What is the title of Mary Wollstonecraft’s autobiographical novel?
Correct Answer :
Maria; or, the Wrongs of Woman
Solution :
The correct option is: Maria; or, the Wrongs of Woman.
Explanation:
Maria; or, the Wrongs of Woman is the final, unfinished novel by the pioneering English feminist philosopher and writer Mary Wollstonecraft. It was published posthumously in 1798 by her husband, William Godwin, following her death in 1797.
The novel is highly autobiographical, incorporating Wollstonecraft's personal views on female sexuality, the oppression of women, and the tyrannical nature of 18th-century marriage laws. The protagonist, Maria, is unjustly imprisoned in an insane asylum by her abusive husband, who strips her of her liberty and custody of her child. The emotional trauma and societal critique within the narrative reflect Wollstonecraft's own life struggles, relationships, and her landmark philosophical work, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.
Here is why the other options are incorrect:
• Mary: A Fiction: Although this was Wollstonecraft's first novel (published in 1788) and also contained autobiographical elements, it is not the correct option designated for this question.
• Wives and Daughters: This is a Victorian-era novel written by Elizabeth Gaskell, published in the 1860s.
• The Well of Loneliness: This is a famous work of lesbian literature written by Radclyffe Hall, published in 1928.
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