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Miss Polly Baker Speech Analysis

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Speech of Miss Polly Baker Until somewhat recently women were considered inferior to men. Women could not work and were wholly dependent upon a man. One of the biggest leaps forward in equality was the Enlightenment era. The Enlightenment encouraged rational thought and equality for all. “The Speech of Miss Polly Baker” written by Benjamin Franklin is one of the most influential writings in American gender enlightenment especially in social, monetary and religious issues. Benjamin Franklin uses humor in his speech in order to criticize society at the time. Polly Baker has 5 children out of wedlock in this story. This is a completely ridiculous idea for the time as it was considered a crime and a sin. In addition she has received numerous punishments, corporal and monetary in nature. In the speech Miss Baker laments to the court about how heavily she has been punished while those that fathered the children were not. In fact she goes on to reveal that one of the fathers is a highly respected judge. By making numerous humorous and unbelievable statements Franklin …show more content…

Franklin’s criticism of religion in “The Speech of Miss Polly Baker” is one of the most emotionally charged and serious paragraphs in the story. Polly Baker lives in colonial New England and religion is a huge part of life in that time. In her speech Polly states that she has been banned from church and overall rejected from taking part in organized religion. By declaring, “You believe I have offended Heaven, and must suffer eternal Fire. Will that nor be sufficient?”, Polly Baker insinuates that she is going to be punished by God for her transgressions. Benjamin Franklin states that a crime of this nature is between her and God, and that God will punish her. Franklin suggests that courts should not punish people of religious crimes as God will punish them on his

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