Elizabeth Cady Stanton: “Solitude of Self”

Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s education, unorthodox for a woman of that era, is apparent in her writing. Her articles and speeches are full of classical and biblical references and demonstrate her knowledge of history. In turn, Stanton’s early conversations with her father and his law clerks are apparent in the logical development of her arguments. She backs up her positions with engaging examples and uses wit and down-to-earth common sense to capture her audience. Her address “Solitude of Self,” delivered on three occasions in 1892, proclaims the principles and values underlying the struggle for woman’s rights. It is widely regarded as her best speech.