Analysis Of Florence Kelly's 1905 Speech At The National Woman Suffrage Association In Philadelphia

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In Florence Kelly’s 1905 speech at the National Woman Suffrage Association in Philadelphia, she emphasizes the dire need for change and social reform by highlighting the dangerous working conditions endured by women and children. She uses evidence to back up her claims, such as the harsh laws and state policies surrounding the hazardous system, and by doing this she effectively strengthens her argument; these working conditions need to be improved significantly. Her persuasive arguments and emotion-evoking pleas persuade the audience to see from the same point of view as her, and she utilizes many rhetorical devices throughout her case which grabs the attention of the audience and influences them in the way she intended. These include the excessive …show more content…

She also uses the oxymoron when describing the New Jersey laws as “pitiful privilege,” and describing many states as a “great evil.” Throughout her speech, she heavily evokes sympathy to draw the support of the audience. She said, “tonight while we sleep, several thousand little girls will be working in textile mills...in the deafening noise...making silk and ribbons for us to buy.” By explaining the sad and harsh working conditions little girls suffer, those in the audience might feel sympathy and sadness for the children whom businesses exploit. She further evokes pathos from the audience by emphasizing the fact the children are slaving away in these factories so that they, non laborers, can buy ribbons and silk. By saying this, it makes the connection more personal to the audience. They can imagine that their needy capitalistic tendencies are negatively affecting children. The first line in her speech, “we have in this country two million children under the age of 16 who are earning

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