Thisisformylitclass

Wikipedia's The Speech of Polly Baker article for ENGL2131.01

Analysis of Article

It should be included in the introduction that the setting is the British North American colonies. Listing the year twice in the first sentence is rather unnecessary and a little distracting. The last sentence of the introduction seems awkward; it provides an alternate ending without stating the original conclusion.

Beginning the second paragraph by saying "This story was actually written by Benjamin Franklin..." is confusing because no alternate option was given to contradict the authorship. The first sentence is long-winded and thrown together. The final sentence is an interesting and topical fact. However, it seems forced just for the sake of including it. The final link to illegitimacy in fiction also seems unnecessary and out of place.

The inclusion of the entire speech is bulky and unnecessary. I would recommend it be replaced by a summary and include a link to a copy of the speech.

Throughout the article, there are several grammatical and organizational mistakes present.

I believe the article could also benefit from the addition of the following sections.

1. Summary
2. Historical Context
3. Purpose
4. Impact on the Colonial Justice System

Reading List

• Baym, Nina and Robert Levine. (2012). The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Vol. A
• Hall, Max. (1972). An Amateur Detective on the Trail of B. Franklin, Hoaxer
• Kelly, Alfred. (1960). Benjamin Franklin and Polly Baker: The History of a Literary Deception, by: Max Hall
• Maestro, Marcello. (1975). Journal of the History of Ideas: Benjamin Franklin and the Penal Laws.

Revised Paragraph from Article

Original

"The Speech of Polly Baker" is the fictional story of a woman put on trial in 1747 for having an illegitimate child. She had been convicted four times in the past for this same crime. Each time, she said, the full blame was placed on her shoulders but not the father's. In later versions, the story ends as she is set free and marries one of the magistrates in charge of her trial.

This story was actually written by Benjamin Franklin as a protest to the unfairness of the early judicial system charging women for having illegitimate children while not charging the fathers, although he did not disclose this until decades later; therefore Polly Baker is one of Franklin's many aliases. Franklin himself had an illegitimate son named William Franklin. See Illegitimacy in fiction.

Revised

"The Speech of Polly Baker" is an allegorical work written by Benjamin Franklin and published in April 1747. The body of this piece contains the speech of the fictional character Polly Baker given in her defense before a panel of Connecticut judges in Colonial New England. She is being prosecuted, for the fifth time, for birthing an illegitimate child. In her speech, she argues for the charges against her to be dropped because the blame does not fall solely on her. She pleaded with the magistrates to understand that the father in each case was just as much at fault as she was. Miss Baker deploys such crafty rhetoric and effective persuasion that by the end of her defense speech the judges drop all charges against her, and she ends up marrying one of the judges from the panel.

Years after it was published, Franklin came forward and stated that he wrote this piece as a protest against the unfairness of the early judicial system. He was fed up with a system that solely blamed women for having illegitimate children without reprimanding the fathers. He wrote this work of satire to help push for gender equality within the legal system.

Original Contribution

Purpose

Although not widely discussed or known about, Franklin had a particular interest in criminal law and the penal system, and this interest consequently provoked Franklin to write this work. He seemed especially intrigued with the laws prohibiting sexual intercourse outside of wedlock. This law, shaped and created by puritanical influence, disgusted Franklin. According to this established law, women were condemned and forced to pay a monetary fine and suffer public whippings should they become pregnant with an illegitimate child. However, the father of the illegitimate child was often free and clear with no punishment for his actions. Franklin voices his displeasure and disagreement with this law through Polly Baker's protests and her use of rhetoric. In several instances, Miss Baker openly proclaims the injustice of the law, and laws such as this one should be repealed. This work also brings up a very controversial topic. Polly Baker is accused of conceiving another illegitimate child, and in this time period, this was a serious religious offense. As a result, Miss Baker poses the question, "If I have committed a religious offense, shouldn't I endure religious punishment?" By having Polly Baker say this, Franklin is supporting the removal of religious influence on the administration of secular justice. He wants religious offenses to be punish with excommunication, not fines and beatings. Franklin is not only protesting one single law. He is inferring the need to reevaluate the entire current penal code.

Notes

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