Godey's Lady's Book

GODEY'S LADY'S BOOK
Philadelphia, March 1850

THE SPHERE OF WOMAN.

TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OF GOETHE.

"Women often complain that men are unjust towards their sex, in withholding from them higher mental culture, and in not allowing them full access to the sciences, thus Keeping them down to mere household duties, and to the government of the domestic circle. It is, however, unjust that man, on this account, should be the subject of complaint. For has he not placed his wife in the highest and holiest position she can occupy when he places her at the head of his domestic relations, and intrusts to her the government of his household? When a man is harassed by external duties and relations, when anxiously employed in procuring the means of subsistence, and when he even takes part in the government of the state – in all these conditions of life he is dependent on circumstances, and can scarcely be said to govern anything, but is often reduced to the necessity of acting from motives of policy, when he would gladly act from his own rational convictions – to conceal his real principles when he would delight to act frankly and openly; and even to act out the suggestions of fallacy and falsehood, when he would gladly act from sincerity and uprightness. To all this the man, in his external life in the world, is subject, and at the same time rarely attains the end for which he labors, but loses that harmony with himself, in which, nevertheless, the true ends and the true enjoyment of life consist. Whereas, the prudent woman reigns in her family circle, making happiness and every virtue possible, and spreading harmony and peace throughout her domain. What is the highest happiness of man, but to carry out what he knows to be right and good, and to have full control over the means to this end? And where are our dearest and inmost ends in life, but in the household? Where do we find our ever-returning and indispensable wants satisfied, but in the beloved spot where we rise up and lie down? What regular activity is required to carry out this ever-returning order of things. To how few men is it granted to return regularly like a star, and to preside both over the day and the night! But the woman who arranges her household, forms her domestic plans, watches over the economy of her house, and wisely dispenses her means, spreads harmony, love, and peace throughout the circle, and makes her husband, whom she loves, a happy prince over that happiest domain. Her attention gathers all the knowledge she requires, and her a activity knows how to employ it. She is dependent on nothing, save the love and attachment of her husband, for whom she procures true independence – that which is internal and domestic. That which his labor has acquired, he sees properly secured and employed, Thus, in a spirit of true independence, he can devote his energies to great objects – and become to the state (by promoting its prosperity) what his wife is to the household over which she presides."

Godey's Lady's Book is brought to you by