Nature vs. Nurture
The debate over nature versus nurture is a dominant theme in Margaret Cavendish’s poetry. Readers are exposed to natural philosophy devoid of definitive knowledge. Cavendish believed that nature dictates orderliness. According to her, the world is made up of atoms. The consideration of right and wrong is based on perception rather than occurring naturally. Nobody knows the cause of anything. All people debate everything based on guessing. Thus, every person lists what he thinks. In most of her poems, Cavendish is trying to argue that everything occurs through the means of natural phenomena, and no one knows the truth.
The Theme of Moral Philosophy
In the dialogue poems, Cavendish argues that opinions on what is right and wrong depend on perceptions. In short, morality and virtue are based on opinions. Strong arguments can change the perception of what is right or wrong. Cavendish also believes that moralists are the most contented people on earth because they make the best use of their passions. Making the best use of passions calms the mind.
The Theme of Feminism
Undoubtedly, Cavendish takes a feminine stance in her poems. In a patriarchal society where women were denied their rights, Cavendish encourages them to use writings, politics, and acting to air their views. Sexism and gender discrimination did not deter her from addressing issues that slow women from progressing. She knew that writing such kind of information would draw criticism from both genders, but she chose to continue with her work.
The Conflict between Imaginative Ideas and Real Experience of War
From most of the war poems, it is clear that Margaret Cavendish believes that war ought to defend and uphold ideals, thus, making brave warriors. However, from her real experience, war betrays moral values and leads to the death of innocent civilians. In the war poems, readers are exposed to thoughts of heroism, but, at the same time, the poet brings graphic images of death. The simultaneous use of fantasy and reality of war reveals Cavendish’s love for imagination.
The Theme of Conflict between Reality and Fantasy
Margaret Cavendish uses fairy poems to challenge the reality of conclusive knowledge. She wonders why people brush off the idea of fairy tales but believe in witches. People tend to believe that there is air, yet they do not see it but denies the idea that fairies are real. The poet is critical of science for arguing that the human body consists of many bugs and, at the same time, quick to dismiss the idea of fairies.
