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A. Basic Information
B. Thesis statement
Fern Leaves from Fanny’s Portfolio (1853) were written with women and
the conditions they had to contend with in mind. Despite these parallels,
these writings have stark differences in the tone and other aspects that in
This paper analyzes the stated works of both writers in the context of
tone, content, purpose, and to whom it catered to. Specifically, comparison
and contrast of both writers’ works are included. Quotes from other critics
are also indicated to not to support or contradict the opinion of this writer but
to add variety in terms of perspective.
The conclusion delves relatively more on the idea that what these
women have written are bold and exemplaryconsidering the times they lived.
Critical Paper
Fuller and Fern both articulated the gender iniquity that was pervasive during
the nineteenth century. Their writings bore opinions that were far advanced
in a society that confined married women in the hearth and in the silence of
excerpts from Fern Leaves from Fanny’s Portfolio (1853) were written with
Despite some parallels in the subject matter, these writings have stark
differences in the tone and other aspects that in no way lessen their
In Aunt Hetty on Matrimony and in The Working- Girls of New York Fern
a sense but the message is unmistakable: men are a selfish and conceited
lot and women hold the losing end of the marital rope. Yet even if this be
talking, I’ll warrant that everyone of you will try it(marriage), the first chance
you get!” (Fern 876), In another descriptive piece, she decried the
abominable routine and working conditions of New York working girls of the
nineteenth century, “Young ? Alas! It is only in years that they are young”
(Fern 878). Some of Fern’s contemporaries cited her for her goody-goody
inanities. The first three-quarters of Fern Leaves may be too lachrymose for
modern taste but the last quarter contains humorous and satirical pieces, and
in the second series the proportion is exactly reversed. Fern was known to her
deplored (White.)
This may be so but Fern’s depiction of women’s working conditions and the
society.
Fuller for her part wrote in the first person and is more direct in her approach
are not the head of your wife. She has a mind of her own.” She retorted.
She illustrates a situation and posits a resolution for it. Fuller cited some
parity of her husband. In general, her idea of women emancipation is that for
and unimpeded, to unfold such powers as were given her (Fuller 38). Fuller’s
She did not entirely put the blame on women who landed in prison for their
crimes of thievery for vanity’s sake, but also reminded women in fashionable
society that part of the blame was theirs. She explained that given the
chance women could help or lead in such fields as governance and even
seafaring. She believed that opening avenues for women in education and in
Despite some criticisms from various sectors and even from some modern-
Winthrop), Fuller demonstrated her fitness for the male public sphere. Her
emerged (Rix).
Fern is driven and pessimistic and Fuller is driven but pragmatic. Fern’s tone
She offers neither solution nor argues that the situation be resolved or
discoursing to men in their terms and turf-a written intellectual piece not
deliberately, the style of writing could reinforce the preceding argument that
Fern wrote in a brief, conscise, and straightforward manner. Fuller could not
(Fuller 122).
Fern wrote to articulate the pain although such are sometimes laced with
satiric nuances. This proved to be effective and elicited some responses. The
the devil was in her” (Michael). Fuller for her part explained in detail the irony
and pathos of a the woman as a hostage in marriage. She puts in detail how
not made a concession but recognized as a right. Such dedication makes her
could also surmise that both writers had women and men as target readers,
although with slight preferences. Fern may indeed have both sexes in mind
but as could be gleaned from the two selections, she is catering more on
matrimony. On the Working girls of New York the rude awakening was to
women although we could not discount the fact that authorities are made to
women and their conditions from a woman’s viewpoint or viewpoints for that
matter. In the long term concessions from the other side of the ‘dualism’
helpers of one another. “Let them think; let them act; till they know what
they need. We only ask of men to remove arbitrary barriers” (Fuller 184).
In the long run the final question will be how both this women differ from the
other feminists who constituted the best that the gender has ever produced.
and other crusaders. Well, they both blaze a trail when considering the
faced more odds than the feminists of the Roarin’ Twenties. They both have
the courage and the literary articulation to speak for women in an age where
Fern, Fanny. Ruth Hall & Other Writings. Ed. Joyce W. Warren. New
Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1986
Rix, Rebecca. Margaret Fuller: Performing Civic Equality. Reed College, 1998.
http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/transcendentalism/authors/fuller/ January 24,
2009.