Plot summary Original Stories from Real Life

mrs. mason, mary, , caroline looking @ charles townley s ruined mansion, william blake; caption reads: calm, child; remember must can present day.

modelled on madame de genlis s adèle et théodore (1782) , tales of castle (1785), both of have frame stories , series of inset moral tales, original stories narrates re-education of 2 young girls, fourteen-year-old mary , twelve-year-old caroline, wise , benevolent maternal figure, mrs. mason. (wollstonecraft named these characters after people in own life. became acquainted miss mason while teaching in newington green, whom respected, , taught 2 girls named mary , caroline while governess kingsborough family in ireland. margaret king, affected governess, saying had freed mind superstitions, later adopted mrs mason pseudonym.) after death of mother, girls sent live mrs. mason in country. full of faults, such greediness , vanity, , mrs. mason, through stories, real-world demonstrations, , own example, cures girls of of moral failings , imbues them desire virtuous.

mrs. mason s amalgam of tales , teaching excursions dominates text; although text emphasizes girls moral progress, reader learns little girls themselves. work consists largely of personal histories of people known mrs. mason , of moral tales edification of mary , caroline , reader. example, history of charles townley illustrates fatal consequences of procrastination. mrs. mason takes girls charles townley s ruined mansion tell them cautionary tale of boy of uncommon abilities, , strong feelings ; unfortunately, ever permitted feelings direct conduct, without submitting direction of reason; mean, present emotion governed him ... indeed intended act right in every particular to-morrow; to-day followed prevailing whim (emphasis wollstonecraft s). charles wants in need, distracted novels , plays. loses of money 1 remaining friend helps him regain fortune in india. yet when friend needs assistance, charles cannot act enough and, tragically, friend imprisoned , dies , friend s daughter forced marry rake. when charles returns england, overcome guilt. rescues daughter unhappy marriage, both , have gone insane end of story, marriage , guilt.

original stories leaving imperfections of childhood behind , becoming rational , charitable adult; not romanticise childhood innocent , ideal state of being. inset stories emphasise balance of reason , emotion required girls become mature, theme permeates wollstonecraft s works, particularly vindication of rights of woman.