Mary Wollstonecraft's Original Stories

"Mary Wollstonecraft's Original Stories" by Mary Wollstonecraft is a set of tales designed for young readers in the 1700s, emphasizing virtue and right conduct. It follows Mrs. Mason, a caring instructor, who educates Mary and Caroline on values like compassion and the proper handling of animals through many narrative teachings. The book aims to instill a sense of moral understanding in its youthful audience. The story begins by establishing the girls’ background of educational neglect before introducing Mrs. Mason, who commits herself to showing them important ideas, such as how to respectfully and kindly interact with animals. Early scenes present a walk in the spring, where Mrs. Mason uses nature to illustrate the importance of kindness to living things, correcting the children’s previous harsh actions. By discussing empathy and morals in relation to animals, a baseline is set for all that Mary and Caroline are about to learn.