Meaning:
The quote "What I write is not for little girls" is attributed to the French poet Theophile Gautier. This statement reflects Gautier's attitude towards his own work and the intended audience for his writing. The phrase suggests that Gautier's writing is not intended for a juvenile or immature audience, but rather for a more mature and sophisticated readership.
Theophile Gautier was a prominent figure in the French literary scene of the 19th century, known for his contributions to poetry, fiction, and literary criticism. He was associated with the literary movement known as Romanticism, which emphasized individualism, emotion, and a departure from traditional forms and subjects. Gautier's writing often explored themes of love, beauty, and the exotic, and his work was characterized by a rich and vivid descriptive style.
When Gautier declared that his writing was not for "little girls," he was likely expressing a desire to be taken seriously as a writer of adult literature. In the 19th century, literature was often categorized according to its intended audience, with some works being considered suitable for children or young adults, while others were aimed at a more mature readership. By distancing himself from the notion of writing for "little girls," Gautier may have been asserting the depth and sophistication of his work, as well as its potential to engage and challenge adult readers.
It's important to note that Gautier's statement should be interpreted within the context of his time. In the 19th century, there was a growing emphasis on literature as a vehicle for artistic and intellectual exploration, and writers were often keen to establish themselves as serious artists with important things to say. By positioning his writing as not meant for "little girls," Gautier may have been aligning himself with this broader cultural movement and signaling his intention to address weighty and complex themes in his work.
At the same time, it's worth considering the gendered implications of Gautier's statement. In referring to "little girls," he was implicitly drawing a distinction between his work and the tastes or sensibilities typically associated with young females. This raises questions about the gender dynamics at play in Gautier's literary world, as well as the broader cultural assumptions about what kinds of literature were deemed appropriate or appealing for different audiences.
In contemporary terms, we might interpret Gautier's quote as a statement of artistic ambition and a declaration of the depth and maturity of his writing. It can be seen as a way for the poet to assert the sophistication and complexity of his work, and to position himself within the literary landscape as a writer with serious intentions and a desire to engage adult readers.
Overall, Theophile Gautier's statement "What I write is not for little girls" offers a glimpse into the complex interplay of artistic ambition, cultural norms, and gender dynamics in the 19th-century literary world. It invites us to consider the ways in which writers sought to position themselves and their work within the broader context of their time, and prompts us to reflect on the changing notions of audience, literary merit, and artistic intention across different historical periods.