30 pages • 1 hour read
Judith Sargent MurrayOn the Equality of the Sexes
Nonfiction | Essay / Speech | Adult | Published in 1790A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Literary Devices
Logos
Logos, from Classical Greek rhetoric, is the use of logical appeal derived from supporting evidence and facts. The central technique Judith Sargent Murray utilizes to convince readers of women’s equal abilities and right to an education centers on evidenced logic. She emphasizes that it is logical that nature would put forth two sexes who are comparatively capable. As such, one can only deduce that it would be logical to offer two equal sexes the opportunity for an equal education. Furthermore, Murray asserts that an equal education would not result in women being taken away from their domestic duties, but it would in fact better prepare them for adulthood and to be an equal partner to their husbands. It would also result in greater self-fulfillment and happiness for the female sex. A happier female companion would then result in a happier, more satisfied marriage.
Ethos
Ethos, from Classical Greek rhetoric, refers to the guiding beliefs or ideals that characterize a work, writer, or audience. Murray appeals to the moral sense of readers as she argues that separating women from education can take them further away from God, while offering women the ability to study and improve their mind would draw them closer to God. Specifically, she mentions studying subjects like astronomy, geography, and philosophy would allow her to more closely study the world and living beings that God has created. Murray also elevates women by emphasizing that women are candidates for eternity. As such, she indicates that they have an equal status to men and implies that their rights and treatment should be equal as well.
Pathos
Pathos, from Classical Greek rhetoric, means an appeal to the emotion or compassion of the reader or audience. Murray utilizes emotional appeal within her argument to encourage empathy for the female sex. Addressing unhappiness that is felt by women as a result of not being offered an equal education, Murray points toward marriages being distressed by this factor. Furthermore, she describes the void felt by women as they reach adulthood and realize there is really nothing further to pursue. Murray also points out that holding men so far above women can result in women despising their husbands. In short, she attempts to appeal to men who see marriage as a part of their life and have them realize that the negative emotional impact on women will also impact their lives.
Rhetorical Question
Rhetorical questions are questions that are posed without expecting, or giving, a direct answer. They are typically employed in philosophical works to help frame the nature of a problem and to help lead the reader through the process of problem-solving. They can also be emphatic, by asking obvious questions or raising satirical points. Murrays uses all of these types. She opens her essay with two back-to-back rhetorical questions, both of which employ a derisive tone. Murray repeatedly returns to this technique throughout her essay, utilizing the rhetorical question to draw attention to ideologies or assumptions about women that are not rooted in logic. Herein, she addresses topics like presumed mental superiority, women’s preference for domestic work, and unfair educational systems. The end result of Murray’s application of this type of questioning is to force readers to draw their beliefs into question.
