The speech Miss Polly Baker, before a Court of Judicature, was given in a court in 1747. Miss Polly Baker who lives in New England was prosecuted for the fifth time for having children without marriage. She represents her financial instability, so she is unable to hire an attorney to argue for her. She is addressing her difficulties and the worse time she is suffering from and making an effort to convince the court to pass out with her punishment and to persuade one of the judges to marry her the next day. Initially, she disagrees with this law and argues that she brought up in an inoffensive environment. She built her arguments asserting that she would absolutely admit her fine if she had ever done anything wrong with any man, women, or child. Furthermore, she reprints her emotions I cannot conceive (may it please your Honors) what the Nature of my Offence is. Pathos I have brought Five fine Children into the World, at the Risk of my Life. She realizes the judges, it is not a crime in th
e nature of things that she has given birth to five children at her own risk of life? she didnt cheat with any other womans husband, but still is being punished for unreasonable law. Baker conveys a message that religion has nothing to do with the Act of Assembly, so why is she being punished? She has been excluded from the church, but still being punished as an extra punishment with laws of Assembly. She asserts that instead of her crime, the court should consider the great and growing Number of Bachelors in the Country&& Hundreds of their Posterity to the Thousandth Generation. Finally, she asserts that instead of compelling her, compel people with law and fines who are responsible for fornication. Baker says my examples and advice should be considered and there should be a new history upon my speech. The speaker uses several rhetorical strategies, such as logos, pathos, and ethos to convince the judges to revoke her fine and to convey her message as an example for the next generations.