Original Stories from Real Life

Original Stories from Real Life: A Window into 18th-Century Feminist Education

Imagine a world where the stories you read are not just tales of magic and wonder, but lessons in reason, emotion, and virtue. This is exactly what Original Stories from Real Life, written by Mary Wollstonecraft, offers. As the only complete work of children’s literature by this 18th-century English feminist author, it serves as a unique blend of moral instruction and social commentary.

The Frame Story: A Lesson in Virtue

At its core, Original Stories from Real Life is a frame story about two young girls, Mary and Caroline, being educated by their maternal teacher Mrs. Mason. This structure mirrors the works of Madame de Genlis, but Wollstonecraft uses it to promote her own vision of education for women.

Mrs. Mason’s Method: A Model of Virtue

Through stories, real-world demonstrations, and her own example, Mrs. Mason educates the girls. She cures them of their faults and imbues them with virtue. But what exactly does this mean? It means teaching them to be rational adults who can navigate the complexities of life with wisdom and grace.

Wollstonecraft’s Vision: A Middle-Class Ethos

The book is a response to influential educational theorists like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Wollstonecraft argues that proper education would make women rational adults, capable of contributing meaningfully to society. She contends that the middle-class ethos she advocates for is superior to fairy tales and chapbook stories.

Lockean Influences: A Blank Slate

In Original Stories, Mrs. Mason describes her own mind using Lockean terms, emphasizing the role of sensory learning and everyday experiences in education. She takes her nieces on nature walks, uses real-life examples, and shares tragic stories to teach moral lessons that are grounded in concrete realities.

Rejection of Rousseau: A New Vision

Wollstonecraft opposed Rousseau’s ideas about women’s education. She embraced the aesthetic of the sublime, arguing that achievement comes from within and substituted strength and mental expansion for the delicacy and beauty associated with womanhood.

Moral Progress: A Journey to Adulthood

Adulthood in Original Stories is defined by constructing moral tales from one’s life. Wollstonecraft encourages her readers to do so, emphasizing the importance of virtue and defining it as reason and self-control for both men and women.

The Impact: A Legacy of Change

Wollstonecraft believed that exposing young children to her ideas could effect great change. Her pedagogical theory emphasizes the role of sensory learning and everyday experiences in education, making Original Stories from Real Life a pioneering work in children’s literature.

The Frame Story: A Metaphor for Education

The frame story about Mary and Caroline being educated by Mrs. Mason is more than just a narrative device; it serves as a metaphor for the transformative power of education. Just as the girls are re-educated, so too can society be transformed through proper instruction.

Ultimately, Original Stories from Real Life is a testament to Wollstonecraft’s vision of education and her belief in the power of stories to shape minds. It remains an important work in children’s literature history, offering insights into 18th-century feminist thought and the evolution of educational theory.

In conclusion, Original Stories from Real Life is not just a collection of moral tales; it is a powerful tool for shaping the minds of young women. Through its blend of narrative and didacticism, Wollstonecraft’s work continues to inspire and challenge us today, reminding us that education can be both a means and an end in itself.