Rhetoric Analysis
The Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft is a key work in developing feminism. It was penned in 1792 and is a passionate plea for granting women the same chances and liberties men had long enjoyed. Wollstonecraft employed ethos, logos, and pathos in this piece to establish her credibility and strengthen her argument for women’s rights. The following paragraphs discuss the three appeals and provide some examples.
Ethos
Wollstonecraft uses ethos in her use of language as her first method. Wollstonecraft uses a formal yet passionate tone to express her ideas throughout the essay (Wollstonecraft). For instance, she emphasizes her point and persuades the reader using rhetorical questions. Wollstonecraft asks, “Can we deny that the privilege of one sex over the other is that of refinement of mind or politeness of manners, any more than natural superiority?” (Wollstonecraft). With this query, Wollstonecraft emphasizes the absurdity of denying women the same rights and benefits as men.
In addition, Wollstonecraft uses ethos in her use of information to bolster her arguments. By doing this, Wollstonecraft can prove her expertise and build her reputation as an author. Wollstonecraft furthers her ethos argument by concentrating on its moral ramifications (Wollstonecraft). She claims that women should have equal rights to males because the same justice that must be allowed to one sex cannot be denied to the other. Her devotion to equality and fairness is demonstrated by the moral language she uses, which strengthens her case.
Lastly, Wollstonecraft establishes her authority by appealing to the rational side of the reader. According to her, the dictates of reason should be used to establish women’s rights (Wollstonecraft). She does this to persuade the reader of the truth of her argument by appealing to their sense of logic and reason. The Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft is a significant work of feminist literature that successfully employs ethos to establish the author’s authority and support her case for women’s rights. Wollstonecraft can build a compelling case for women’s rights using formal language, evidence from other authors, moral language, and appeals to reason.
Logos
Wollstonecraft primarily uses logical reasoning, or logos, to argue her thesis. In the opening of her essay, she claims that women are not fundamentally inferior to men but rather the victims of an oppressive society. Wollstonecraft men’s perceived inferiority results from their lack of access to political and intellectual opportunities contend that wo (Wollstonecraft). Men and women, she argues, are both capable of morality and reason; the only difference between the sexes is that men have had more significant opportunities to expand their worldview.
Then, Wollstonecraft makes a case for women’s rights based on natural justice. She argues that since women and men are equal in God’s eyes, if males are given certain rights, then women should also be given those privileges. She says, “I wish to shew that elegance is inferior to virtue, that the first object of inaudible ambition is to obtain a character as a human being, regardless of the distinction of sex;” (Wollstonecraft). By saying this, she means that whether one is male or female, they should all be classified as human beings.
In addition, Wollstonecraft contends that the absence of rights for women harms society by preventing women from engaging in public life and advancing civilization. To establish her point, Wollstonecraft also speaks of the injustice of the situation and the agony women go through in patriarchal societies frequently. She invites readers to see the injustice of women’s circumstances and take action to change them by painting a clear picture of the plight of women in her society. Wollstonecraft also addresses her audience directly, pleading for them to act (Wollstonecraft). She appeals to their sense of morality and justice when she claims that the educated classes must defend women’s rights.
In The Rights of Women, Wollstonecraft argues for women’s rights using logical reasoning and persuasive rhetoric. She contends that women have been denied the political and educational chances that would have allowed them to reach their full potential rather than that they are intrinsically less capable than men. Wollstonecraft also argues that it is unfair to deny women these rights and that the educated classes must take action to ensure that they are (Wollstonecraft). Lastly, she calls on her audience to act morally and with justice to better women’s status in society.
Pathos
The famous work of literature, “The Rights of Women” by Mary Wollstonecraft, employs pathos to illustrate her claims regarding women’s rights. Pathos is a powerful rhetorical strategy that enables readers to connect with the author’s point of view by appealing to their emotions (Wollstonecraft). In her article, Wollstonecraft employs pathos to elicit her readers’ empathy and understanding and support her case for women’s rights.
Wollstonecraft primarily employs pathos to engender empathy in her readers as she leverages their feelings to support her case for women’s rights. This is particularly clear in how she describes women’s condition in society. Wollstonecraft discusses the disparity in rights between men and women in her writings and creates a striking portrait of the unfairness women experience daily. She notes that ” Women are told from infancy, and taught by the example of their mothers, that a little knowledge of human weakness, justly termed cunning, softness of temper, outward obedience, and scrupulous attention to a puerile kind of propriety, will obtain for them the protection of man” (Wollstonecraft). As she depicts the injustice women encounter in society and the absence of rights they enjoy compared to men, Wollstonecraft uses pathos to arouse the readers’ emotions.
Wollstonecraft also used pathos to stress the significance of her argument and to foster a sense of community among her readers. Wollstonecraft can foster a sense of shared experience and understanding among her readers by highlighting the common predicament of women. This is clear from the way she describes how few possibilities and opportunities for education exist for women. In her essay, Wollstonecraft states, “It is time to effect a revolution in female manners—time to restore to them their lost dignity—and make them labor by reforming themselves to reform the world.” As she emphasizes the shared struggle of women in society and the significance of women’s rights, Wollstonecraft uses pathos to foster a sense of unity and shared understanding among her readers.
Lastly, Wollstonecraft used pathos to give her argument a sense of urgency and necessity. She can provide her argument for women’s rights with a sense of urgency and importance by appealing to the emotions of her audience. This is clear from how she describes the injustices women experience in society. In her essay “The Fabrication of a Human Being,” Wollstonecraft states that fabricating a human being out of the same materials and for the same purposes demonstrates the absurdity of attempting to alter the natural distinction of the sexes (Wollstonecraft). When addressing the injustices faced by women in society and the importance of women’s rights, Wollstonecraft employs pathos to underscore the urgency of her argument.
Wollstonecraft uses pathos well in her article “The Rights of Women.” By appealing to her readers’ emotions, she can generate a sense of empathy, solidarity, and urgency around her point. This enables her to stress the significance of her message and support her case for women’s rights. As a result, Wollstonecraft’s use of pathos is a powerful rhetorical device that enhances the persuasiveness and impact of her argument.
Work Cited
Wollstonecraft, Mary. A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. Z & L Barnes, 2022.