Phelps, Elizabeth Stuart

Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward (1844–1911) was an American author and intellectual known for her early feminist perspectives. She challenged conventional Christian views on the afterlife, presenting it in her work as a place of domestic reunion, including with pets. Phelps also questioned traditional societal expectations for women, particularly within marriage and family structures, and advocated for practical reforms like changes in women's clothing. She was a prolific writer, producing 57 volumes of fiction, poetry, and essays throughout her career.

Phelps's most famous work, "The Gates Ajar" (1868), offered a comforting vision of the afterlife following the immense losses of the Civil War. This book became a bestseller, resonating with readers who found solace in its depiction of eternal domesticity and familial bonds, though it drew criticism for deviating from traditional theological doctrines. Later in life, she became involved in the animal rights movement, with her novel "Trixy" (1904) addressing the ethics of vivisection.

Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward gained significant recognition for her novel "The Gates Ajar," published in 1868. This work presented a comforting and unconventional view of the afterlife, depicting it as a place where individuals would be reunited with loved ones and family pets, enjoying the familiar comforts of domestic life. This vision stood in contrast to prevailing religious doctrines of the time, particularly the more austere Calvinist interpretations of heaven. The book's popularity, amplified by the widespread grief following the Civil War, made it a bestseller, though its depiction of heaven as a place of earthly reunion rather than solely divine communion also sparked controversy and debate.

Beyond her explorations of the afterlife, Phelps was a vocal advocate for women's rights and challenged the restrictive societal norms of her era. She critiqued the limited roles prescribed for women, arguing against the notion that their sole fulfillment lay within the domestic sphere. Her writings often portrayed women succeeding in non-traditional professions such as physicians, ministers, and artists. Phelps also championed practical reforms, notably advocating for women to abandon restrictive clothing like corsets, urging them to embrace more liberating attire. She married a man 17 years her junior, a decision that further defied conventional expectations for women of her time.

Phelps integrated social commentary into her literary works, addressing issues of class structure and poverty, particularly in her children's stories where she depicted the struggles of impoverished children. Her novel "The Story of Avis" (1877) delved into the challenges women faced in balancing artistic ambitions with marital and domestic responsibilities, reflecting early feminist concerns about financial dependence on husbands. Towards the end of her life, Phelps became actively involved in the animal rights movement. Her novel "Trixy" (1904) directly confronted the practice of vivisection, becoming a significant piece of literature against animal experimentation.

“Burn up the corsets! ... No, nor do you save the whalebones, you will never need whalebones again. Make a bonfire of the cruel steels that have lorded it over your thorax and abdomens for so many years and heave a sigh of relief, for your emancipation I assure you, from this moment has begun.”