Advice On The Choice Of A Mistress Rhetorical Analysis

Benjamin Franklin’s argument about the “Advice on the Choice of a Mistress” is weak due to the lack of ethos and logos. Most of the supporting evidence is mainly focused on women; this is an example of hasty generalization. He also presents begging the question since he does not prove any claims that he has stated. Benjamin Franklin’s arguments also accommodate propaganda when he fails to display logos and ethos. Most of his arguments merely exhort to emotion. Franklin’s argument on the “Advice on the Choice of Mistress” is weakened due to the use of many fallacious statements and his overly used examples of pathos; he was not able to persuade his audience with his statement. Overall Franklin’s claimed that marrying an older woman is better than marrying a younger woman is inadequate. Due to the lack of logos, ethos, and the many fallacies that are included such as hasty generalization, begging the question, and propaganda is why the argument is presented as weak.

With the use of pathos, he may have convinced readers that what he is trying to state is factual. The majority of his arguments apply to emotion.

For instance, he asserts that, “ It is the most natural state of man, and therefore the state in which you are most likely find solid happiness,”(Franklin 1). His argument lacked the use of ethos and logos, which would benefit and convince the readers to believe in his assertions.
Benjamin Franklin wrote about his opinion on how he believes that marrying a threadbare woman is better than marrying a youngster because in the paradox it states that “ Because they have more knowledge of the world and their minds are better stored with observations” is one reason why you should marry an older woman rather than a younger woman.

In the first paragraph he states that all men and women are individuals, and when they are united is when the human being is complete. The majority of the supporting evidence is primarily focused on women, therefore his fallacious argument was a hasty generalization. Franklin states that all men should marry older women. Some men would prefer younger girls by any means or they would like to stay single, while other men would rather choose to take care of their wives than have their wives take care of

them.
Throughout the argument there was no specific context that presented begging the question but overall he kept pushing it. Franklin was trying to argue with the other men that wanted to marry a younger woman on the behalf of an older woman. Throughout the paradox, Franklin provided statements that supported his argument that men should marry older women and not younger women. For example, Franklin states, “ Because there is no hazard of children, which irregularly produc’d may be attended with much inconvenience.” (1). This statement that Franklin mentions is used to help back up his evidence. Another example that is noted in Franklin’s argument says, “Because the consumption is less. The having made a young girl miserable may give you frequent bitter reflection; none of which can attend the making an old woman happy.”(1). The author is giving evidence to support his claim that older women are better to marry.
Furthermore, Franklin presents propaganda within his argument. “I advise you to marry directly being sincerely.”(1) said by Franklin proposes that you should marry directly. By stating this , Franklin is not backing up his evidence properly. He is trying to persuade the readers through emotional appeal and no logic, which demonstrates a fallacious argument such as propaganda.
Franklin’s reasoning and evidence contained several fallacious arguments within. There are many errors in his argument which makes it harder for the reader to agree with his statements. However, marrying and old woman rather than marrying a younger woman as they have more knowledge of the world and their minds are filled with observations. The following have not been convinced as to why marrying an older woman rather than marrying a younger woman.