In Knight’s journal, she detailed daily accounts of her travel including descriptions of her surroundings. For example, “we entered a thicket of tress and shrubs” and then “we were on a descent of a hill” (Knight A: 381). She described the path she traveled as narrow and also mentioned the steepness of the hills. As she continued her trip, she noted the places she stayed at overnight, the type of food she ate and the quality and personality of the people she met. She wrote, “There are plenty of oysters all along by the seaside” indicating the type of food that was available along the way (Knight A: 385). In terms of Knight being a businesswoman, she frequently mentioned how the people she met did business. Regarding the Native Americans,
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It is interesting that in “The Speech of Miss Polly Baker”, Franklin spoke as a girl. It is obvious that Franklin was an educated man, but this was not his point of view. There are elements of the speech that would normally be attributed to Franklin. The speech is sarcastic in tone, although the conversational language seems appropriate for a woman of her social status. In addition, there is humor, as evidenced by Franklin’s comment, “the growing number of bachelors in the country” and continues to say that the reason is the fear of having a family (Franklin A: 465). . Another comment is directed at Miss Polly, when Franklin said “in my humble Opinion, instead of a Whipping, to have a Statue erected to my Memory” (Franklin A: …show more content…
He was a respected man, known for his slow thorough thinking. This speech was a challenge to the existing judicial philosophy, particularly as it applied to women. He suggested that perhaps the court and government are involved in matters they should not be involved in. this voice of reason satires the moral indignation of some and illustrates how women were treated as second class citizens and held to a different set of moral standards.
4. In looking at Franklin’s argument, it is interesting that he, as the narrator does not advocate her argument or her opportunism. It appears that Franklin was taking a stance which might not have been his own. In “The Speech of Miss Polly Baker”, Franklin mocked conventional sexual modes without endorsing its violation. However, Franklin did endorse her individualism, a characteristic of Franklin himself. In other selections, Franklin used a rational, realistic approach to matters of public policy. In this situation, he used wit and satire to focus attention on what he considered absurdities. Given the cultural; atmosphere present at that time, I believe Franklin’s argument, though logical, would not have been found convincing. In today’s society, his argument would have greater acceptance.
John & Abigail
It is interesting that in “The Speech of Miss Polly Baker”, Franklin spoke as a girl. It is obvious that Franklin was an educated man, but this was not his point of view. There are elements of the speech that would normally be attributed to Franklin. The speech is sarcastic in tone, although the conversational language seems appropriate for a woman of her social status. In addition, there is humor, as evidenced by Franklin’s comment, “the growing number of bachelors in the country” and continues to say that the reason is the fear of having a family (Franklin A: 465). . Another comment is directed at Miss Polly, when Franklin said “in my humble Opinion, instead of a Whipping, to have a Statue erected to my Memory” (Franklin A: …show more content…
He was a respected man, known for his slow thorough thinking. This speech was a challenge to the existing judicial philosophy, particularly as it applied to women. He suggested that perhaps the court and government are involved in matters they should not be involved in. this voice of reason satires the moral indignation of some and illustrates how women were treated as second class citizens and held to a different set of moral standards.
4. In looking at Franklin’s argument, it is interesting that he, as the narrator does not advocate her argument or her opportunism. It appears that Franklin was taking a stance which might not have been his own. In “The Speech of Miss Polly Baker”, Franklin mocked conventional sexual modes without endorsing its violation. However, Franklin did endorse her individualism, a characteristic of Franklin himself. In other selections, Franklin used a rational, realistic approach to matters of public policy. In this situation, he used wit and satire to focus attention on what he considered absurdities. Given the cultural; atmosphere present at that time, I believe Franklin’s argument, though logical, would not have been found convincing. In today’s society, his argument would have greater acceptance.
John & Abigail