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Table of Contents
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Summary
- Early Life and Background
- Life During the English Civil War
- Personal Life
- Literary and Philosophical Contributions
- Critical Reception
- Later Years and Death
Key Facts And Information
Let’s find out more about Margaret Cavendish!
Margaret Cavendish was an English philosopher, writer, and scientist. She contributed to literature, philosophy, and science, often challenging the norms of her time. Cavendish advocated for women's education and intellectual involvement. The Blazing World, her most well-known work, is regarded as one of the earliest science fiction tales. Although her unconventional ideas and gender faced criticism, her work is now more recognised, especially for its feminist perspective and unique take on science and writing.
Margaret Cavendish
Early Life and Background
- Margaret Lucas was born in 1623 in Colchester, Essex, England into the wealthy Lucas family. Her mother was Elizabeth Lucas (née Leighton) and her father, Thomas Lucas, was a royalist landowner exiled for killing a man in a duel but was pardoned by King James I and returned to England in 1603. Despite this, the family remained wealthy and respected.
- As the youngest of eight children, Margaret spent much of her time with her siblings. She had access to tutors and her family’s library, but she later wrote that the tutors were “rather for formality than benefit,” suggesting that she learned more through her own curiosity. She began writing at an early age but kept it private, as women were discouraged from intellectual pursuits.
- After her father’s death, her mother managed the family estates alone, ensuring they lived comfortably. Margaret described her childhood as full of “honest pleasures and harmless delights.” Growing up in wealth, Margaret encountered ideas about power, hierarchy, and gender roles, which she explored in her writing. Though she enjoyed her status, she also saw the limits placed on women and challenged them in her work.
Life During the English Civil War
- Margaret’s time during the English Civil War was marked by her role as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Henrietta Maria. Although she didn’t get permission from her mother to join the court, she went with the Queen when she was exiled to France. This was her first time away from her family, and she felt shy and anxious among strangers, often speaking only when necessary. As a result, some people thought she was foolish, but Margaret preferred this to being seen as rude.
- Regretting leaving home, Margaret wanted to leave the court but was persuaded by her mother to stay, who also provided her with extra funds. She remained a lady-in-waiting for two more years before marrying William Cavendish, the Marquess of Newcastle, in 1645.
- Cavendish was deeply in love with her husband, admiring his qualities like justice, merit, and fidelity. She didn’t love him for his wealth or title but for his character. These virtues helped them endure the struggles of being Royalist supporters during the war.
- Cavendish did not have children, though her husband had five from his previous marriage. She also wrote a biography of her husband, The Life of the Thrice Noble, High and Puissant Prince William Cavendish. In the dedication, she addressed the rumours that claimed her husband was the true author of her works. She admitted that her husband had guided her writing, showing a partnership where they supported each other in the world of print.
Personal Life of Margaret Cavendish
- Cavendish’s personal life was shaped by her love for learning and the challenges she faced as a woman. Though close to her husband, they were often apart because of money problems and political issues.
- Financial difficulties were a recurring issue in her life. After her marriage, she and her husband’s brother hoped to benefit from the sale of the Duke’s estate, but she gained no financial support. After unsuccessfully petitioning for funds, she chose to reunite with her husband and focus on her work.
- Cavendish described herself as having a bashful, melancholic nature, which made her feel uneasy in public and reluctant to share her work. Despite this, she often used her writing to explore and cope with her personal challenges, even satirising her own bashfulness. She also sought self-cures for the physical symptoms of her melancholia, such as pale skin and erratic gestures.
- Her religious views were complex. Although she believed in God, she separated her philosophy from religion. She thought that everything in nature, even non-living things, had an inner knowledge of God’s existence.
- Fashion was another way Cavendish expressed her individuality. She enjoyed reinventing herself through her clothing and preferred to stand out from others. Her desire for fame and recognition in her intellectual work was also a key part of her personality. Although she knew her writings might be criticised, she defended her work as a necessary part of her legacy.
Literary and Philosophical Contributions of Margaret Cavendish
- Cavendish contributed to literature, philosophy, and natural science. She was known for her unconventional approach to writing, tackling topics such as gender roles, the nature of the universe, and the power of imagination.
Major Literary Works:
- Poems and Fancies (1653)
- Poems and Fancies blends poetry, prose, and philosophy. It includes epistles, dialogues, and moral lessons. One key work, The Animal Parliament, uses animals as metaphors to explore politics and human nature. Her poems cover themes like love, death, nature, and abstract ideas such as honour and fame.
- In her letters, Cavendish admits she didn’t write for style, but to share philosophical ideas. She acknowledges her work isn’t perfect but defends it as personal expression. She challenges societal expectations by arguing that writing is a legitimate intellectual pursuit for women, not a trivial activity.
- Nature's Pictures Drawn by Fancy's Pencil to the Life (1656)
- This work is one of Cavendish’s most ambitious attempts to mix different literary styles. It features prose romances like The Contract and Assaulted and Pursued Chastity, which examine women’s roles in society, especially in marriage and under chivalric ideals.
- Cavendish uses these stories to explore the spectacle of womanhood and the power dynamics that shape gender identities. Her focus on women’s roles in both public and private life, along with her use of imaginative stories, shows her pioneering approach to feminist themes in literature.
