Mill and Darwin
Society is ever changing. Both physical and culturally we must adapt to new environments and changing culture. In literature there have been many analyses done on these changes. Two of the most influential of their time were perhaps John Stuart Mill's "The Subjection of Women", and Charles Darwin's "The Descent of Man". In examining these two works it is interesting to note the parallel discussions of evolution in society. Mill's "The Subjection of Women" looks at the struggles of society in adapting to an environment where women are treated equally. This writing was commenting on societal failure to change discriminatory customs toward women. Darwin's "The Descent of Man" is an expression of his own belief that man's origins are in lower forms of life that adapted to their changing environment physically. In examining the two works it becomes apparent that in the Victorian age an approach to changing both physically and socially was important. John Stuart Mill's approach to changing society comes from the viewpoint that after many years of submission and discrimination, women should be treated equally. This conclusion comes from a reflection on past classes of people that were similarly repressed.
Mill's observations are right on even in our day and age. Women still don't have the same equality that Mill had hoped for. A prime example is domestic violence. Mill speaks of women being abused by men and then choosing not to use the laws to protect them. This is true of our society today, and by continuously not fighting for themselves by using the law, women are teaching their children to do the same. The slaves were able to become free because they recognized that it was wrong. They taught their children that it was their human right to be free and equal. The reason why women have been constantly subjected throughout time is because they collectively don't complain. They accept it voluntarily. That is why women are different than slaves. Slaves were forced into servitude, women are taught to be submissive. "The cerebral system not only regulates most of the existing functions of the body, but has indirectly influenced the progressive development of various bodily structures and of certain mental qualities." Throughout time qualities like beauty, courage, toughness, body shape and decor, musical ability, etc. have been "indirectly gained" by both sexes "through the influence of love and jealousy", because both sexes are attracted to beauty of all kinds. All of these "powers of the mind" are dependent on the cerebral system's development. Mill tells us that one cannot be marked for slavery or servitude. He says that it is not nature, but more custom. It is what we are used to and taught. The subjection of women seems to be a universal custom and any departure seems unnatural. Custom determines what is natural. In the time of Queen Elizabeth I, a woman ruled the people of England. The people of England came to think of this as being normal. In other countries where the ruler was a man, the people must have thought strangely of England for not being what they thought was normal. In the times of the Spartans, women fought in battle for their land; for they need
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Approximate Word count = 1352
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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