regard@ttidcc.UUCP (Adrienne Regard) (03/01/85)
Re: An Accomplished Woman question: Raised in a 'completely natural manner' was a very shortened explanation of part of the book's plot. This is a work of fiction, so the cause and effect relationship will not stand up to any determined criticism. Anyhow, the idea was that the woman was raised from early infancy by a friend of her mothers (who died), and his philosophy entailed letting her raise herself, with him as a passive resource. She ate when she was hungry, slept when she was tired, wherever she happened to be. She learned to read out of curiousity from watching others around her read. There were some inter- esting examples of the results -- one of which was central to the story line. All in all, it made her unprepared to deal with the world outside of her immediate environment in some ways, but in other ways of course she was markedly more competent. However, 'completely natural manner' does not mean naked like an ape swinging from the trees. It was bounded by an awareness of civilization. If you want more info, please send me mail. I don't remember the book that well, but I know I thought it was terrific at the time.