- A True Relation of My Birth, Breeding, and Life (1656)
- Written as an autobiographical memoir, A True Relation offers an intimate look at Cavendish’s personal life, upbringing, and social standing. Published at the age of 33, it provides insight into her family, education, and views on gender, politics, and class.
- The memoir is significant because it allows Cavendish to assert her identity and counteract the public perceptions of her as an eccentric woman. She reflects on her social position and the loss of her estates due to the English Civil War.
- CCXI Sociable Letters (1664)
- CCXI Sociable Letters is a collection of 211 letters on topics like marriage, politics, medicine, literature, and religious extremism. Though partly fictional, the letters provide a thoughtful critique of contemporary life.
- Some of the letters are addressed to real people Cavendish corresponded with, while others engage with prominent figures like Thomas Hobbes and King Charles II. Through these letters, Cavendish gives voice to women’s perspectives on a variety of issues.
- The Blazing World (1666)
- Cavendish's The Blazing World is seen as one of the first science fiction works. In this imaginative story, a woman becomes the empress of a fantastical world, challenging the gender norms of the time. The story explores themes of power, science, and gender, with the empress ruling a world of rational creatures.
- The work critiques the limitations of women in society and celebrates the power of imagination. Cavendish mixes philosophy and fantasy, discussing gender, politics, and natural philosophy through fiction. She even includes herself as the empress in the epilogue, declaring herself "Margaret the First" to assert her own authority and creativity.
Title page of the Blazing World
- Observations upon Experimental Philosophy (1666)
- In Observations upon Experimental Philosophy, Cavendish challenges the male-dominated field of natural philosophy. She argues that nature is made up of self-moving, rational matter, rejecting views like those of Descartes and Hobbes. Her ideas align more with Stoic philosophy and highlight the agency of all matter.
- Cavendish also defends her right as a woman to engage in philosophy and critiques complex academic language, advocating for philosophy to be accessible to everyone.
Critical Reception
- Cavendish received both praise and criticism in her time, mainly because she was a woman in male-dominated fields. Samuel Pepys called her "a mad, conceited, ridiculous woman" but was still eager to read her work, showing how people dismissed her personally rather than engaging with her ideas.
- Dorothy Osborne also criticised her, comparing her to someone in a mental institution, suggesting that women’s intellectual pursuits were seen as odd or improper.
- On the other hand, Cavendish had many supporters, including figures like Constantijn Huygens, John Dryden, and Kenelm Digby. Her husband, William Cavendish, collected letters and poems praising her after her death.
- Cavendish's work became more appreciated over time. In the 19th century, Charles Lamb admired her Sociable Letters. Cavendish was the first woman to develop an original theory of atomism in Britain and was invited to attend a Royal Society meeting. Despite being excluded from the institution, her knowledge was recognised by figures like the proto-feminist Bathsua Makin, who saw her as an example of what women could achieve through education.
- Cavendish faced challenges as a woman in the male-dominated fields of science and philosophy but continued to challenge societal norms. She believed women should be involved in intellectual work and that writing was important, not just a trivial activity.
- In the early 20th century, Cavendish’s work was largely forgotten, but in 1925, Virginia Woolf praised her distinctive personality and intellectual fire, helping to revive interest in her. Since the 1980s, Cavendish has been rediscovered through a feminist lens, with her novel The Blazing World recognised as one of the first examples of science fiction.
- Cavendish's legacy continues to grow, with modern projects like the 2021 film The Blazing World and the Margaret the First novel, alongside scholarly initiatives like the Digital Cavendish Project, which aim to preserve and share her work.
Later Years and Death of Margaret Cavendish
- In her later years, Margaret Cavendish continued writing and contributing to literature, philosophy, and science. She supported women's education and intellectual involvement, believing women had the right to engage in scholarly work. Despite her ideas, she spent much of her life in obscurity.
- Cavendish passed away in London on 15 December 1673, at about 56 years old. She was buried in Westminster Abbey on 7 January 1674. Her husband arranged for a monument to be erected in her honour, created by sculptor Grinling Gibbons. The monument, located in the north transept of the abbey, includes an epitaph that highlights her noble family and virtuous character: "Her name was Margaret Lucas, youngest daughter of Lord Lucas, Earl of Colchester, a noble family, for all the brothers were valiant, and all the sisters virtuous."
- The phrase "All the Brothers Were Valiant" later became the title of a novel and films in the early 20th century, showing the lasting impact of her family. Although Cavendish wasn't well known in her lifetime, her work gained recognition in the 19th and 20th centuries as scholars acknowledged her contributions to literature, science, and feminism.
Frequently Asked Questions About Margaret Cavendish
- Who was Margaret Cavendish?
Margaret Cavendish was an English aristocrat known for her extensive writings in the 17th century. She authored works in various genres, including poetry, philosophy, science fiction, and plays, often publishing under her own name—a rarity for women of her time.
- Why is Margaret Cavendish important?
Cavendish was a pioneering female intellectual in a time when women were largely excluded from scholarly discussions. She wrote about science, politics, gender, and philosophy and is often considered an early advocate for women’s involvement in intellectual life.
- What is The Blazing World?
The Blazing World (1666) is one of the earliest examples of science fiction. It describes a fantastical parallel universe ruled by a woman and explores themes of gender, power, and utopian politics.