"A Woman of Enlightened Understanding": Politics and Feminism in Mary Darby Robinson's Literary Production

This essay aims at rediscovering Mary Darby Robinson in her political and social engagement. Through the analysis of three selected compositions, it will be shown how the famous artist used her writing skills to tackle political matters and to criticise women’s social conditions, imposing her subjectivity in the public sphere and reclaiming her authority, regardless of the personal attacks she received. The first part of the essay will focus on revolution and war, starting with a close reading of her poems "Ainsi va le monde" and "The Deserted Cottage", where she deals with the two main political issues of the time from an innovative female perspective. In the second part, the composition "A Letter to the Women of England on the Injustice of Mental Subordination", in which the author questions the biased social and behavioural norms women were subjected to in society, will be examined. Finally, the essay will highlight how Mary Robinson made her femininity a tool to scrutinize the events in a different way and to give them new interpretations, thus proving to be a foremother of feminism worthy of being remembered and celebrated.