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3.01 AVERAGE
3.01 AVERAGE
I would only suggest this to folk already like Early Modern English writing. That said, it's a wonderful collection, and Margaret Cavendish is just a really fun woman.
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
i really wanted to love this book. it’s a cool science fiction story about an empress who kills a bunch of people and there’s worm dudes. but all the scientific history discussions and philosophy combined with an ok narrative style just made me feel indifferent to it
adventurous
inspiring
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
About The Blazing World, specifically: I found it charming and fascinating to read what’s arguably science fiction written in a time when the concept of science was very different. The discussions of natural philosophy from what is now quite an alien perspective were very interesting
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Cavendish's writing, and I mean this as a compliment and a criticism, is batshit. Dare I say whimsical. It's fun because it's out there. This is my first time reading Cavendish and I thought I'd be drawn to The Blazing World because it's hyped up as a feminist utopia, but actually 'Assaulted and Pursued Chasity' has way more of an entertaining plot. And 'The Contract' felt like it could have been written a 100 years later closer to the Brontës era. All the texts are underpinned with the uncomfortable class/race views of their time, but 'Assaulted and Pursed Chasitity' had way more exciting feminist implications compared to the self insert fanfiction of Blazing World. However, Blazing World, even in it's dry philosophical moments, is such an interesting read just because of the wild imagination Cavendish brings to the table.
cavendish argues for women’s intellectual potential and ambitions, concocting a utopian world of her own making
is it bizarre? does it perpetuate the absolute monarchy and hierarchical privilege? is it an impressive historical artifact, being the work of a 17th century woman philosopher with limited educational opportunities? yes
is it bizarre? does it perpetuate the absolute monarchy and hierarchical privilege? is it an impressive historical artifact, being the work of a 17th century woman philosopher with limited educational opportunities? yes
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Colonisation, Classism
Moderate: Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry
Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, War
Look its from a time.