Persuasive rhetoric in "Seduction a Felony" and age of consent reform

Seduction a Felony, was written as a persuasive piece. In the late 1800s, the age of consent was incredibly young. In many states, ten years of age was the age of consent, and in some states, like Maryland, the age was a disgusting seven. With such low legal standards, it was possible for men to seduce literal children, take away their virginity and their childhood in one perverse swoop, and yet parents, caretakers, or guardians had no legal recourse. This article was written to change that and hoped to motivate people to take action against what the author believed to be an immoral, yet legally condoned, common occurrence. She raises the powerful argument that when a young girl or woman's pocketbook is stolen, that crime is punishable by law and includes arrest and imprisonment, however if her virtue is stolen, it is not.

The article was addressed to the general public, in hopes of making the citizens aware of the morally impropriety that was happening all across the nation. However, there were certain specific people it seemed to wish to motivate, more than others. In particular, it looked to motivate women to take a stand for the protection of children. In the end of the article, it specifically states, that she is calling for "an effective movement (that) may be inaugurated and prosecuted by women" ("Seduction" 4). It also played to legislators to change the current laws that allowed such immoral conduct without punishment.

An analysis of the article finds that it indeed is motivating.