Mary Wollstonecraft's Original Stories

In Short

This collection of didactic tales follows Mary and Caroline, two young sisters placed under the guardianship of Mrs. Mason, a woman of unwavering rectitude and intellectual rigor. Through a series of walks, conversations, and cautionary biographies, Mrs. Mason instructs the girls in the virtues of kindness, truthfulness, economy, and religious devotion. The book serves as a pedagogical manual for the late eighteenth century, emphasizing the development of a strong, independent character. It remains a significant historical artifact, capturing the earnest, uncompromising spirit of its author’s early educational philosophy.

The Story

The narrative begins with the introduction of Mary and Caroline to their new guardian, Mrs. Mason, a woman whose life is governed by a strict, rational moral code. From their first days together, Mrs. Mason establishes a routine rooted in intellectual inquiry and the observation of the natural world. She uses every incident—whether the discovery of a bird’s nest, the sight of a limping sailor, or a child’s tantrum—as a springboard for a lesson on human behavior and ethical responsibility.

As the sisters grow, they are confronted with a series of character studies. Mrs. Mason recounts the histories of various figures to illustrate the consequences of human frailty. They hear of the vain Lady Sly, whose obsession with appearance leads to a hollow life and an unmourned death, and of Charles Townley, a man whose procrastination and neglect of his own potential lead to the tragic, lonely demise of his only true friend. Through these stories, the girls learn that vanity, idleness, and a lack of self-discipline are not merely personal flaws, but obstacles to a life of genuine virtue and social utility.

The arc of the girls’ education reaches a turning point as they transition from childhood to a more mature understanding of their duties. Mrs. Mason emphasizes that true character is built not on social graces or surface-level beauty, but on a "disinterested" love for others and a constant, internal dialogue with the Creator. She encourages them to view themselves as rational creatures capable of ennobling their natures through study and service. When Caroline suffers the physical consequences of her own gluttony, she is left to reflect on the relationship between indulgence and pain, reinforcing the lesson that rational self-regulation is the path to happiness.

The climax of their time together occurs as the group prepares for a journey to London. This trip serves as a test of the girls’ ability to apply their principles in a new, more complex environment. Mrs. Mason insists on the necessity of charitable acts and the importance of punctuality and order, even in the bustling capital. Eventually, the time arrives for Mrs. Mason to depart. In a final, solemn meeting, she bestows upon the girls a book of their past discussions, urging them to continue their self-improvement without her direct supervision. She frames their future relationship as a friendship contingent upon their continued pursuit of virtue. The girls, now older and equipped with a stronger sense of purpose, bid her farewell, promising to carry her teachings into their adult lives, marking the successful, if somber, conclusion of their formal moral training.

How It Unfolds

The pedagogical foundation Mrs. Mason establishes the household rules, emphasizing that the girls must treat all living creatures with kindness. She insists that by observing animals, children can learn to act as rational beings who understand their duty to the Creator.

The lessons of history Mrs. Mason narrates the lives of various acquaintances to teach the girls about the dangers of pride, lying, and vanity. Each biography serves as a mirror, forcing the girls to examine their own tendencies toward jealousy or performative behavior.

The test of character The girls encounter physical suffering and social challenges, such as meeting a shipwrecked sailor and witnessing the consequences of gluttony. These experiences are used to demonstrate that virtue is the only reliable source of contentment in an unpredictable world.

The London transition The move to the metropolis broadens the scope of the girls' responsibilities, shifting the focus toward public charity and the management of one’s own purse. They learn to balance their personal desires with the needs of the poor and the demands of honest commerce.

The final charge Mrs. Mason concludes the educational process by empowering the girls to function as independent moral agents. She gifts them a record of their lessons and sets the expectation that their future status as her friends will be earned through their consistency and integrity.

The People

Mrs. Mason is the central authority, a figure of daunting consistency and wisdom. She operates as a moral compass for the children, viewing all human interaction through the lens of duty and divine order. Her own life is marked by total self-control, and she expects the same of her charges. Mary and Caroline, the two sisters, begin as typical, somewhat vain, and flighty children. Under Mrs. Mason’s watch, they are transformed into "rational creatures." Mary, who initially struggles with a tendency toward ridicule, and Caroline, who is vain of her beauty, are slowly refined. They learn to replace these superficial traits with the "soul of beauty"—virtue. By the end, they are no longer merely children in her care but are positioned as partners in a lifelong commitment to ethical living. Through their interactions with the poor, such as the widowed woman they assist, they learn that their own relative privilege is a responsibility rather than a right, shifting their desires from personal ornament to the quiet satisfaction of serving others.

In Its Own Voice

"Other creatures only think of supporting themselves; but man is allowed to ennoble his nature, by cultivating his mind and enlarging his heart."

Mrs. Mason uses this contrast to explain the purpose of human existence during a morning walk.

"When you wait for your food, you learn patience, she added, and you can mention your wants; but those helpless creatures cannot complain."

Mrs. Mason justifies the necessity of caring for animals by highlighting their inability to voice their own needs.

"Honour consists in respecting yourself; in doing as you would be done by; and the foundation of honour is Truth."

In a lecture on the dangers of lying, Mrs. Mason defines the core of personal integrity for her young students.

What It's Really About

The central argument posits that education is not merely the acquisition of knowledge, but the systematic training of the will to favor reason over passion. The book explores the tension between the "wild pursuits of fancy" and the disciplined life required to attain true moral independence. It questions how a person can maintain an authentic self while navigating a society that often rewards superficiality and performance. At its core, the text argues that happiness is not a byproduct of wealth or beauty, but a result of "doing good" and maintaining an internal alignment with the "fountain of truth." The questions it raises—regarding the treatment of animals, the importance of economic responsibility, and the nature of respect—are treated as essential exercises for the development of a stable, virtuous soul.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of ideas or the evolution of pedagogical literature will find this book a fascinating window into the late eighteenth-century mind. It is a demanding read, characterized by an earnest, heavy-handed moralism that feels profoundly alien to the modern sensibility. Mrs. Mason is a polarizing figure; some may find her pedagogical approach admirable in its commitment to equality of reason, while others will likely find her lack of playfulness and her clinical view of childhood difficult to stomach. The text is dense with the formal, elevated language of the period, and its obsession with "duty" and "propriety" creates a steady, serious rhythm that rarely breaks.

However, there is a surprising, quiet precision in the author’s prose, and the glimpses of the natural world—insects, birds, and the changing seasons—are often rendered with a warmth that contrasts sharply with the severity of the lessons. It is a book for those who want to understand the intellectual rigor that shaped the period’s expectations for women and children. If you can set aside the didactic tone, you will encounter a portrait of a mind that profoundly valued the dignity of the individual. It remains a testament to a time when it was believed that, with enough discipline, a child could be perfectly fashioned into a beacon of truth.