Lady Mary Wortley Montagu stands as a singular figure in the landscape of 18th Century British poetry. Known not only for her verse but also for her prose, particularly her letters, she offers a compelling blend of wit, intellect, and insight. While she may not always be featured in the traditional canon alongside Alexander Pope or Jonathan Swift, Montagu’s contributions are equally vital in understanding the broader scope of 18th Century British literature. Her poetry, characterized by sharp social commentary and feminist undertones, challenges the norms of her time and asserts her place among the most influential British poets of the period.
This article aims to explore the life, work, and legacy of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu. It will examine her role as an 18th Century British poet, compare her with her contemporaries, and analyze how her work has endured over time. Special attention will be given to her pioneering advocacy for women’s rights and health, particularly through her writings on smallpox inoculation and the Ottoman Empire.
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Born in 1689 into the aristocratic Pierrepont family, Mary was afforded a privileged, albeit constrained, upbringing typical of young women in British high society. Her father, the Earl of Kingston, recognized her intelligence but did little to encourage her scholarly interests. Nonetheless, Mary educated herself by sneaking into her father’s library and teaching herself Latin, French, and Italian. This self-directed education laid the foundation for her later literary achievements and gave her the tools to engage with the works of contemporary and classical authors alike.
Though many 18th Century British poets followed more formal educational paths, often attending elite institutions such as Oxford or Cambridge, Montagu’s autodidactic journey marks a divergence. Her informal education not only reveals her intellectual independence but also highlights the limitations placed on women in British society at the time.
Marriage and Social Life
In 1712, Mary eloped with Edward Wortley Montagu, a union that granted her access to a wider political and intellectual circle. Edward’s diplomatic appointment as ambassador to the Ottoman Empire in 1716 led the couple to Constantinople (now Istanbul), an experience that would profoundly shape Lady Mary’s worldview and literary output.
Her life at court in both England and abroad gave her a unique vantage point from which to observe the interplay of power, gender, and culture. Unlike many of her male counterparts, who wrote from within the comforts of the metropolitan elite, Montagu’s writings often carried the insights of a global citizen.
The Turkish Embassy Letters: A Landmark of Cultural Exchange
While not poetry in the traditional sense, Lady Mary’s Turkish Embassy Letters have often been praised for their literary merit and influence on British poetry and prose alike. These letters, written during her time in the Ottoman Empire, are notable for their descriptive power, intellectual curiosity, and cultural sensitivity.
Unlike many travel narratives of the time, which tended to exoticize the East, Montagu’s letters portrayed Ottoman society, particularly its women, with a sense of respect and realism. She was the first British writer to describe a Turkish bath, or hamam, from a female perspective, thereby offering insights into a world closed to male travelers.
This willingness to challenge European preconceptions and offer a female gaze set Montagu apart from her contemporaries and expanded the thematic and stylistic possibilities for 18th Century British poets and writers.
Contributions to 18th Century British Poetry
Though Lady Mary Wortley Montagu is often better known for her letters, she also made significant contributions to 18th Century British poetry. Her verse often took the form of satirical poetry, epistles, and mock-heroic poems. Many of these works directly addressed issues of gender, class, and power.
Her poem “The Reasons that Induced Dr. S. to Write a Poem Called The Lady’s Dressing Room” is a sharp retort to Jonathan Swift’s misogynistic poem The Lady’s Dressing Room. In her reply, Montagu deftly turns Swift’s critique of female vanity into an exposé of male hypocrisy, thereby subverting the typical narrative arc found in the male-dominated poetic tradition.
Montagu’s poetry is marked by:
Satirical wit: Her work often uses irony and humor to critique societal norms.
Feminist themes: Her poems advocate for women’s rights and highlight their struggles.
Political awareness: Many of her poems comment on the state of British politics and the role of women therein.
These characteristics made her a unique voice in British poetry and demonstrated the potential of verse to serve as a vehicle for social and political critique.
Feminist Undertones in Montagu’s Poetry
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu can rightly be considered an early feminist. While the term “feminist” did not exist in her time, her poems and letters frequently express concern about the limited roles and expectations imposed on women in British society. In her epistolary poem “Epistle from Mrs. Yonge to Her Husband,” she adopts the voice of a woman trapped in an abusive marriage, giving a powerful voice to female suffering and systemic injustice.
