I) The first half of the 18th century
The important essay by John Locke Essay concerning human understanding (1690) made an exceptionally high impact in the 18th century. His rejection of Descartes’ ‘innate ideas’ constituted the basis for the discussion about abilities and rights of women in the 18th century. A.R. Humphreys noted:
“Throughout the century a skirmish went on between conservatives who argued for
the grand principle of subordination and progressives, who, guided by the clear
light of reason, contended for woman’s rational and social equality.”1
The married woman was considered to have neither rights nor property due to the fact that with the marriage all her property exchanged automatically to her husband. The ideal of marriage in the 18th century is described by W.L. Blease:
“ … the ideal of marriage had been brought to its lowest possible level […] it
emphasized the sexual side of the connection, and almost entirely disregarded the
spiritual.”2
The average age for marrying rested with 17 years, which was the reason that most young women could not satisfy their positions as mothers. The only profession women could have was that of a wife and mother; as Blease said “A respectable woman was nothing but the potential mother of children.”3. However, there was the problem of a surplus of women. Some women had the possibility to teach children, which was not very high regarded. Most women, however, had only the possibility to prostitute themselves which was a crucial problem of this times (Einhoff, 1980: 35).
Terms like ‘the fair sex’, ‘the soft sex’ and ‘the gentle sex’ designated the relationship of the sexes; the weak and tender woman needs to be protected by the strong man, which disguised the reality of absolute subordination of most women. It is also remarkable that there were only a few legal divorces which can be interpreted as a sign for the tacit sanction of adultery, the general standing of the value of marriage and the hopelessness of a divorced woman without rights and financial resources.
Table of Contents
I) The first half of the 18th century
II) The status of women in society
III) The myth of passive womanhood
IV) ‘Periodical literature’ in the first half of the 18th century
V) The Spectator
VI) The perception of women in The Spectator
VI) i. Marriage in The Spectator
VI) ii. Education in The Spectator
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This research paper examines the representation and social status of women in early 18th-century England, with a specific focus on how they were portrayed in the influential periodical The Spectator. It investigates the tension between restrictive social and legal norms and the emerging discussions regarding female education and moral standing.
- The legal and societal status of women in the 18th century.
- The construction of the "myth of passive womanhood."
- The role and influence of moral weeklies in shaping public opinion.
- Addison and Steele’s specific portrayal of marriage and female education.
- The early emancipatory discourse hidden within patriarchal frameworks.
Excerpt from the Book
VI) i. Marriage in The Spectator
The basic puritan subordination of women to men is shared by The Spectator. However, as far as it concerns the household, the woman inheres a central position as wife and mother. The main purpose of a woman is marriage and men and women were made as complementary parts. Mr. Spectator turns against marriages that are carried out against the will of the man or the woman and therewith mitigate the puritan astringency of these times (ibid: 74).
In No. 149, Steele argues about marital life: “The Marriage-Life is always an insipid, a vexatious, or an happy Condition.”9. In the first case, the woman is married against her will only due to financial calculations; Mr. Spectator, who regards women as individual personalities, views this as a constraint of her autonomy and a debasement to a mere object. The second alternative, the dolorous marital life, is just a partnership of convenience with the aim to escape poverty and heap up riches and to accept all other evils; both spouses make their lives a misery. Love has to be the basis for marriage and has nothing to do with properties, argues Steele. His imagination of a ‘happy marriage’ is:
“The happy Marriage is, where two Persons meet and voluntarily make Choice of each other, without principally regarding or neglecting the Circumstances of Fortune or Beauty.”10.
Chapter Summary
I) The first half of the 18th century: Provides a historical overview of the socio-legal climate, highlighting the lack of rights for married women and the societal reliance on the "gentle sex" stereotype.
II) The status of women in society: Analyzes the legal disparities between single and married women and the impact of the sentimental family structure on female citizenship.
III) The myth of passive womanhood: Explores the socioeconomic and cultural constructions that relegated women to domesticity and the contradictory expectations placed upon them.
IV) ‘Periodical literature’ in the first half of the 18th century: Examines the rise of moral weeklies as tools for social reform and their role in targeting a growing urban readership.
V) The Spectator: Profiles the origin and success of The Spectator, emphasizing its unique humorous and accessible approach to complex social and philosophical issues.
VI) The perception of women in The Spectator: Critically evaluates how Mr. Spectator addresses women, balancing traditional flattery with a critique of vanity and social vices.
VI) i. Marriage in The Spectator: Discusses the ideal of companionate marriage as proposed by Addison and Steele, arguing for love over financial calculation.
VI) ii. Education in The Spectator: Investigates the periodical’s perspective on female education as a means to strengthen virtue and improve the domestic sphere.
Keywords
18th-century England, The Spectator, women's rights, marriage, female education, moral weeklies, social history, patriarchy, Addison and Steele, gender roles, civil citizenship, literary representation, domesticity, emancipation, passive womanhood.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
This paper explores how women were perceived, treated, and portrayed in early 18th-century English society, particularly within the pages of the influential periodical The Spectator.
What are the main thematic areas covered in the work?
The work covers the legal status of women, the evolution of marriage, the constraints of the "passive womanhood" myth, and the role of periodical literature in promoting specific gender ideals.
What is the central research question?
The research examines how The Spectator navigated the tension between contemporary patriarchal norms and the early, limited emancipatory ideas regarding female education and individual personality.
What methodology does the author employ?
The paper utilizes a literary and historical analysis, drawing upon primary texts from The Spectator and secondary scholarly literature on 18th-century social history.
What is examined in the main section regarding education?
The main section analyzes how Addison and Steele viewed female education not as an end in itself, but as a necessary tool to combat vanity and strengthen the domestic and moral foundation of the family.
How is the representation of marriage described?
Marriage is analyzed as both a legal contract that suppressed women's rights and an ideal partnership where mutual love and friendship should ideally replace financial interest.
Did Mr. Spectator support the idea of women in public life?
No, the paper notes that Mr. Spectator did not assign women a role in public, political, or professional life; he viewed their participation in such areas as invalid or unnecessary.
How did the legal status differ for single and married women?
While single women possessed some legal standing similar to men, a married woman's legal identity was "covered" by her husband, rendering her unable to own property or enter contracts independently.
What was the function of the "moral weeklies"?
These periodicals served to imprint moral and philosophical values into civil awareness, acting as a guide for the middle class on how to live, think, and interact within society.
- Quote paper
- Claudia Wipprecht (Author), 2006, The representation of women in early 18th century England, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/75519
