In the article entitled “Anger in the House: Fanny Fern’s Ruth Hall and the Redrawing of Emotional Boundaries in Mid-Nineteenth Century America” Linda Grasso discusses the criticism of Ruth Hall by Fanny Fern when it was published and also specifically the support from Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a prime architect of the Declaration of Sentiments. The article emphasizes Stanton’s stance that Ruth Hall tells an inspiring story of a woman who is not going to rely on men for any economic or social support. She compares the woman’s rights struggle to the growing anti-slavery movement at the time, stating that both groups were facing oppression and had the right to be angry. The article further discusses the topic of anger and how women’s acceptable expression of such an emotion was a threat to the society at that time.
The most obvious example that I can pull from this article so far in my reading is Ruth Hall’s resistance to give up her children to her overpowering father and father-in-law even though it is causing her so much financial strain. You can see the anger beginning to rise in her when her father first approaches her with the idea of taking her children away. She speaks to her father in what Fanny Fern describes as a “low, clear, distinct” voice, which can only be interpreted to me as strong and a bit angry and were not what most readers would have expected a proper woman to do in that time.
Grasso, Linda. “Anger in the House: Fanny Fern’s ‘Ruth Hall’ and the Redrawing of Emotional Boundaries in Mid-
Nineteenth-Century America.” Studies in the American Renaissance (1995): 251-261. Web.
This is a well developed essay. I can easily and clearly understand it. You have a good summarization of the article. I like how you summarized it using simple terms and having well written examples. You're opinions on your second paragraph are pretty interesting. I like how you give an example on your opinion like, Ruth Hall resistance on giving up her children by using a low clear, distinct voice and describing it based on your opinion as strong and angry.
ReplyDeleteDear Allison, I really like the way you introduced your article, it tells me directly what yor're talking about and I think you did a great piece of a job. I see that you used an example as an edvience from your reading but you should rather use quotes next time beacuse it makes your article more real by citing the page number and its also makes it really easy for your reader as they can go directly to the page and see that you really pulled it out from the book and you didn't just made it up. I also think that you have some missing words other wise your reading interests me alot and it sounds like an awesome novel. Good job, keep it up.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI think your title “Angry Woman” is pretty interesting, and after reading your blog I can see it clearly why you gave this title to this passage. I liked the way you incorporated the ideas for woman’s right and anti-slavery movements, stating how woman shouldn’t be dependent on men. I like the way you explained how she was angry when her father and father-in-law asked to take her children away from her. One thing I think can make your passage more interesting if you will give us the back ground of what happened to Ruth, which made her so independent. What obstacles she had to go through to stand against her father. Ruth was going through a lot when even her family and close friends refused to help her, she supported herself, I would like to know what had happened with Ruth that made her go through all this misery. Overall, very interesting writing which showed your true feelings ,that how you feel for woman independence.
Nabba =)