Shay's Analysis of "The Solitude of Self"

Shay Chestnut
Dr. Kerry Spencer
Critical Analysis
27 October 2011
The Solitude of Self: The Female Condition

In the year of 1867, Mark Twain wrote in a letter to the St. Louis Missouri Democrat his opinion on women suffrage. “Women, go your ways! Seek not to beguile us of our imperial privileges. Content yourself with your little feminine trifles--your babies, your benevolent societies and your knitting--and let your natural bosses do the voting” (Schmidt). So was the thought of many Americans in the 19th century. On the other hand, Elizabeth Cady Stanton fought for equal rights among women. In her speech, “The Solitude of Self,” Stanton uses an appeal to ethos, imagery, and a strong appeal to the emotions of women, as well as the individuality of a human being, to effectively convince her audience that women deserve equality.

Firstly, Stanton appeals to ethos by exercising her own authority to stress her point of women’s rights. Elizabeth Cady Stanton was extremely influential in the 19th century in the fight for the equality of women. Therefore, she has a voice to pay heed to. Although she never voices her stance in politics or her influence on American society in that day, her authority has an influence on her audience simply if the reader knows who she is.

In addition to Stanton’s use of ethos, she uses imagery to describe the cruelty of denying a woman her right to complete an education as well as having political equality. For example, Stanton says, “To throw obstacle in the way of a complete education is like putting out the eyes; to deny the rights of property, like cutting off the hands” (Stanton 165). This vivid imagery forces gruesome images into the readers’ minds. Because Stanton compares the restrictions of a woman to complete an education with the violence of cutting off the hands, the reader’s opinion on women’s education, whatever it may be, is tainted in Stanton’s favor.

Again, Stanton applies imagery by sharing the story of the play, “Titus Andronicus,” written by William Shakespeare.

“Shakespeare’s play of “Titus Andronicus” contains a terrible satire on woman’s position in the nineteenth century. Rude men (the play tells us) seized the king’s daughter, cut out her tongue, cut off her hands, and then bade her go call for water and wash her hands. What a picture of woman’s position” (165).

To reiterate Stanton, what a picture of woman’s position! Stanton’s application of this play is effective in the way that it perfectly expresses her opinion of the woman’s condition. Rather than having her hands cut off, women are robbed of their natural rights by law and custom, and yet, she is left to depend on herself similarly to the girl who is expected to go call for water and wash her hands with no tongue or hands.


Last is Stanton’s strongest tool: her emotional appeal to women, as well as the individuality of a human soul. Her emotional appeal is the meat of her speech. When she addresses women directly, she is highly effective in many ways. Obviously, she does this simply by addressing the rights women wanted to see happen; equality in social life, opportunities for higher education, personal responsibility in her personal life, and independent action. The list goes on, and Stanton does an excellent job presenting her argument and gains the support of her fellow women.

Another way she appeals to the emotion of women is through sharing stories of exemplary women during their day. One of the stories she shares happened during the catastrophic storm in the Bay of Biscay. A tidal wave caused destruction and amongst other buildings, the women’s prison was destroyed. Of the women who escaped, they caught sight of men struggling to reach the shore. Banding together, the women brought six men to shore and carried them further to safety. It’s stories like these that make women proud to be women. This story is also effective because it was a real happening, and therefore, it strongly supports Stanton’s opinion that women are just as capable as men.

Her emotional appeal to women is very clear and although she doesn’t directly appeal to men, she does appeal to the individuality of a human being. Hence the title, “The Solitude of Self.” For example, Stanton shares a story pertinent to all humanity. It’s a story of a young girl who helped decorate a Christmas tree for a family she served. When she found there was no present for her, she slipped away and spent the night crying in a field. Stanton applies the “solitude of self” and says, “No mortal will ever know the thoughts that passed through the mind of that friendless child in the long hours of that cold night, with only the silent starts to keep her company” (Stanton 165). Stanton hits close to home for everyone. Everyone, man and woman, young and old, has, in one way or another, experienced “the awful solitude of individual life” (Stanton 165).

In conclusion, Elizabeth Cady Stanton effectively convinces her audience of women equality by using an appeal to ethos, imagery, and an appeal to the emotions of women and the individuality of a human soul. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, along with many other activists, worked hard to change the opinions of their fellow Americans. Consequently, in 1901, Mark Twain was quoted in The New York Times concerning his new opinion of a woman’s role in the government. He said, “I know that since the women started out on their crusade they have scored in every project they undertook against unjust laws. I would like to see them help make the laws and those who are to enforce them. I would like to see the whiplash in women's hands” (Schmidt).


Works Cited

Schmidt, Barbara. "Mark Twain Quotations, Newspaper Collections, & Related Resources." (1997): n. page. Print. .

Stanton, Elizabeth Cady. “The Solitude of Self.” Reading For Intensive Writers. 5th ed. Comp. Susan Jorgensen. Provo: BYU Academic Publishing, 2007. Print.