In early United States History, Benjamin Franklin was known for being a different kind of person. He never followed the rules like everyone else and always “marched to the beat of his own drum”. This difference from everyone else is what made Franklin a prominent figure in early American society. Franklin also uses this difference to help get his beliefs about society across to citizens. He uses satire to call people out and try to fix issues in the colonies. In the Satirical piece of literature The Speech of Miss Polly Baker, Benjamin Franklin uses a sarcastic and sassy tone to help get his point across that the government is flawed. “These Things I never was charged with; nor has any one the least cause of Complaint against me, unless,
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During this time period, society was dominated by men and they ran everything. This is seen in the story by the father of one of the illegitimate children. He promised Miss Baker the world but when she got pregnant he fled. Since he ran before the birth he was charged with any crime or fine, unlike Miss Baker. Not only did he escape punishment for his crimes, he was also able to gain political power within the society and was promoted to a magistrate for the county.
”I unhappily lost my own Honour, by trusting to his; for he got me with Child, and then forsook me: That very Person you all know; he is now become a Magistrate of this County but I must Complain of it as unjust and unequal, that my Betrayer and Undoer, the first Cause of all my Faults and Miscarriages (if they must be deemed such) should be advanced to Honour and Power, in the same Government that punishes my Misfortunes with Stripes and Infamy.”
Franklin is taking shots at society because the women are the brunt of the punishment, whereas the men in these relationships are receiving very little punishment, if any. With this situation being brought to the forefront, he is hoping that society will see that both parties are at fault in these situations, not just the mother, and they will soon begin adjusting the
During this time period, society was dominated by men and they ran everything. This is seen in the story by the father of one of the illegitimate children. He promised Miss Baker the world but when she got pregnant he fled. Since he ran before the birth he was charged with any crime or fine, unlike Miss Baker. Not only did he escape punishment for his crimes, he was also able to gain political power within the society and was promoted to a magistrate for the county.
”I unhappily lost my own Honour, by trusting to his; for he got me with Child, and then forsook me: That very Person you all know; he is now become a Magistrate of this County but I must Complain of it as unjust and unequal, that my Betrayer and Undoer, the first Cause of all my Faults and Miscarriages (if they must be deemed such) should be advanced to Honour and Power, in the same Government that punishes my Misfortunes with Stripes and Infamy.”
Franklin is taking shots at society because the women are the brunt of the punishment, whereas the men in these relationships are receiving very little punishment, if any. With this situation being brought to the forefront, he is hoping that society will see that both parties are at fault in these situations, not just the mother, and they will soon begin adjusting the