In Search of Chloe: Enlightened Views of Women
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Date
1983
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Abstract
Eighteenth-century histories, essays, criticism, and poetry suggest that certain basic attitudes toward women prevailed. have categorized and described three of those attitudes:
1. Women are merely "fair nymphs" (the poetic idealization of women).
2. Women should not have educational or social equality with men.
3. Women function primarily as objects for the sexual gratification of men.
The poetry of Jonathan Swift suggests that he rejected these prevalent attitudes, insisting instead that men view women as human beings, with human qualities and human imperfections. Implicit in this view is Swift's plea for gender equality. Swift uses this attack in "Cadenus and Vanessa,” “The Progress of Beauty," "The Furniture of a Woman’s Mind,” "Clad all in Brown," "The Lady’s Dressing Room," “A Beautiful Young Nymph Going to Bed," "Strephon and Chloe," "Cassinus and Peter," and "The Hardship put upon Ladies." He first evokes, then destroys the pastoral image by portraying women realistically, often grossly, with bodily functions and imperfections. He attacks female education because it produces women dependent on men and preoccupied with beauty and fashion. Swift saw that in law and marriage, women were unequal; men did not view women as equal human beings, but insisted on their subordination. Swift also attacked the vices of domestic and commercial prostitution, denying that women were created to be slaves to men.
Because they reject the traditional social and poetic attitudes of the eighteenth century, Swift's views are enlightened.
Description
Program year: 1982-1983
Digitized from print original stored in HDR
Digitized from print original stored in HDR
Keywords
Jonathan Swift, gender roles, attitudes toward women, enlightenment