I believe that the line
which could be considered as main theme is: “They ought to cherish a nobler
ambition and by their abilities and virtues exact respect”.
Wollstonecraft's purpose
for writing the essay “A Vindication of the Rights of Women” was to criticize the
society’s view of women. She considered the flaws they saw in women as
artificial and pleaded for a better education of women. Wollstonecraft’s main
statement is that women should be respected, not only admired for their beauty,
which is shown in sentence: “They ought to cherish a nobler
ambition and by their abilities and virtues exact respect”.
