In the spring of 1846, Eliza Stacey, realizing her desperate need for money, writes a letter to her father-in-law Edward pleading for his support in paying her family’s debt. The composition of her letter was critical as her husband remained in prison unable to pay their debt and her pregnancy was taking its toll. Eliza utilizes alliteration, understatement, and pathos to reach the generosity of her father-in-law all while examining her own situation with grace.
Stacey opens the first paragraph with two flowing alliterations to magnify the difference between what she once hoped for, and what fate has brought to her, in order to open Edward’s eyes to the blessing of the charity she seeks. She coins her worldly hopes as an “advantage apparently about to be increased” (3-4) but quickly follows with the anticlimactic “the hopes are frustrated and…depressed by disappointment” (3-5). By pairing the uplifting “A” consonants with the depressing “D” consonants, Stacey conveys her shattered hopes to …show more content…
This catches his attention right before Stacey turns the subject back on herself when she express’s that Edward’s suffering alone (and not her dire circumstance) would cause her too much upset. Stacey gracefully imparts that she is thankful her situation is the “lesser of two evils” (63-64). This statement solidifies the idea that she is anything but whiney and is independent enough to use her father in law’s help to the finest. In her concluding paragraph, Stacey emphasizes that her debt is consequence of her own doing. She boldly claims, “We do not feel responsible for this debt, as the weight of it is on Mr. Crosby’s side, not on ours” (90). She builds two sides: that of the debtor and that of the greedy collector, and Edward must choose a side. Her direct claim ensures that Edward places the blame on Mr. Crosby, making herself a victim of his
Stacey opens the first paragraph with two flowing alliterations to magnify the difference between what she once hoped for, and what fate has brought to her, in order to open Edward’s eyes to the blessing of the charity she seeks. She coins her worldly hopes as an “advantage apparently about to be increased” (3-4) but quickly follows with the anticlimactic “the hopes are frustrated and…depressed by disappointment” (3-5). By pairing the uplifting “A” consonants with the depressing “D” consonants, Stacey conveys her shattered hopes to …show more content…
This catches his attention right before Stacey turns the subject back on herself when she express’s that Edward’s suffering alone (and not her dire circumstance) would cause her too much upset. Stacey gracefully imparts that she is thankful her situation is the “lesser of two evils” (63-64). This statement solidifies the idea that she is anything but whiney and is independent enough to use her father in law’s help to the finest. In her concluding paragraph, Stacey emphasizes that her debt is consequence of her own doing. She boldly claims, “We do not feel responsible for this debt, as the weight of it is on Mr. Crosby’s side, not on ours” (90). She builds two sides: that of the debtor and that of the greedy collector, and Edward must choose a side. Her direct claim ensures that Edward places the blame on Mr. Crosby, making herself a victim of his