Analysis Of Mary Astell's 'A Religious Retirement'

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Mary Astell and Margaret Cavendish’s works use education as the beacon for women and their fight for equality. These women use differing points to celebrate the beauties of being female and the need for education to empower the powerless. Astell questions the validity of the dominant while juxtaposing real interests versus subjugated ones to illustrate the value of education in a woman. Cavendish uses similar tactics by insisting the notion of self-enlightenment and the value of mimicry of men to make this a shared world. Who would later go on to challenge that by sharing a transformation and the pride in simply being.
Astell 's work "A Religious Retirement" instructs women to expand their horizons and not waste time in petty education and a quiet corner. Astell implies an over appreciative value of the educated man, far beyond its actual worth. Even though they implement social constraints on others, they are considered the dominant sex, but only by their own words. Women had little say in their lives. Even less so in their marriages and for the sake of their education thus change called. Men lack the trials of a woman’s burden in life, therefore, they must overcompensate (rather jealous womb theory) They (women) should not waste time with fickle …show more content…

In her seventh Oration to women, Cavendish begins to change her tune once again. She no longer calls for the mimicry of men, but rather the simple joy in being different from him. Now referring to her audience as "noble ladies, honorable gentlewomen, and worthy female-commoners" (164) shows a great change in how she views herself and the role she plays. Cavendish begins to realize the beauty and the hardships of being female, as well as those of being male. Therefore, no longer must a woman act just as a man would but rather take pride in her powers that men will never

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