Page:Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin (Pennell, 1885).djvu/99

83 CHAPTER V.

1788–1791.

has been stated, Mary Wollstonecraft began her literary career by writing a small pamphlet on the subject of education. Its title, in full, is Thoughts on the Education of Daughters: with Reflections on Female Conduct in the more Important Duties of Life. It is interesting as her first work, but otherwise it is of no great value.

The pamphlet consists of a number of short treatises, indicating certain laws and principles which Mary thought needed to be more generally understood and more firmly established. Many passages show that as early as 1787 she had seriously considered the problems which, in 1791, she attempted to solve. She was even then perplexed by the unfortunate situation of women of the upper classes who, having received but the pretence of an education, eventually become dependent on their own exertions. Her sad experience probably led her to these thoughts. Reflection upon them made her the champion of her sex. Already in this little pamphlet she declares her belief that, by a