Female Orations

In the 1600's, male and female relationships were far less diverse than the lines that have been crossed and progressed in the recent century. The focus of many female writers' attention emulsified through topics of romance, family care, and religion. Margaret Cavendish was a maverick female writer in terms of the controversy she portrayed through her literary works. "Female Orations" clearly demonstrates Cavendish's point of view and the mockery that is made by her on the role of women in society through the voices of seven distinct females.

Each speaker represents a separate notion in that they all present conflicting views that discuss male dominance in their society. This is key to demonstrate that there are many types of women. The proposition of a singular notion would narrow Cavendish's ability to appropriately demonstrate the views of women as each woman has different experiences and opinions in life.

Cavendish's characters are displayed through seven distinct female voices that show the reactions of male dominance of their time. An oration is an educated public speech, which indicates that these speakers will state their educated views on males vs. females. The analyses of the seven women all share the common message, which presents the inferiority of women and submissiveness to male supremacy without question in society. Strategically, Cavendish was able to allow her readers devise their own opinions on male dominance rather than stating her own opinion.

Speaker one says "men are unconscionable and cruel against us, as they endeavor to barr us of all sorts of kinds of liberty" (Cavendish). The first speaker is key in that she presents the reader with the issue of male supremacy and states that men are selfish in that they are the ones who possess the power and the pleasure of the world, and keep it to their sex. Consequently the reader can see that women are not given the same quality of life as men.

Through mockery, her final speaker states that men may have all the power, but women are truly the superior sex because of their ability to control by using their minds and not have to endure physical labor as men: "They have more labour than women have; if men are more eloquent in speech, women are more harmonious in voice" (Cavendish). This speaker denotes the intelligence of women to take over their situation and demonstrate that men are truly the mules in the fields. Women may not necessarily need to be educated or become eloquent but they can sing harmoniously. In retrospect, Cavendish uses this speaker to demonstrate her contrast on her own personal views. In fact, Cavendish through her life encouraged women to use their minds and become more intelligent beings of society.

In accordance with the final speaker, men do all the work for women, while women do not progress. The third speaker states, "women are witless, and strengthless, and unprofitable creatures" (Cavendish). The third orator views women as meaningless people and feels that females should not complain. This speaker feels the main purpose a women has is to bare children and all their survival depends on men. The final speaker and third speaker differ in that the third speaker shows women as having no power and the final speaker shows them as powerful creatures. Cavendish uses orator III and VII as contrasting symbols that show seemingly the same opinions yet opposite interpretations of the conflict. In contrast, one orator shows women as the stronger sex while the other orator shows them as the weaker sex.

Agreeing with orator III, speakers four and six both feel that women are the weaker sex. Strangely, they feel women are not suited to be women and should not seek to be feminine creatures rather shadow themselves after men and act more masculine. Through this, the speaker shows