Talk with Mary Wortley Montagu

Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762) was an English aristocrat, writer, and poet, best known for her letters detailing her travels and experiences living abroad, and for advocating the practice of smallpox inoculation. She was one of the earliest known Europeans to articulate the benefits of inoculation practices she witnessed in the Ottoman Empire, where she lived with her husband, Edward Wortley Montagu, who was the British ambassador to Turkey.

Born Mary Pierrepont, she was known for her intellect and wit from a young age. She married Edward Wortley Montagu in 1712, and their marriage allowed her entry into the literary and political circles of the time. During her stay in Turkey, she wrote extensive letters that were later published as "Letters of the Right Honourable Lady M----y W----y M----e: Written, during her Travels in Europe, Asia and Africa."

Upon their return from Turkey, Lady Montagu became a strong advocate of smallpox inoculation (variolation), having herself observed the practice in Constantinople. She had her own children inoculated, which was a controversial decision at the time. Her advocacy played a crucial role in the acceptance and spread of inoculation in Western medicine, which eventually led to the development of vaccines by Edward Jenner.

Mary Wortley Montagu's writings provide valuable insights into the early 18th century Ottoman society and the workings of the English upper classes, and they contributed significantly to the travel literature genre. Her work is also important for understanding the early advocacy and practice of immunization in the Western world.

Feminist scholars often celebrate Mary Wortley Montagu for her groundbreaking role as a female intellectual and writer in the 18th century, a period when such positions were predominantly occupied by men. They particularly commend her for her literary contributions and her outspoken views on women's rights and education. Montagu's personal letters and writings reveal her sharp wit and insightful critique of the gender norms and inequalities of her time.

Her work on variolation—introducing smallpox inoculation to Western medicine following her observations in Turkey—also adds to her reputation as a woman of science and innovation, which challenges the traditional exclusion of women from the scientific community during her era.

Moreover, her criticisms of the patriarchal society and advocacy for the intellectual development of women were progressive for her era. Montagu argued for women's ability to think critically and independently, and she lived her life as a model of educational aspiration and intellectual achievement, demonstrating that women could match or exceed men's capabilities in these realms.

In essence, feminist scholars view Mary Wortley Montagu as a forebear of feminist thought and a significant figure in the struggle for women’s rights and recognition in intellectual and public spheres.

Mary Wortley Montagu faced several personal adversities throughout her life. One major challenge was her battle with smallpox in 1715, which left her with significant scarring and partial loss of her eyebrows. This experience had a profound impact on her, particularly in a society that placed great emphasis on female beauty.

Another adversity was her controversial public persona and the backlash she faced due to her outspoken nature and sometimes unconventional views, particularly regarding women's education and rights. Montagu also experienced difficulties within her marriage. She and her husband, Edward Wortley Montagu, had a complex relationship that eventually led to estrangement, though they never formally divorced.

Additionally, she faced challenges related to her health beyond her encounter with smallpox, including various ailments that she described in her letters. Despite these hardships, Montagu remained a prolific writer and influential figure, particularly through her advocacy for smallpox inoculation following her travels to the Ottoman Empire.

Mary Wortley Montagu faced several challenges as a female writer in the 18th century, a time when literary and intellectual fields were predominantly male-dominated. One of the primary challenges she encountered was the societal expectation that women should adhere to roles confined to domestic duties and personal matters, rather than engage in public and intellectual pursuits. Writing and scholarship were considered masculine activities, and women who ventured into these areas often faced scrutiny and criticism.

Montagu also dealt with the prejudice that women were intellectually inferior to men, which led to her works being dismissed or undervalued by some contemporaries and critics simply because of her gender. Despite her evident talent and sharp wit, she had to navigate a cultural landscape that was often dismissive of women’s intellectual capacities.

Moreover, publishing as a woman during this period came with its own set of difficulties. Women often had to choose between publishing anonymously or under pseudonyms to avoid societal backlash or to gain a fair reception for their work. Montagu sometimes chose to circulate her writings privately among friends and correspondents rather than publishing them widely, which was a common practice among women of her time who wanted to share their thoughts while avoiding public censure.

Mary Wortley Montagu’s bold engagement with topics such as gender, power, and social norms not only highlights her resilience but also her role in challenging the stereotypes and restrictions imposed on women of her era. Despite these challenges, she managed to carve out a space for herself as a respected writer and an intellectual.

Gender played a significant role in the reception of Mary Wortley Montagu's work during her lifetime and beyond. As a woman writer in the early 18th century, Montagu faced the prevailing societal norms that often marginalized or undervalued the contributions of women in the literary and intellectual arenas. Her gender influenced not only how her work was received but also the subjects she chose to address and the style in which she wrote.

Montagu's writings, including her famous letters and poems, frequently challenged the conventional expectations of women in her society. She wrote openly about her travels, experiences in the Ottoman Empire, and her views on education and female independence, topics that were not typically associated with women writers of her time. This led to mixed reception; some admired her wit and insights, while others criticized her for stepping beyond the traditional female role.

