The Influence of The History of Rasselas on A Vindication...

The Influence of The History of Rasselas on A Vindication of the Rights of Woman A surprising commonality found between Johnsons The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia and Wollstonecrafts A Vindication of the Rights of Woman is their shared views on womens issues. This commonality is surprising since the two authors had different political viewpoints. While Johnson was a conservative Tory, Wollstonecraft was a social nonconformist and feminist. Although Wollstonecraft and Johnson adhered to different political agendas, Wollstonecraft revered many of Johnsons literary works. One example of Wollstonecrafts admiration of Johnson is found in her uncompleted short story Cave of Fancy. Wollstonecraft began†¦show more content†¦In her argument for the merging of reason and sensibility she writes: And what is sensibility? Quickness of sensation; quickness of perception; delicacy. Thus is it defined by Dr. Johnson (63). She further states that Johnsons definition of sensibility found in his Dictionary of 1755 is inadequate. She complains that the definition gives me no other idea than of the most exquisitely polished instinct (63). Although Wollstonecraft admires Johnson, his works are subject to the same scrutiny as Rousseaus. Wollstonecraft also refers to Johnsons Rambler essay The Mischiefs of Total Idleness when she comments on the vanities of the rich. She writes: What can be a more melancholy sight to a thinking mind, than to look into the numerous carriages that drive helter-skelter about this metropolis in a morning full of pale-faced creatures who are flying from themselves. I have often wished, with Dr. Johnson, to place some of them in a little shop with half a dozen children looking up to their languid countenances for support. (146) In this instance, Wollstonecraft states her agreement with Johnsons belief that the company of children would give health and spirit to the idle women. While Wollstonecraft refers to Johnsons Dictionary and Rambler essays to strengthen her argument in Vindication, many of her thoughts on womens issues are similar to those found in Rasselas. One such similarity is found in Johnson and WollstonecraftsShow MoreRelatedCleanth Brookss Essay Irony as a Principle of Structure9125 Words   |  37 PagesCritical Theory Library * Contact This Blog This Blog  Ã‚  Ã‚   |    | ------------------------------------------------- Top of Form Bottom of Form    Home  » texts  » History amp; Class Consciousness: Preface by Georg Lukà ¡cs (1923) Thursday, February 3, 2011 History amp; Class Consciousness: Preface by Georg Lukà ¡cs (1923) Share   History and Class Consciousness Preface THE collection and publication of these essays in book form is not intended to give them a greater importance as a whole than would