Mary: A Fiction
1788
Mary: A Fiction, published in 1788, is the only complete novel by British feminist Mary Wollstonecraft. The narrative follows Mary, a young woman grappling with familial indifference and societal expectations, as she navigates her relationships and seeks personal autonomy. The novel critiques traditional gender roles and the institution of marriage, presenting Mary as a self-taught heroine who challenges the norms of her time. This work is notable for its early exploration of female genius and its influence on feminist literature.
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“Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change.””
— Mary Wollstonecraft
“Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful.””
— Mary Wollstonecraft
“Life, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it.””
— Mary Wollstonecraft
“I do know that for the sympathy of one living being, I would make peace with all. I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe. If I cannot satisfy the one, I will indulge the other.””
— Mary Wollstonecraft
“There is something at work in my soul, which I do not understand.””
— Mary Wollstonecraft
“If I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear!””
— Mary Wollstonecraft
“I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel...””
— Mary Wollstonecraft
“Even broken in spirit as he is, no one can feel more deeply than he does the beauties of nature. The starry sky, the sea, and every sight afforded by these wonderful regions, seems still to have the power of elevating his soul from earth. Such a man has a double existence: he may suffer misery, and be overwhelmed by disappointments; yet, when he has retired into himself, he will be like a celestial spirit that has a halo around him, within whose circle no grief or folly ventures.””
— Mary Wollstonecraft
“I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe. If I cannot satisfy the one, I will indulge the other.””
— Mary Wollstonecraft
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Wollstonecraft, Mary. Mary: A Fiction. Lex, lex-books.com/book/mary-a-fiction-b47cae04-eb63-470c-a290-bc5aa2d92eba.Wollstonecraft, M. (1788). Mary: A Fiction. Lex. https://lex-books.com/book/mary-a-fiction-b47cae04-eb63-470c-a290-bc5aa2d92ebaWollstonecraft, Mary. Mary: A Fiction. Lex. https://lex-books.com/book/mary-a-fiction-b47cae04-eb63-470c-a290-bc5aa2d92eba.
