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Some reflections upon marriage
The 18th century was a wealth of knowledge, exploration and rapidly growing technology and expanding record-keeping made possible by advances in the printing press. In its determination to preserve the century of revolution, Gale initiated a revolution of its digitization of epic proportions to preserve these invaluable works in the largest archive of its kind. Now for the first time these high-quality digital copies of original 18th century manuscripts are available in print, making them highly accessible to libraries, undergraduate students, and independent scholars.Western literary study flows out of eighteenth-century works by Alexander Pope, Daniel Defoe, Henry Fielding, Frances Burney, Denis Diderot, Johann Gottfried Herder, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and others. Experience the birth of the modern novel, or compare the development of language using dictionaries and grammar discourses. ++++The below data was compiled from various identification fields in the bibliographic record of this title. This data is provided as an additional tool in helping to insure edition ++++John Rylands University Library of ManchesterT155582Anonymous. By Mary Astell. First published, in 1700, as 'Some reflections upon marriage occasioned by the Duke and Dutchess of Mazarine's case'. With two final advertisement printed for William Parker, 1730. 8],180, 4]p.; 8
128 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1700
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About the author
Mary Astell
30 books26 followersMary Astell was an English feminist writer. Her advocacy of equal educational opportunities for women has earned her the title "the first English feminist."
Few records of Mary Astell's life have survived. As biographer Ruth Perry explains, "as a woman she had little or no business in the world of commerce, politics, or law. She was born, she died; she owned a small house for some years; she kept a bank account; she helped to open a charity school in Chelsea: these facts the public listings can supply." Only four of her letters were saved and these because they had been written to important men of the period. Researching the biography, Perry uncovered more letters and manuscript fragments, but she notes that if Astell had not written to wealthy aristocrats who could afford to pass down entire estates, very little of her life would have survived.
Mary Astell was born in Newcastle upon Tyne on 12 November 1666, to Peter and Mary (Errington) Astell. Her parents had two other children, William, who died in infancy, and Peter, her younger brother. Her family was upper-middle-class and lived in Newcastle throughout her early childhood. Her father was a conservative royalist Anglican who managed a local coal company. As a woman, Mary received no formal education, although she did receive informal education from her uncle, an ex-clergyman whose bouts with alcoholism prompted his suspension from the Church of England. Mary's father died when she was twelve, leaving her without a dowry. With the remainder of the family finances invested in her brother's higher education, Mary and her mother relocated to live with Mary's aunt.
After the death of her mother and aunt in 1688, Mary moved to London. Her location in Chelsea meant that Astell was fortunate enough to become acquainted with a circle of literary and influential women (including Lady Mary Chudleigh, Elizabeth Thomas, Judith Drake, Elizabeth Elstob, and Lady Mary Wortley Montagu), who assisted in the development and publication of her work. She was also in contact with the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Sancroft, who was known for his charitable works; Sancroft assisted Astell financially and furthermore introduced her to her future publisher.
Astell died in 1731, a few months after a mastectomy to remove a cancerous right breast. In her last days, she refused to see any of her acquaintances and stayed in a room with her coffin, thinking only of God. She is remembered now for her ability to debate freely with both contemporary men and women, and particularly her groundbreaking methods of negotiating the position of women in society by engaging in philosophical debate (Descartes was a particular influence) rather than basing her arguments in historical evidence as had previously been attempted. Descartes' theory of dualism, a separate mind and body, allowed Astell to promote the idea that women as well as men had the ability to reason, and subsequently they should not be treated so poorly: "If all Men are born Free, why are all Women born Slaves?"
Few records of Mary Astell's life have survived. As biographer Ruth Perry explains, "as a woman she had little or no business in the world of commerce, politics, or law. She was born, she died; she owned a small house for some years; she kept a bank account; she helped to open a charity school in Chelsea: these facts the public listings can supply." Only four of her letters were saved and these because they had been written to important men of the period. Researching the biography, Perry uncovered more letters and manuscript fragments, but she notes that if Astell had not written to wealthy aristocrats who could afford to pass down entire estates, very little of her life would have survived.
Mary Astell was born in Newcastle upon Tyne on 12 November 1666, to Peter and Mary (Errington) Astell. Her parents had two other children, William, who died in infancy, and Peter, her younger brother. Her family was upper-middle-class and lived in Newcastle throughout her early childhood. Her father was a conservative royalist Anglican who managed a local coal company. As a woman, Mary received no formal education, although she did receive informal education from her uncle, an ex-clergyman whose bouts with alcoholism prompted his suspension from the Church of England. Mary's father died when she was twelve, leaving her without a dowry. With the remainder of the family finances invested in her brother's higher education, Mary and her mother relocated to live with Mary's aunt.
After the death of her mother and aunt in 1688, Mary moved to London. Her location in Chelsea meant that Astell was fortunate enough to become acquainted with a circle of literary and influential women (including Lady Mary Chudleigh, Elizabeth Thomas, Judith Drake, Elizabeth Elstob, and Lady Mary Wortley Montagu), who assisted in the development and publication of her work. She was also in contact with the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Sancroft, who was known for his charitable works; Sancroft assisted Astell financially and furthermore introduced her to her future publisher.
Astell died in 1731, a few months after a mastectomy to remove a cancerous right breast. In her last days, she refused to see any of her acquaintances and stayed in a room with her coffin, thinking only of God. She is remembered now for her ability to debate freely with both contemporary men and women, and particularly her groundbreaking methods of negotiating the position of women in society by engaging in philosophical debate (Descartes was a particular influence) rather than basing her arguments in historical evidence as had previously been attempted. Descartes' theory of dualism, a separate mind and body, allowed Astell to promote the idea that women as well as men had the ability to reason, and subsequently they should not be treated so poorly: "If all Men are born Free, why are all Women born Slaves?"
