Maria: or, The Wrongs of Woman

Why is Maria initially attracted to Henry Darnford? What “red flags” does she ignore in his character and past, and why does she do so? How do Maria’s circumstances in the asylum facilitate her falling in love with Darnford?

How have Jemima’s past circumstances impacted her attitude toward humanity? Why is she sympathetic to Maria, and why is she reluctant to help her? How does Jemima’s class status lead to her having different experiences and obstacles than Maria?

How does Maria’s unhappy childhood set the stage for the subsequent tragic circumstances of her life? How does it impact the early development of her relationship with George Venables? Would Maria still have married George if she had come from a more supportive family?

What is the significance of Maria’s uncle to the plot and the development of her character? How does he help Maria, and in what ways does he render her more vulnerable? How does his own romantic history shape his perspective and actions?

While George transgresses in many ways, Maria breaks with him definitively when he tries to trade her body for money. Why is this the event that leads to Maria leaving him? Why does she feel justified in doing so? How do other characters perceive this action, and what do their responses reveal about social attitudes at the time?

Why does Maria begin a sexual relationship with Henry Darnford? What hopes does she have for a future with him? Are these hopes supported by evidence, either from his past actions or from her own past experiences in romantic relationships?

While the novel was unfinished, all of the possible endings seem to involve Darnford eventually betraying and abandoning Maria. What is the significance of this narrative choice, and how does it reflect Wollstonecraft’s ideas about gender and romantic love? How is this conclusion foreshadowed by earlier events in the plot?

In the most extensive of the possible endings, Maria recovers from the despair she experiences after the end of her relationship with Darnford. What is the significance of Jemima’s role in this possible conclusion? What is the significance of Maria’s reunion with her young daughter? How does this possible conclusion reflect Wollstonecraft’s philosophy and ideology?