women in society. These innovations were closely related to marriage. Thus, authors such as Mary Astell and Daniel Defoe contributed to this change.
Mary Astell: A Pioneer of Feminist Thought
First of all, Mary Astell’s Some Reflections upon Marriage examined women’s subordination to marriage and their lack of freedom. Therefore, she carried out a series of criticisms of the elements that kept women in this position, such as domestic tyrants. Furthermore, she recommended women to get a better education so that they would have better judgement and be able to choose a husband who would not be harmful (p.2287 “To wind up […] they do.”). She also believed that affection in marriage depended on benevolence and not physical desire, and urged the acquisition of virtue as the true means to women’s happiness (p. 2287 “This, if anything, […] crown of glory”). In this book, it is argued that during that era, men married for three things, wealth, beauty, and only one in a thousand married for love (p.2285 “But suppose […] that do”).
Regarding this, men who married for love were so rare that it was considered a heroic act (p.2285 “[…]he marries […] extravagancy, […]”), which Astell detested. According to her, referring to love as a heroic act of saving a woman is simply degrading to women. She also classified men who married for beauty in the same category as those who married for money and fame—both were governed by lust (p.2285-2286 “There’s no great […] irregular appetites”). She defended that education would further women’s goals and elevate their minds making them “immune” to the deceptions of men. Astell believed that an educated woman is a perfect woman.
Daniel Defoe: Redefining Marriage in *Roxana*
On the other hand, with regard to marriage, Daniel Defoe laid the foundations for a renewal of this concept, which, in turn, he represented in his literary production. Thus, in Roxana, the idea of marriage motivated by real love and in a disinterested way, or, at least, from a point of view far removed from a commercial transaction, is taken up. This rejection of the previous concept of marriage can be seen in his work Roxana, where the criticism of women as slaves is particularly noteworthy: (p.2289 “[..]marrying, which was giving up my liberty,[…]”; p.2290-2291 “[…]; that the laws of matrimony […] that is to say, a slave.”; p.2292 “The pretense […] suspicion of.”) and the economic issue over love (p.2290 “I have an offer […] your death.”; p.2290 “I was indeed […] that principle neither.”; p.2292 “[…]if i would embark […] in business any more;”). Another example of this rejection of traditional and socially imposed marriage may be the female character’s aversion to marriage “[…] that as to marrying, which was giving up my liberty, […] and desired he would not insist upon it” (p. 2289). On the other hand, Roxana defends the identity of women as independent individuals, while at the same time criticizing the relegation to the background of the male figure implied by the concept of marriage. This was because the affection argument erased women’s identity as they are no longer themselves “The pretense of affection takes from a woman everything […] to be the passive creature you spoke of.” (p. 2292).
Conclusion: The Seeds of Change
To conclude, the influence that authors have had on society has been key to the development of society. Therefore, they contributed greatly to the advances made in the field of female empowerment, and especially in marriage, which was one of the main elements affecting women. Thus, Defoe’s reinforcement of female identity, as well as Astell’s denunciation of the tyrants of the home, sowed a social seed that would lead to change. However, figures such as Margaret Cavendish and her The Blazing World also marked a breakthrough for women.