Moreover, her advocacy of smallpox inoculation, influenced by what she witnessed in Turkey, was a pioneering effort in public health that initially faced resistance partly because of her gender. As a woman advocating for a medical practice, she had to overcome considerable skepticism and opposition from the predominantly male medical establishment.

Overall, gender played a complex role in shaping the reception of Montagu's work, intersecting with issues of class, education, and societal expectations to influence how she was perceived and remembered in literary and historical contexts.

Mary Wortley Montagu's contributions to English literature were significant, particularly through her letters and poems, which provided a distinctive blend of personal insight, cultural commentary, and the articulation of a female perspective that was rare for her time. Her influence on English literature can be seen in several key areas:

1. Introduction of the Epistolary Style: Montagu is perhaps best known for her "Letters," which she wrote during her travels to the Ottoman Empire with her husband, who was the British ambassador to Turkey. These letters were pioneering in their use of the epistolary form (a novel or other narrative composed of letters) for cultural and sociopolitical commentary. This kind of writing would later influence the development of the English novel, including works by writers such as Samuel Richardson.

2. Cultural Bridging through Literature: In her letters, Montagu discussed her observations of the Ottoman Empire, providing a rare and relatively unbiased Western perspective on Eastern culture during a time when the empire was widely misunderstood and stereotyped in Europe. Her writings helped to humanize the East for her Western readers, showcasing her as an early figure in the move towards cultural relativism in literature.

3. Feminist Perspectives: Montagu also used her writings to subtly critique the limited roles available to women in 18th-century society. Her positions on female education and empowerment, and her criticisms of the treatment of women both in the West and in the Ottoman Empire, anticipate later feminist literature and thought.

4. Literary Networks and Influence: Montagu was at the center of a vibrant literary circle which included figures like Alexander Pope, John Gay, and Jonathan Swift. Her influence on these peers and her mentorship of other women writers helped shape the literary culture of her time.

In summary, Mary Wortley Montagu influenced English literature by popularizing new forms and themes, including the use of the epistolary style, introducing English audiences to Eastern cultures more sympathetically, embedding feminist ideas in her texts, and participating actively in literary networks. Her legacy is seen not just in her own works but also in the broader evolution of 18th-century English literature.

Mary Wortley Montagu left Turkey in 1718. She had been living there since 1716, when her husband, Edward Wortley Montagu, was appointed as the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. During her time in Turkey, she wrote extensively about Ottoman culture and society, including her famous "Turkish Embassy Letters."

Mary Wortley Montagu did not stop smallpox, but she played a crucial role in introducing and advocating for the practice of variolation to England—a process that significantly mitigated the impact of smallpox before the development of vaccination by Edward Jenner in the late 18th century.

While living in Istanbul, where her husband Edward Wortley Montagu served as the British ambassador, Mary observed the practice of variolation, which involved inoculating a person with material taken from a mild smallpox sore. The process aimed to induce a mild infection but provide immunity against more severe future infections. Intrigued by the success of this practice in the Ottoman Empire, where it was commonly performed, she decided to have her son variolated in Turkey in 1718.

After returning to England, she became a major advocate for variolation despite significant skepticism and resistance from the medical community and the general public. Her efforts gained considerable attention when she had her daughter variolated in 1721, and this event was attended by physicians who could observe the procedure. Her advocacy helped spread awareness and acceptance of variolation as a preventive measure against smallpox in Britain.

Through her letters and networks, Mary Wortley Montagu effectively influenced public opinion and medical practices regarding smallpox prevention in the early 18th century. Her work laid important groundwork for the eventual acceptance and improvement of inoculation practices, which paved the way for the future development of vaccines.

Mary Wortley Montagu wrote a poem titled "Saturday—The Small-Pox." This poem is a poignant reflection on beauty and its transience, framed through the lens of the impact of smallpox. In it, Montagu speaks from the perspective of Flavia, a beautiful woman whose beauty is marred by the disease. The poem explores themes of vanity, societal standards of beauty, and the cruel irony of how quickly such beauty can be destroyed by illness. Here is the opening stanza to give you a sense of Montagu's verse:

"Flavia's form when charming every heart, Flavia’s each glance when darting love's keen art; When no bright maid excelled her beauteous face And Flavia's fame rang through the list’ning space."

Through her writing, Montagu not only comments on the ravages of smallpox but also subtly critiques the societal obsession with physical beauty. This poem aligns with her broader advocacy against smallpox and her support for inoculation, which she famously promoted after witnessing its practice in the Ottoman Empire.

Lady Mary Wortley Montagu herself wrote the letters. She is well-known for her letters, particularly those she penned during her travels to the Ottoman Empire with her husband, who was the British ambassador to Turkey. These letters provide a fascinating insight into her observations of life in the early 18th century Ottoman Empire and are significant for their comments on cultural practices, especially her accounts of smallpox inoculation, which she advocated for in England based on her experiences in Turkey.

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