Rhetorical Analysis Of Speech By Florence Kelley

Florence Kelley, a social worker and reformer, presented a speech about child labor, she argues that women should be able to vote to stop the harm done to children from working. Kelley uses connotations, imagery, passionate tone, personification and emotional appeal to convince the National American Woman Suffrage Association as well as feel guilty and to be sympathetic to fight for the right to vote so they can abolish child labor. Kelley argues that the states that have age limits to prevent child labor are more developed and more aware. She explains the age restriction varies in each states and mentions that the section is, “... fourteen, fifteen and sixteen years in more enlightened states.” Kelley uses positive connotation to convey her opinion of those states in referring to the use of enlightened. Connotation of enlightened is a much more positive and sometimes spiritual feeling. This helps Kelley persuade the audience to feel as if all states should have higher age limits and promote the idea of voting to end child labor. …show more content…
Kelley states, “ Tonight while we sleep, several thousand little girls will be working in the textile mills, all the night through, in the deafening noise of the spindles and looms spinning and weaving cotton and wool…” Kelley uses imagery of the work setting to guilt trip the audience to help push them to stop child labor. By describing the scene, it adds an emotional appeal which leads the convention to picture these little girls working and feeling miserable due to this loud and harmful factory. Imagery and emotional appeal makes the audience feel guilty as well as empower them to gain courage for fighting for their