Rhetorical Analysis Of Elizabeth Cady's Speech

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In 1868, Elizabeth Cady Stanton delivered the "The Destructive Male" during the Women's Suffrage Convention in Washington D.C. The speech was given in the height of the Women's' Suffrage movement, which gathered an abundance amount of women. These gatherings were mostly attended by women that fought for their rights and a small percentage of the participants were men that as well supported the end to women's suffrage in America. The author's purpose for this speech was on how men in society were the leading cause of violence and disorganization. If men and women were to share power ,then the world will work in harmony and be safer. This speech was presented to an audience that supported to end women's suffrage ,either man or women. The people …show more content…

With that people are able to infer that she knows what she is talking about and that establishes her credibility. Evidence of ethos is presented later on as her speech goes on Elizabeth keeps stating how men have made society destructive ,but she still shows how that it's not all men. By doing this Elizabeth is able demonstrate that she's understanding that there are men that do good. She even states that one of the most beautiful souls are men ,but it's those men that are in power that give a bad name for being a man. With that she was able to display that she has considered another way of thinking. By saying that Elizabeth is able to get a following from men ,because they see that she's not including all men to be wicked when it comes to having control. If she were to say that all men were corrupt ,she wouldn't have such a huge following because of it. God is also brought up during the speech and this gave the crowd to have a connection with her. By saying that God did not intend for women to be oppressed by man ; this got people thinking well if God says it's wrong then it must be wrong. Sayings like this in her speech would get her a following from people of …show more content…

At one point, in her speech she mentions how women wouldn’t want their sons to be cruel, selfish, and liars. This line is mostly targeted to mothers and by saying that this gets mothers thinking. They don't want their sons to be evil men and mistreat women. Then from an early age boys are able to grow up with the mentality that men aren't superior than women ,but they are equal. She also talks about how women have changed their views and opinions to be more like man's views. As her speech comes to a close she involves both man and women and imposes them to think that society would be better if men and women would work together. This gets people thinking that if both sexes were able to contribute to society ,then society would reach its best potential with great minds. Both men and women would in cooperate each of their own strong suits as people. Elizabeth talked about how women have their own characteristics as females that would benefit the progressing of