Question

a vindication of the rights of woman, mary wollstonecraft excerpt 3 note: when charles maurice de talleyrand - perigord presented his rapport sur linstruction publique (1791) to the national assembly in france, wollstonecraft decided to respond. in his speech he stated, the paternal home is better for the education of women; they have less need to learn to defend the interests of others, than to accustom themselves to a calm and secluded life. hence, he argued that women should stay in the home and do not need education. the excerpt below is wollstonecraft writing directly to talleyrand - perigord. 1 to 2 m. talleyrand - perigord 3 late bishop of autun 4 5 pardon my frankness, but i must observe, that 6 you treated the subject of womens rights in too 7 cursory a manner (without care) ... 8 9 contending for the rights of woman, my main 10 argument is built on this simple principle, that if 11 she be not prepared by education to become the 12 companion of man, she will stop the progress of 13 knowledge and virtue (goodness or honor);...if 14 children are to be educated to understand the 15 true principle of patriotism (ones love of country), 16 their mother must be a patriot; and the love of 17 mankind, from which an orderly train of virtues 18 spring, can only be produced by considering the 19 moral and civil interest of mankind; but the 20 education and situation of woman at present 21 shuts her out from such investigations... according to lines 5 - 7, how does wollstonecraft feel talleyrand - perigord treated the issue of womens rights in his paper rapport sur linstruction publique? what does the phrase \companion of man\ (line 12) mean? what role does education play in women becoming the \companion of man\? according to wollstonecraft, how should women be educated? what does wollstonecraft believe is the impact on children of women who are not being educated in this way? source: http://history.hanover.edu/courses/excerpts/111wolstor

Explanation:

1. According to lines 5 - 7, Wollstonecraft felt Talleyrand - Périgord treated the issue of women's rights in a cursory manner.
2. "Companion of man" means a woman who can contribute to the progress of knowledge and virtue alongside men. Education helps women develop the intellectual and moral capacity to be true companions.
3. Wollstonecraft believed women should be educated in a way that allows them to understand moral and civil interests, to be patriotic, and to contribute to the progress of knowledge and virtue.
4. Women not educated in this way would hinder the proper education of children in understanding patriotism and the development of virtues, as mothers play a crucial role in children's moral and intellectual upbringing.

Answer:

1. Wollstonecraft felt he treated it in a cursory manner.
2. It means a woman who can contribute to knowledge and virtue progress; education helps develop necessary capacity.
3. In a way to understand moral and civil interests, be patriotic, and contribute to knowledge and virtue progress.
4. It would hinder children's proper education in patriotism and virtue - development.