This thematic concern sets her apart from many male poets of the 18th century, who rarely centered women’s experiences in their work unless to objectify or moralize. Montagu’s poetry stands as a direct challenge to this tradition, offering a woman’s perspective not only as valid but as necessary for a fuller understanding of British life and letters.
Comparison with Contemporaries
To better appreciate Lady Mary Wortley Montagu’s place in 18th Century British poetry, it is useful to compare her work with that of her contemporaries.
Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope, a leading figure of 18th Century British poetry, is known for his mastery of the heroic couplet and his biting satires. Like Montagu, Pope was deeply engaged in the social and political issues of his time. However, their personal relationship was fraught with tension. Once friends, they became bitter enemies, and Pope even satirized her in The Dunciad.
Where Pope’s satire often targeted folly in a broad societal sense, Montagu’s critiques were more specific and frequently gendered. Her poetic voice was less concerned with classical form and more engaged with direct social commentary, particularly as it pertained to women’s lives.
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift, another towering figure in British literature, shared Montagu’s penchant for satire. However, Swift’s work often reveals a deep cynicism about human nature, and his portrayals of women can be particularly harsh. Montagu’s response to Swift’s The Lady’s Dressing Room illustrates how she employed satire to counteract misogyny with humor and insight.
Anne Finch
Anne Finch, Countess of Winchilsea, is another important female poet of the period and perhaps the closest contemporary parallel to Montagu. Like Montagu, Finch wrote about the condition of women and employed a deeply personal tone in her poetry. However, Finch’s verse is often more melancholic and introspective, whereas Montagu tends to wield satire and confrontation as tools for critique.
Health Advocacy and Smallpox Inoculation
One of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu’s most significant contributions to British society lies outside the realm of poetry, yet it is deeply tied to her literary efforts. After witnessing smallpox inoculation (variolation) in the Ottoman Empire, she had her own children inoculated and advocated for the practice upon her return to England.
She used her writing to persuade British doctors and aristocrats of its efficacy. Her advocacy predates Edward Jenner’s discovery of the smallpox vaccine by nearly a century. This act of medical promotion was not only courageous but deeply tied to her identity as a writer. She used her literary skills to promote scientific innovation, illustrating the power of the written word to influence public health and policy.
In this light, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu was not merely an 18th Century British poet, but also a public intellectual who shaped the discourse on medicine, gender, and empire.
Literary Legacy
The legacy of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu has experienced both periods of neglect and revival. For much of the 19th and early 20th centuries, she was remembered more for her letters than for her poetry. However, with the rise of feminist literary criticism in the late 20th century, scholars began to re-evaluate her verse for its sharp social commentary and unique voice.
Today, Montagu is increasingly recognized as a pioneering figure in British poetry. Her work is studied not only for its literary merit but also for its historical importance. Her fearless engagement with themes of gender inequality, cultural exchange, and social hypocrisy marks her as a distinctly modern voice among 18th Century British poets.
Influence on Later Writers
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu’s influence extends beyond her own time. Her satirical style and feminist themes can be seen in the works of later British poets and writers such as:
Jane Austen: While primarily a novelist, Austen’s social commentary and ironic wit echo Montagu’s tone.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning: Browning’s poetry on women’s rights and social justice reflects the groundwork laid by Montagu.
Virginia Woolf: In her essays, Woolf often championed women writers of earlier centuries, implicitly supporting Montagu’s legacy.
Her life and work have inspired a range of biographies, scholarly articles, and literary anthologies, ensuring her continued relevance in discussions of British poetry and gender studies.
Conclusion
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu’s place among 18th Century British poets is both unique and indispensable. Her contributions to British poetry, her fearless social critique, and her commitment to truth through writing make her a foundational figure in the literary history of the period. In a century dominated by male voices, she carved out a space for female experience and intellect. Her work challenged the norms of her time and laid the groundwork for future generations of women writers.
As we continue to explore the complexities of British poetry from the 18th century, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu demands not only inclusion but celebration. She is a testament to the enduring power of the written word and the courage of those who wield it in pursuit of justice, truth, and beauty.
