While "The Speech of Miss Polly Baker" contains a number of images, what stands out the most is the point at which it is said, "Laws are sometimes unreasonable in themselves, and therefore repealed; and others bear too hard on the Subjects in particular circumstances; and therefore there is left a Power somewhere to dispense with the Execution of them". Franklin in this instance is referring to the fact that women are penalized for having illegitimate children while the fathers of these children are not, but what is truly interesting is Franklin bringing up the idea of unfair or unjust laws in a pre-Revolutionary context. In a story that really is not connected to the Revolution, it is easy to see how Franklin eventually got to a stance of pro-Independence. Franklin, though Miss Polly Bakers, argues the fact that some laws are inherently unjust, and so should be eliminated. He argues that "natural actions" shouldn't be made into crimes. Franklin, at a time when separation from Great Britain has yet to even cross his mind, is already making arguments similar to those that will eventually surface in later years.
Another particularly interesting aspect is how Franklin uses his story. This is something not just in this instance, but in Franklin's work as a whole. The use of fictitious stories to illustrate his point is an example of the change in mediation of the time. Rather than just give his argument in philosophical terms, he uses a story that the people can relate to, and tries to guide them in the story to the point where they should end. In this case, to the point where they would realize the injustice of this law.
I agree that the use of stories, rather than overt philosophical arguments, makes Franklon's point much more accessible to the general public. It also seems that female writers at the time had a much more difficult challenge in expressing feminist ideas because they had to overcome widespread misconceptions held by men. In the Silence Dogood letters, Franklin also points out the importance that readers attribute to the identity of the author. What do you make of his choice to use a female pseudonym in the case of Polly Baker?
ReplyDeleteI also highlighted the except you included about the Law, it's interesting that Franklin makes such a broad statement about society/justice as a whole in the context of this piece. I concur that utilizing a story highlights the injustice of the law.
ReplyDeleteAround mid century, Franklin was concerned with unjust laws in various ways. Not the least of which was with law imposed by Britain on the colonies, each of which had their own legal system and socio-economic characteristics. Surely, this questioning of law may have lead to revolutionary ideas, but that was still some time in coming. I'm glad all of you are thinking about how BF is using fictional characters, in this case Polly Baker, to make his arguments. This should make our upcoming forays into fiction very productive.
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