#maryastell

[shelbys-commonplace]

Some Reflections upon Marriage

“A woman, indeed, can’t properly be said to choose; all that is allowed her, is to refuse or accept what is offered.” 

This line from Mary Astell’s work stuck out to me by its long going presence within most cultures. Her highlighting of the absence of choice and control for women hit the nail on the head, especially considering the place and time this response was written. Her reflections on marriage in her time were bold and humanized women as a whole.

[shelbys-commonplace]

Some Reflections upon Marriage

“If she neglects those Methods which are necessary to keep her, not only from a Crime, but from the very Suspicion of one?”

This line from the text of Mary Astell’s Some Reflections upon Marriage was notable to me while reading. Just before this line Astell discussed all the desired traits that could be wanted out of a woman for marriage, but this quoted line suggests that no woman can ever be good enough in a man’s eyes for a woman to have no martial problems. This line also suggests that Astell is stating the more beautiful and put together a wife is, the less likely any person would ever suspect of something unsavory happening within that marriage. The realisticness and harshness of this work is captivating to me.