Table of Contents

Mary Wollstonecraft

Birth and Early Life

Mary Wollstonecraft was born on April 27, 1759, in Spitalfields, London, England.1)

Family Background

She was the second of seven children in her family.2)

Troubled Childhood

Wollstonecraft's father was abusive, which led to a tumultuous and unstable childhood.3)

Early Independence

At the age of 19, she moved out of her family home to escape her father's abuse.4)

Career Beginnings

She initially worked as a lady’s companion, then as a schoolteacher and governess.5)

School Founder

In 1784, she helped found a school in Newington Green, London.6)

First Book

Her first book, “Thoughts on the Education of Daughters,” was published in 1787.7)

Translator

Wollstonecraft worked as a translator for Joseph Johnson, a prominent radical publisher.8)

Journalist

She contributed to the Analytical Review, a periodical founded by Johnson.9)

Feminist Pioneer

Wollstonecraft is best known for her work “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman” (1792), a seminal text in feminist philosophy.10)

Advocacy for Women's Education

In “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman,” she argued strongly for the education of women.11)

Critique of Rousseau

She critiqued Jean-Jacques Rousseau's views on women, particularly in his book “Emile.”12)

Political Views

Wollstonecraft was a supporter of the French Revolution initially and wrote “A Vindication of the Rights of Men” (1790) in response to Edmund Burke's “Reflections on the Revolution in France.”13)

Influence on Feminism

Her works laid the foundation for modern feminist thought and advocacy.14)

Personal Relationships

Wollstonecraft had a complex personal life, including a tumultuous relationship with the American adventurer Gilbert Imlay.15)

Travel Writing

Her book “Letters Written During a Short Residence in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark” (1796) is a travel narrative that also delves into personal and philosophical reflections.16)

Suicide Attempts

Wollstonecraft attempted suicide twice due to her troubled relationship with Imlay.17)

Marriage to William Godwin

She married the political philosopher William Godwin in 1797.18)

Motherhood

Wollstonecraft had two daughters: Fanny Imlay with Gilbert Imlay and Mary Shelley with William Godwin.19)

Death

She died of puerperal fever on September 10, 1797, shortly after giving birth to her second daughter, Mary Shelley.20)

Legacy through Mary Shelley

Her daughter, Mary Shelley, went on to write the classic novel “Frankenstein.”21)

Burial Place

Wollstonecraft is buried at St. Pancras Old Church in London.22)

Posthumous Memoir

William Godwin published “Memoirs of the Author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman” in 1798, which revealed much about her personal life.23)

Controversial Memoir

Godwin's memoir initially damaged her reputation due to its candid revelations about her personal life.24)

Cultural Impact

Wollstonecraft's ideas have had a lasting impact on feminist theory and women's rights movements.25)

Statue in London

In 2020, a statue commemorating Wollstonecraft was erected in Newington Green, London.26)

Influence on Education

Her ideas influenced educational reforms that emphasized the importance of educating girls.27)

Literary Style

Wollstonecraft’s writing style was direct, passionate, and unafraid to challenge societal norms.28)

Philosophical Contributions

She contributed significantly to Enlightenment thought and debates on the nature of human rights and gender equality.29)

Advocate for Rationality

She believed that women should be treated as rational beings and capable of reason.30)

Friendship with Thomas Paine

Wollstonecraft was friends with the influential revolutionary writer Thomas Paine.31)

Critique of Marriage

She criticized the institution of marriage as it existed in her time, seeing it as oppressive to women.32)

Early Feminist Network

Wollstonecraft was part of an early feminist network that included other radical thinkers of her time.33)

Influence on Suffrage Movement

Her writings influenced the women’s suffrage movement in the 19th and 20th centuries.34)

Home Education Advocate

She was an early advocate for home education and the development of children's moral and intellectual capacities.35)

Role in Radical Circles

Wollstonecraft was active in radical political circles in London, which were hotbeds of revolutionary ideas.36)

Literary Critic

She wrote literary reviews and essays critiquing the works of her contemporaries.37)

Advocate for Social Justice

Wollstonecraft’s work extended beyond gender issues to broader social justice concerns.38)

Impact on Social Reformers

Her ideas influenced later social reformers, including John Stuart Mill.39)

Legacy in Academia

Wollstonecraft's works are studied extensively in literature, history, and gender studies programs.40)

Gender Equality Visionary

Her vision of gender equality was far ahead of her time, advocating for equal opportunities in education and employment.41)

Historical Context

She wrote during a period of great political upheaval, including the American Revolution, the French Revolution, and the early stages of the Industrial Revolution.42)

Influence on Women's Literature

Wollstonecraft paved the way for future generations of women writers and intellectuals.43)

Recognition

Despite initial posthumous controversy, she is now celebrated as a pioneer in feminist thought.44)

Inspirational Figure

Mary Wollstonecraft remains an inspirational figure for those advocating for gender equality and human rights today.45)