按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃But if this is so；〃 said I； 〃it follows that one may love his
wife only once every two years； and as man〃 。 。 。
〃And as man has need of her； you are going to say。 At least； so
the priests of science assure us。 I would force these priests to
fulfil the function of these women； who； in their opinion； are
necessary to man。 I wonder what song they would sing then。
Assure man that he needs brandy； tobacco； opium； and he will
believe those poisons necessary。 It follows that God did not
know how to arrange matters properly； since； without asking the
opinions of the priests； he has combined things as they are。 Man
needs； so they have decided； to satisfy his sensual desire； and
here this function is disturbed by the birth and the nursing of
children。
〃What； then； is to be done？ Why； apply to the priests； they will
arrange everything； and they have really discovered a way。 When；
then； will these rascals with their lies be uncrowned！ It is
high time。 We have had enough of them。 People go mad； and shoot
each other with revolvers； and always because of that！ And how
could it be otherwise？
〃One would say that the animals know that descent continues their
race； and that they follow a certain law in regard thereto。 Only
man does not know this； and is unwilling to know it。 He cares
only to have as much sensual enjoyment as possible。 The king of
nature；man！ In the name of his love he kills half the human
race。 Of woman； who ought to be his aid in the movement of
humanity toward liberty； he makes； in the name of his pleasures；
not an aid； but an enemy。 Who is it that everywhere puts a check
upon the progressive movement of humanity？ Woman。 Why is it so？
For the reason that I have given； and for that reason only。
CHAPTER XIV。
〃Yes； much worse than the animal is man when he does not live as
a man。 Thus was I。 The horrible part is that I believed；
inasmuch as I did not allow myself to be seduced by other women
that I was leading an honest family life； that I was a very
mortal being； and that if we had quarrels； the fault was in my
wife； and in her character。
〃But it is evident that the fault was not in her。 She was like
everybody else； like the majority。 She was brought up according
to the principles exacted by the situation of our society；that
is； as all the young girls of our wealthy classes； without
exception； are brought up； and as they cannot fail to be brought
up。 How many times we hear or read of reflections upon the
abnormal condition of women； and upon what they ought to be。 But
these are only vain words。 The education of women results from
the real and not imaginary view which the world entertains of
women's vocation。 According to this view； the condition of women
consists in procuring pleasure and it is to that end that her
education is directed。 From her infancy she is taught only those
things that are calculated to increase her charm。 Every young
girl is accustomed to think only of that。
〃As the serfs were brought up solely to please their masters； so
woman is brought up to attract men。 It cannot be otherwise。 But
you will say； perhaps； that that applies only to young girls who
are badly brought up； but that there is another education； an
education that is serious； in the schools； an education in the
dead languages； an education in the institutions of midwifery； an
education in medical courses； and in other courses。 It is
false。
〃Every sort of feminine education has for its sole object the
attraction of men。
〃Some attract by music or curly hair； others by science or by
civic virtue。 The object is the same； and cannot be otherwise
（since no other object exists）；to seduce man in order to
possess him。 Imagine courses of instruction for women and
feminine science without men；that is； learned women； and men
not KNOWING them as learned。 Oh； no！ No education； no
instruction can change woman as long as her highest ideal shall
be marriage and not virginity； freedom from sensuality。 Until
that time she will remain a serf。 One need only imagine；
forgetting the universality of the case； the conditions in which
our young girls are brought up； to avoid astonishment at the
debauchery of the women of our upper classes。 It is the opposite
that would cause astonishment。
〃Follow my reasoning。 From infancy garments； ornaments；
cleanliness； grace； dances； music； reading of poetry； novels；
singing； the theatre； the concert； for use within and without；
according as women listen； or practice themselves。 With that；
complete physical idleness； an excessive care of the body； a vast
consumption of sweetmeats； and God knows how the poor maidens
suffer from their own sensuality； excited by all these things。
Nine out of ten are tortured intolerably during the first period
of maturity； and afterward provided they do not marry at the age
of twenty。 That is what we are unwilling to see； but those who
have eyes see it all the same。 And even the majority of these
unfortunate creatures are so excited by a hidden sensuality （and
it is lucky if it is hidden） that they are fit for nothing。 They
become animated only in the presence of men。 Their whole life is
spent in preparations for coquetry； or in coquetry itself。 In
the presence of men they become too animated； they begin to live
by sensual energy。 But the moment the man goes away； the life
stops。
〃And that； not in the presence of a certain man； but in the
presence of any man； provided he is not utterly hideous。 You
will say that this is an exception。 No； it is a rule。 Only in
some it is made very evident； in other less so。 But no one lives
by her own life； they are all dependent upon man。 They cannot be
otherwise； since to them the attraction of the greatest number of
men is the ideal of life （young girls and married women）； and it
is for this reason that they have no feeling stronger than that
of the animal need of every female who tries to attract the
largest number of males in order to increase the opportunities
for choice。 So it is in the life of young girls； and so it
continues during marriage。 In the life of young girls it is
necessary in order to selection； and in marriage it is necessary
in order to rule the husband。 Only one thing suppresses or
interrupts these tendencies for a time；namely； children；and
then only when the woman is not a monster；that is； when she
nurses her own children。 Here again the doctor interferes。
〃With my wife； who desired to nurse her own children； and who did
nurse six of them； it happened that the first child was sickly。
The doctors； who cynically undressed her and felt of her
everywhere； and whom I had to thank and pay for these
acts；these dear doctors decided that she ought not to nurse her
child； and she was temporarily deprived of the only remedy for
coquetry。 A nurse finished the nursing of this first…born；that
is to say； we