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 6, 2015
A Translation For Ye Moderne Reader:
Dear Women:
Bad news. It's England in the seventeenth century, and men are the boss of us. And they're not being coy about it, either. There's so much to say about this I could go on all day, but let's talk about what that means when you get married. If you get married.
We're, like, centuries away from ever being able to divorce. Once you marry a guy, you're stuck with him. Plus he's pretty much allowed to treat you however he wants once he's your husband. People still use that phrase "lord and master" as a synonym for husbands, and they're saying it with a straight face.
So don't just marry a guy because he's hot and tells you he's your total love slave. They all say that. It would be pretty creepy even if it were true, and it really really isn't. Guys who act like your slave while you're courting (we don't really have dating yet) are the ones who can't wait to reverse the roles once that ring's on your finger. So watch out.
I'm working on that whole women-getting-to-go-to-college thing, but I gotta say, it's slow going so far. So if you marry the wrong guy and he treats you like crap, it's not as if you can just go back to school and get a career and a life of your own and tell him where to get off if he tries to boss you around.
So – be careful, okay? Marrying the wrong guy might be the last bad decision you're ever allowed to make.
Lots of love,
Miss Mary Astell
Dear Women:
Bad news. It's England in the seventeenth century, and men are the boss of us. And they're not being coy about it, either. There's so much to say about this I could go on all day, but let's talk about what that means when you get married. If you get married.
We're, like, centuries away from ever being able to divorce. Once you marry a guy, you're stuck with him. Plus he's pretty much allowed to treat you however he wants once he's your husband. People still use that phrase "lord and master" as a synonym for husbands, and they're saying it with a straight face.
So don't just marry a guy because he's hot and tells you he's your total love slave. They all say that. It would be pretty creepy even if it were true, and it really really isn't. Guys who act like your slave while you're courting (we don't really have dating yet) are the ones who can't wait to reverse the roles once that ring's on your finger. So watch out.
I'm working on that whole women-getting-to-go-to-college thing, but I gotta say, it's slow going so far. So if you marry the wrong guy and he treats you like crap, it's not as if you can just go back to school and get a career and a life of your own and tell him where to get off if he tries to boss you around.
So – be careful, okay? Marrying the wrong guy might be the last bad decision you're ever allowed to make.
Lots of love,
Miss Mary Astell
September 20, 2020
“A woman cannot be too watchful, too apprehensive of her danger, nor keep at too great a distance from it, since man, whose wisdom and ingenuity is so much superior to hers, condescends for his interest sometimes by way of diversion, to lay snares for her.”
I appreciate the early feminist agenda being pushed by Miss Astell here, but I’m just not a fan of 17th century literature. The weight of the words is just too heavy and I struggle to keep focus.
Having said that, I think she was an excellent spokesperson for her gender back in a time when most women had nothing to hope for other than marrying well and living a comfortable existence while pleasing their husband.
*required reading for Brit Lit
I appreciate the early feminist agenda being pushed by Miss Astell here, but I’m just not a fan of 17th century literature. The weight of the words is just too heavy and I struggle to keep focus.
Having said that, I think she was an excellent spokesperson for her gender back in a time when most women had nothing to hope for other than marrying well and living a comfortable existence while pleasing their husband.
*required reading for Brit Lit
July 28, 2020
Some Reflections Upon Marriage is a short polemic. It doesn't have the same philosophical weight as A Serious Proposal to the Ladies, Astell's other famous feminist tract. What it lacks in elaborate argument, however, it more than makes up for in glorious sarcasm.
May 10, 2023
"if all men are born free, why is it that all women are born slaves?" w o w
April 11, 2025
i think astell would've been a great 21st century feminist with her overflowing sarcasm and tbh i love that for her
September 5, 2025
tienes más valor por su contenido lírico e irónico que por su análisis filosófico profundo, para ello es más recomendable "a serious proposal to the ladies"
January 27, 2026
men aren’t shit! (this could’ve been an email)
March 24, 2017
just an excerpt from brit lit, not the entire work. I don't love the entirety of it, but she makes some very interesting points and seems to be well ahead of her time thinking-wise.
June 8, 2024
Ahead of her time
The book was a bit difficult to read as it was written over 300 years ago but the arguments have withstood the test of time. Mary Astell was a brilliant woman for her time and society. Her ideas had value and were definitely interesting, and it is unfortunate that they could not be incorporated on any sort of scale to improve the lot of women. All in all, a worthy woman to study.
The book was a bit difficult to read as it was written over 300 years ago but the arguments have withstood the test of time. Mary Astell was a brilliant woman for her time and society. Her ideas had value and were definitely interesting, and it is unfortunate that they could not be incorporated on any sort of scale to improve the lot of women. All in all, a worthy woman to study.
January 4, 2009
Wow. I mean, wow! Astell has such a progressive mind, for her time, and argues so clearly her points, that any other view than those she puts forth for women's rights seem both irrational and cruel. Reflections is both a fascinating look at a woman ahead of her time and a study in great debate. I was enthralled.
February 12, 2012
Mary Astell states her case boldly and without remorse in a time where women hid reluctantly in their husband's shadows, having no voice of their own. She declares that love and marriage are basically a means of entrapment for women, who become glorified slaves to their husbands.It was a very interesting read! She was most definately a woman ahead of her time.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews