Some Reflections Upon Marriage

18 January 2018: "But some sage Persons may perhaps object that were Women allow'd to Improve themselves, and not amongst other discouragements driven back by those wise Jests and Scoffs that are put upon a Woman of Sense or Learning, a Philosophical lady as she is call'd by way of Ridicule, they would be too Wise and too Good for the Men; I grant it, for vicious and foolish Men. Nor is it to be wonder'd that he is affraid he shou'd not be able to Govern them were their Understandings improv'd, who is resolv'd not to take too much Pains with his own. But these 'tis to be hop'd are no very considerable Number, the foolish at least; and therefore this is so far from being an Argument against their Improvement, that it is a strong one for it, if we do but suppose the Men to be as capable of Improvement as the Women, but much more if according to Tradition we believe they have greater Capacities." --Mary Astell, Some Reflections Upon Marriage

Each time I read Astell's text, which we discussed in my ENGL 311 class today, it surprises me with its relevance to our day and age. Especially during our current cultural moment, Astell's point in the section quoted above--that men are capable of improvement when it comes to their views on women--strikes me as both hilarious and hopeful.

My students today--all women, interestingly--loved the piece and Astell's wit. And they get it. In the words of one of them, "This text is dangerous."