Lady Mary Letter To Her Daughter Summary

In letter to her daughter, Lady Mary makes several claims that knowledge plays a key role in the lives of
18th century women. The first claim presented is that of vivid emotional appeal. Lady Marry claims that
knowledge is the only distinction between humans and animals."The knowledge of numbers is one of the chef
distinctions between us and brutes. " By comparing humans with animals, the author really sparks thought to
how important mathematics is for young girls. Without the knowledge of arithmetic, Lady Mary believes her
own grand daughter would be as senseless as a savage animal. This example paints a picture in the readers
minds and helps argue the importance of knowledge in young girls lives.
To further her own argument, Lady Mary presents another key role

knowledge plays in young women's lives,
only this time she discusses the knowledge of poetry and language. Lady Mary believes that poetry and
literature will act as an enzyme of maturity and keep her grand daughter from committing common mistakes of
adolescences."Encourage your daughter to talk over with you what she reads, and as you are very capable of
distinguishing, take care she does not mistake pert folly for wit and humor, or rhyme for poetry, which are
the common errors of young people, and have a train of ill consequences.

" Here the grandmother explains to
the mother that if the granddaughter can comprehend all writings and apply them in some shape or form to her
life she will avoid errors and be all around more successful and flawless.
Lady Mary is an obvious supporter for the education of young women. In order to make her writings
convincing and meaningful she deploys various forms of rhetoric throughout her letter. She structures her
letter in a chronological form, starting with the impact of education, how her granddaughter should learn,
and how she should hide it. This is very critical because it emphasizes that Lady Mary is educated herself
and therefor has the authority to speak on the topic. She uses words such as fool and triumph to demonstrate
how the granddaughter will end up with out education and how others will triumph her.
Lady Mary knows her daughter will disagree because she herself is not educated, because of this Lady

Mary
says, "Your prospect was very different from hers, as you had no defect either in mind or person to hinder,
and much in your circumstances to attract, the highest offers." This quote supports the education of the
grand daughter by saying there were different opportunities presented and a different situation at hand.
Logically, Lady Mary believes the grand daughter should be educated because it will make her well rounded
and prepare her for the future. However she does not suggest the grand daughter flaunt her education, thus
proving the grandmother is knowledgable about education.