Themes In Crystal Eastman's Now We Can Begin

Remarkable socialist and feminist author, Crystal Eastman, in her speech, “Now We Can Begin” apostles the importance of how women should fight for the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment, which granted American women the right to vote. Eastman’s purpose is to highlight how women should be able to vote and have basic equal rights which play a vital role in every woman’s life, along with bringing forth the faults in the stereotypical system and its inability to properly prepare women for their futures. She uncovers various alternative tactics of men who try to silence the voice of a woman. To add on, Eastman vastly uses terms that reflect upon this concept to support her arguments and uses themes to convey that nature itself is the best …show more content…
She mounts a sense of sympathy amongst the audience by stating that one needs to, “Thank God, this everlasting woman's fight is over! But women, if I know them, are saying, now at last we can begin” (Eastman 1). Through the use of emotion in this statement, Eastman hints that in order for children to go onto the right path of success, respect must be given and not only taken. She invigorates upon the usage of the word “fight” to corroborate the importance of how women need to be treated in order for them to willingly work hard towards obtaining a life full of success. Along with this technique, Eastman explains how women often tend to sustain “The matter with women"? What is the problem of women's freedom?” (Eastman 2). This example of personification aids in depicting the scenario where women work hand in hand to progress further inequality. “Communication of thought” is what Eastman uses to refer to the experience of women who aim to defy all odds in the betterment of their future. Through supporting this commonality, Eastman introduces a sense of unity deeming it to be necessary between women to the …show more content…
She appeals to the audience by indicating how “Freedom of any kind for women is hardly worth considering unless it is assumed that they will know how to control the size of their families” (Eastman 4). Through a simple technique of women success and lucid lifestyle, one can have such a great effect on others around them. This statement was mostly intended to anti women’s freedom rally as they are the ones that inspire, correct, instruct, raise and embellish all through basic methods of equality. Indulging with an optimistic perspective and approach, Eastman affirms to “If the feminist program goes to pieces on the arrival of the first baby, it is false and useless” (Eastman 4) Reflecting on this idea, she aims to exhibit this to women on how to bestow and implement these tactics in order to inspire others to maintain and guard their individual thoughts and beliefs. By including this anaphora and metaphor, Eastman convinces his audience and contributes to bringing forth various resolutions to only help enhance the futures younger