"The ultimate end of your education was to make you a good wife"

In this quote, Mary Wortley Montagu is suggesting that the primary purpose of a female's education is to prepare her to be a great wife. This statement shows the social expectations and gender functions of the time duration in which Montagu lived. Throughout this time, women were typically seen as homemakers and their education was concentrated on domestic skills and etiquette instead of academic pursuits. Montagu's words also indicate that a woman's worth and success is determined by her capability to satisfy the role of an other half, instead of her own personal accomplishments or aspirations. This quote highlights the minimal chances and expectations placed on ladies in the past, and works as a reminder of the progress that has actually been made towards gender equality in education and society.