Life of a Sensuous Woman and A Vindication of the Rights of Woman Essay

Ihara Saikaku’s Life of a Sensuous Woman written in the 17th century and Mary Woolstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Woman written in the 18th century are powerful literary works that advocated feminism during the time when women were oppressed members of our societies. These two works have a century old age difference and the authors of both works have made a distinctive attempt to shed a light towards the issues that nobody considered significant during that time. Despite these differences between the two texts, they both skillfully manage to present revolutionary ways women can liberate themselves from oppression laden upon them by the society since the beginning of humanity. In Saikaku’s story Life of a Sensuous Woman, he uses his main character an Old Woman’s story to show how women can be as competent as men if they use their knowledge and experience in a right way. The two men who came to hear the old woman’s story and ask her to help them understand more about life indicates that women do possess the ability to be intellectual and use their knowledge to guide others (Saikaku 594). It is clear that how valuable the old woman’s opinion was to those two men that they came to seek her guidance instead of going to a man. The whole idea of men seeking guidance from a woman during the 17th century is revolutionary. One can comprehend that women are capable of using their knowledge and experience to lead the way to others including men thus becoming a vital member of society. Empowering women continues as the Old Women’s story progresses where Saikaku articulately shows how women can fulfill their own desire and not give into what men expect of them. Old Woman’s young self choosing the exceptional letter writer samu... ...together as equal members of society. Even though the progress has been massive in developed nations, there are still parts of the world that are centuries behind when it comes to women liberation. Therefore, now it is in the hands of liberated ones to pull those who are still living under the cave of oppression and show them the light of liberation. Works Cited Puchner, Martin. Mary Wollstonecraft. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. 3rd Ed. Volume D. Ed. Martin Puchner. New York: Norton, 2013. 133. Print. Saikaku, Ihara. Life of a Sensuous Woman. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. 3rd Ed. Volume D. Ed. Martin Puchner. New York: Norton, 2013. 591-611. Print. Woolstoncraft, Mary. A Vindication of The Rights of Woman. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. 3rd Ed. Volume D. Ed. Martin Puchner. New York: Norton, 2013. 134-136. Print.