Monday, April 19, 2010

Wood, Fuller/Alcott Post


Between Margaret Fuller's "The Great Lawsuit" and Louisa May Alcott's "Behind A Mask", I think Fuller makes a better feminist argument. This is mainly because she is trying to teach women that in order for men to value women equally to themselves, women must be able to separate themselves from any dependent lifestyle that they may have. Personally, I think this even goes beyond relationship dependencies - it could also include dependencies on drugs, food and/or material things as well. Any woman who could rise above pressures to be codependent proves incredible strength, and Fuller's encouragement of this behavior is something that goes a long way.

Her insistence for women to be pro-active and start making positive changes in their lives that will benefit them in the long run is advice that reminds me a lot of a mother's advice to her child. However, opposite to this maternal theme, it is very odd that she then goes on to reprimand marriage, calling it either something that could be of either "convenience" or force. Her lack of faith in the reverence of what marriage for some could be reveals yet again her dependence on independence. However, I think that this quest for independence and self-fulfillment is something that could very possibly lead to loneliness and isolation. Therefore, I think Fuller should realize that it is more important to establish a healthy balance of the two.

1 comment:

  1. Good point on the requirements for women in achieving equality.

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