Education of Women 1650-1750

Historical Context Essay

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When John Milton portrayed, in

Paradise Lost

, Adam and Raphael deep in learned conversation, he contrived to get rid of Eve as soon as Adam was “Ent’ring on studious thoughts abstruse” (Book 8: 47), but somewhat mitigated the implicit judgement (more clearly expressed in ll. 548 - 52), adding,

Yet went she as not with such discourse Delighted or not capable her ear Of what was high: such pleasure she reserved, Adam relating, she sole auditress (Book 8: 48-51).

Yet went she as not with such discourse Delighted or not capable her ear Of what was high: such pleasure she reserved, Adam relating, she sole auditress (Book 8: 48-51).

Milton’s description gives us a precise, almost visual, representation of the stage the debate over women’s education had reached. In the second

2104 words

Citation: Carraro, Laura Favero. "Education of Women 1650-1750". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 22 January 2003 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=664, accessed 21 November 2024.]

664 Education of Women 1650-1750 2 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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