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Summary Of Speech By Florence Kelley Figurative Language

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A child leaves in the morning to work endlessly until midnight. She arrives home with work-torn hands and tired eyes as she prepares for another day of weaving, spinning, sewing, braiding, and knitting. This image of a child having her life toiled away in a factory is one that Florence Kelley does not tolerate. In her speech for the National American Woman Suffrage Association, she opposes the unfair and immoral treatment of children in labor. Kelley applies figurative language and pathos in her speech in order to push women to encourage men to vote for strict child labor laws, and to convince women of the need for their suffrage.
To express the need for the abolishment of child labor and for women’s voting rights, Kelley utilizes figurative language in the form of comparison and rhetorical questions. “In Alabama… a child under sixteen years of age shall not work at a cotton mill… In Georgia there is no restriction whatsoever!” This starting line establishes the subject she is comparing, which is the difference between child labor laws in Alabama and other states. She continues, “Alabama does better than New Jersey… Alabama limits children’s work at night… while New Jersey permits it all night long.” Furthermore, Kelley gives one last example of comparison:“In …show more content…

She arrives home to hug her parents with strong hands and bright eyes as she prepares for another day of talking, smiling, laughing, playing and learning. This is what Florence Kelley desires children to experience; what she wants this speech to change in children’s life. Thus, Florence Kelley’s use of rhetorical strategies allows us to believe in the importance of her intention as the audience is compelled and moved by her oration. By utilizing comparison, rhetorical questions and pathos in her speech, she allows her spectators to truly grasp her purpose, which is that women need to prompt men to vote for strict child labor laws and work towards their

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