Retrospective Readings

Well first off, I have really enjoyed reading these early American magazine texts dealing with seduction and fallen women. I thought they were entertaining and interesting to learn about.

I found it sad how these texts show the women easily seduced and completely fall apart after they give in to the evil male seducers. I like to think women are stronger than that and can tell if a guy is telling the truth or not. However, I know I have definitely been fooled by guys, like getting cheated on, so I see how easy it is to fall prey to things like this. I think these guys who were good looking and kind really put on good acts and still today they are able to do the same. I know that I usually trust people pretty easily, so I probably would fall for things like this.

I also found the continued double standard upsetting because that is definitely an issue that still arises today. The texts like "On Seduction" by Dacinthus talks about how women cannot control their passions and how men can do whatever they want but women are doomed if they mess up. I know that if I was reading this during that era I would be really mad. Then I look to society now and realize things like that are still true.

Also, a lot of these texts talk about how important reputation is and women should never falter from this perfect reputation. I know today that is still true and girls definitely want to maintain a good reputation. In the text by Eliza. it talks about how it doesn't matter if you really lose your virtue because if people think you do then you are screwed anyway. I think this is true because people gossip and talk bad about girls who are rumored to be a "slut" even if they really are or aren't. The fact that people think you are is still just as bad.

I don't think any of these texts really speak to me in a direct way, but with our exercise in class the other day I can see contemporary examples of "The Gossip" No LIV. I obviously see the comparison to girls like Jamie Lynn Spears or any other child that grows up in a Hollywood lifestyle and sees vulgar and adult things way before they should. Likewise it also works with pageant girls and any child who grows up around a lot of adults without many rules. These type of things can lead to girls making bad decisions because they were forced to grow up to fast.

When I read the strange grouping of texts last time at first I definitely found contemporary examples of "The Gossip" like I listed above. I found "Innocence Betrayed" really strange because the girl actually tears off her own flesh! Which is disgusting. This is definitely an example of exaggeration.  Also, the other "Gossip" still talks about double standards and "The Passenger"raises the point of how when you get married you are in a contract and have certain duties but no laws punish people who don't follow them. These texts were very interesting and all very different.