30/11/2013
Rhetorical Analysis of Advice to a Friend on Choosing Mistress Advice to a Friend on Choosing Mistress is a letter written by Benjamin Franklin in June 25th 1745 to his friend. The speech of this letter is essentially communicated to single men. The author gave advices particularly to his friend on which type of woman he should date if he is not ready to get married. Franklin preceded his lustful consulting by an apology for the marriage, recalling his friend how much carnal pleasures are favourable in a legal and recognized union. In his message, Franklin advises his friend that marriage is the best solution not for only sexual desires but also the undisputable source of solid happiness. Having suspicions that his friend would not follow his guidance, Franklin recommends him to choose older mistresses instead of younger ones and lists eight valuables reasons to better support his argument. Franklin commences his essay by presenting advantages of the marriage. He says ‘’ I know of no medicine fit to diminish the violent inclinations you mention…Marriage is the proper remedy. It is most natural state of man and therefore the state in which you can are most likely to find solid happiness’’. Through those sentences, Franklin seems to estimate that from a masculine’ view, one of the main advantages of the marriage is to bring pacification toward requirements of the flesh. The recipient of the letter who was the friend of the author seemed to be looking for a situation in which he could find sexual partner and happiness without commitment. Based on the previous quotes, the author claims that the best situation in which he could find what he was looking for was a marriage. In his letter, Franklin advices his friend to settle because ‘ It is the man and woman together that make the complete human being’’. If Franklin thinks that the marriage is so positive, this is relied to both psychological and socio-economical reasons. First all he is convinced that the married life is more balancing that the single lifetime. Franklin believes that a man who did not find the soul mate is in other words incomplete, unaccomplished by saying that ‘’A single man has not nearly the value he would have in that sate of union, He is an incomplete animal. He resembles the odd half of a pair of scissors’’. Based on this judgement, Franklin means that family life calms people; it is the natural arrangement in which they can organize their production’ strength with the most possible benefit. While Franklin affirms that ‘’ together there are more likely to succeed in the world’’ there is no doubt that he is referring to the material success. Concerning the woman, it is only in a marriage that she can show up her real values. Through the letter, Franklin continues to give worthy reasons in order to convince the recipient about getting married. Franklin having doubts that his friend would not consider his advice followed his representation of the marriage by an alternative solution to satisfy his needs. If his friend his not ready to commit and wants to continue ‘’a commerce with Sex inevitable’’, he suggested that ‘ you should prefer old woman to young ones’’. The first raison that Franklin used to support his case is that ‘’ they have more knowledge of the world, and their minds are better stored with observations, their conversation is more improving and more lastingly agreeable’’. By affirming this, Franklin makes an allusion to the intelligence of older woman. He illustrates that people gain knowledge as they get older. They have, in principle knew more love stories or adventures than youngest ones, thus they better know men, know how to take care of them and also how to satisfy them. Franklin defends the idea that a debate with an old woman is rich and interesting, because they had been through many involvements from witch they had retains acquaintance. They have lived longer and have things to communicate to you. Franklin also supports his preference for older woman by saying that ‘’ To maintain their influence over men, they supply the diminution of beauty by an augmentation of utility’’. This is to illustrate that older woman, with the time spend less time worrying about their appearance, which they use to do more important stuff. To him, when beauty disappears, women improve their service. At their age, they assume their femininity and do so without any complex. Franklin, who was a man of science and also know as ‘’ Lady Man’ also gave bodily motivation for choosing an older woman. He implies that ‘’ because in every animal that walks upright the deficiency of the fluids that fill the muscles appears first in the highest part. The face first grows lank and wrinkled; then the neck; then the breast and arms; the lower parts continuing to the last as plump as ever: so that covering all above with a basket, and regarding only what is below the girdle, it is impossible of two women to tell an old one from a young one’’. His purpose here is to assure his friend that there are no doubts or fear to have on the corporal pleasure of an old woman. According to him ‘’ as in the dark all cats are grey, the pleasure of corporal enjoyment with an old woman is at least equal, and frequently superior’’. This is to support that woman are woman regardless of age, an old woman can perform the same way as a young one concerning sexual experience. Sometimes, they are even considered superior. Through the note, Franklin by saying ‘’ because there is no hazard of children, which irregularly produced may be attended with much inconvenience’’ refers to the fact that woman at a certain age can’t get pregnant. Thus while dating them the chance of being relied to them by someone or something is null. This also makes the separation easier and leaves out others inconvenient that children can bring in a relationship. Across the letter, Franklin continues to encourage his friend to choose an old female if this last one ‘’persist in thinking a Commerce with the sex’’. He establishes a formal and highly analytical tone with his receiver about the discretion an old mistress can have in their relationship. He supports his suggestion by affirming that ‘’ because through more experience they are more prudent and discreet in conducting an intrigue to prevent suspicion. The commerce with them is therefore safer with regard to your reputation.’’ From the following sentence, the author suggests that with an old woman, it is less probable that the relationship get revealed consequently with her you reputation will be at the shelter because they are more responsible in managing a relationship and they now what they want. Finally, Franklin ends up with his letter by saying “ they are so grateful’. Even though Franklin, in his letter gave an approved receipt to find the best mistress, it is obvious that considering as the founding father his interest for marriage respond to others concern more important than the promotion of the psycho-emotional blooming. It refers to the reinforcement of the human potential of a young country. Advice on the Choice of the Mistress is one of the best examples of Franklin sharing his sexual thoughts to his readers.

Works Cited
Benjamin Franklin Advice to a Friend on Choosing Mistress June 25th 1745
Anamikas. S .’’Gender and Relationship’’ http://anamikas.hubpages.com/
Cardona Carolina ,’’Mode de vie’’ http://www.linternaute.com/