Historically, during the late 1700s and 1800s, many literary texts and books on conduct were written to demonstrate how women should represent themselves and how women should behave. education should entail. Mary Wollstonecraft expressed her powerful and revolutionary thoughts on education in her famous piece, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, in which she deeply criticized society's obsession with women's superficial achievements rather than women being seen as rational creatures capable of feeling both as well as rational and logical thought. It places blame on the flawed education system where women do not have equal educational opportunities, as well as placing blame on the oppressive standards set by both men and society. The goal of women's education was at the forefront of Wollstonecraft's argument as she argued that the goal of women's education is very different from the goal of men's education. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay In Mansfield Park, Jane Austen creates her heroine, Fanny Price, in a way that challenges the social expectation that the purpose of women's education was to secure a husband. Rather, Austen's heroine educates and improves herself through the social constructs of her surroundings in order to achieve virtue and morality instead of simply securing a husband. In this essay, I will look closely at how Austen cunningly intended to make Mansfield Park a novel by Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, in order to demonstrate the purpose and effect of Fanny's education which is achieved through self-discovery and environment. Wollstonecraft profoundly rejected the prevailing belief in society that it was natural for women to be intellectually inferior to men. Rather, she attributed this inferiority to women's lack of educational opportunities. It argues that rationality is natural to all people and that both men and women have the same ability to reason and achieve virtue. However, virtue and morality can only be achieved through the intellectual exercise of educating one's mind. Austen presents a different and subtle argument to this idea where the education and improvement of women is cultivated by the environment in which they are raised. Fanny Price's character appears to be seen as shy, stupid and intellectually inferior by her cousins ​​as she lacks a formal education equal to that of her cousins ​​when she first arrives in Mansfield Park. Her character is seen as shy, timid, and ignorant as she is seen more as a listener and observer than an active participant in conversations, "She was not often invited to join in the conversation of others, nor did she want to" (58) . However, she has a rational mind that is closely aligned with Wollstonecraft's concept of a rational woman, as she observes her family's behavior and manners as she begins to understand the world. Women in this society were valued and praised for their achievements such as music, drawing, and dancing rather than for their intellect. The Bertrams hoped in adopting Fanny that she would improve through association with Maria and Julia's superficial education. When Fanny first arrives at Mansfield Park, Mrs. Norris alludes to the idea that Fanny's mind will be educated through the association of her environment: “It will be an education for the child, I said, to be alone with her cousins; if Miss Lee taught her nothing, she would learn from them to be good and intelligent” (10). However,In fact, Fanny closely observed the behavior of her wealthy family, especially the women. Wollstonecraft discusses the idea that from childhood women are conditioned to believe that they must make themselves attractive and desired by men to secure marriage. “Women are informed from infancy, and taught by example to their mothers, that a little knowledge of human weakness, rightly called cunning, sweetness of temper, outward obedience, and a scrupulous attention to a kind of childish decorum, they will obtain for them the protection of man” (394). In this way, she argues that mothers perpetuate this cycle of faulty parenting as they cultivate their daughter's mind to elevate superficial achievements to the improvement of their own mind to secure a husband. Ms. Norris sees marriage as a business and as a way to ensure financial and social security. She also sees women's education as a means to “establish themselves well” (7). This view further supports the idea that Austen and Wollstonecraft aimed to challenge: the purpose of women's education is not just to secure a husband. On the other hand, at the end of the novel, Sir Thomas Bertram regrets the superficial education that his daughters, Maria and Julia, had received as their aim was not that of self-discovery: “Here there had been a gross mismanagement; but, serious as it was, he gradually came to the conclusion that it had not been the most terrible mistake in his educational plan. Standing out for elegance and talent – ​​the authorized object of their youth – could thus have had no useful influence, no moral effect on the mind” (314). In this way, Sir Thomas admits that formal education may have had no moral effect on his daughter's mind regarding her conduct and virtue. Furthermore, he attributes the unevenness of the environment in which his daughters grew up: “He wanted them to be good, but his care had been directed to understanding and good manners, not to disposition; and the necessity of self-denial and humility, he feared that they had never heard from any mouth that could profit from it” (314). At the same time, it could be argued that Fanny received a similar formal education to Maria and Julia; however, Edmund's character and his influence were crucial in educating Fanny through self-discovery and virtues. At the beginning of the novel, the narrator offers a glimpse into the difference in education Fanny receives. “Miss Lee taught her French and heard her read the daily portion of the History; but he recommended the books that fascinated her in her free hours, encouraged her taste and corrected her judgment; he made reading useful by talking to her about what he read and increased her attraction with judicious praise” (18). Edmund cultivates his mind while serving as a moral character for Fanny to look up to and embody the example he set for her. Wollstonecraft raises the point about women's dependence on securing men's affections. She does not believe that women's main goal in life is to secure and attract a man's affection and to submit as an obedient wife. Rather, he sees marriage as a friendship between a virtuous man and a virtuous woman. “The woman who strengthens her body and exercises her mind, managing her household and practicing various virtues, will become the friend, and not the humble dependent of her husband” (396). Throughout the novel, Edmund alludes to the dear friendship that has developed between him and Fanny. Wollstonecraft's ideal marriage is one built on mutual friendship, understanding, respect, and appreciation for one's moral compass. Fanny Price resembles a similar idea of ​​marriage as she firmly denies Henry Crawford's proposal. Fanny has.