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Similes
Introduction
Explanation and Analysis:
The style of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman is determined by Wollstonecraft’s desire to be taken seriously. Her attention to detail is a major part of the work. By writing in a highly educated, organized manner, she is also attempting to prove that properly educated women are capable of the kind of reasoning that is customarily reserved for men. Her ability to argue that women deserve a better education is dependent on her reader taking her seriously, and Wollstonecraft understands that many of her male readers might be predisposed to dismiss her simply because she is a female writer and philosopher. Therefore, she ensures that the piece is organized and argued very clearly, emphasizing a sharp, observant style. This strategy is present from the very beginning of the piece. For example, in the introduction, she says:
The discussion naturally divides the subject. I shall first consider women in the grand light of human creatures, who, in common with men, are placed on this earth to unfold their faculties; and afterwards I shall more particularly point out their peculiar destination.
Related Themes:
