JOSEPH MAZZINI’S VIEWS ABOUT WOMEN

 

JOSEPH  MAZZINI’S VIEWS ABOUT WOMEN

Joseph Mazzini was an Italian revolutionary . He was born in Genoa in 1805. He organized a new political party called Young Italy.  In 1837 he settled in London and continued to participate in revolutionary movements throughout his life. He died at Pisa in 1872.

Mazzini wrote a book titled ‘The Duties OF  MAN AND OTHER ESSAYS. It was first  published by J.M.Dent & Sons in 1907. I happened to start reading this book a few days ago  and in a chapter entitled ‘‘Duties To The Family”, came across a few lines about women which I am sharing here below.

The angel of the family is woman. Mother, wife, or sister, woman is the caress of life, the soothing sweetness of affection shed over its toils, a reflection for the individual of the living providence which watches over Humanity. In her there is treasure enough of consoling tenderness to allay every pain. Moreover for every one of us she is initiator of the future. The mother’s first kiss teaches the child love; the first holy kiss of the woman he loves teaches man hope and faith in life; and love and faith create a desire for perfection and the power reaching towards it step by step; create the future, in short, of which the living symbol is the child, link between us and the generations to come. Through her the Family, with its divine mystery of reproduction, points to Eternity.     

                        Hold the Family sacred ,then, O my brothers.

                                    *******

G.R.Kanwal

27 February 2024