Portrait of an Era Defying Woman

Danielle Dutton's Margaret the First is a lyrical and imaginative portrayal of Margaret Cavendish, the 17th-century Duchess of Newcastle. 

The story takes place in an era where women are largely excluded from intellectual discourse. Margaret tries to enter this literary world by publishing plays, poetry, and philosophical treatises. Although we soon discover that her works were controversial, they represented a radical assertion of a woman's intellectual capabilities. "I wrote to be known, and though I knew I would be mocked, still I wrote." (Dutton 47)

As the story progresses, Margaret's flamboyant style and behaviour earn her the nickname "Mad Madge." As readers, we learn that this was deliberate, as it highlighted her refusal to conform to the expectations of demure silence, and instead, she used her visibility to amplify her ideas. "They wanted a woman to be quiet, unseen, and I was anything but." (Dutton 75)

Her marriage to Cavendish went beyond its traditional roles. Recognising her talent, he provided her with resources, time and encouragement to write and publish her works. "William never asked me to change. He only asked me to create." (Dutton 99) He also used his influence to help her gain access to spaces that were typically closed off for women. For example, he supported her attendance at the Royal Society—a bold move given the gender restrictions of the time. "He opened doors for me that the world had bolted shut." (Dutton 102)

Through her words, Dutton builds a portrait of an author ahead of her time. A woman who defies the rules of the world she lives in unashamedly and ambitiously. She is a woman who might be an enigma to some even today, and I believe that is the beauty of Margaret the First.