You Sir are a Fine Young Gentleman. Thank You, My Lady: A Rhetorical Analysis of Eighteenth Century Conversations Regarding Gentility and Gender

This study rhetorically analyzed the eighteenth century work of Richard Steele and Joseph Addison\u27s The Spectator and Eliza Haywood\u27s The Female Spectator using Kathleen Turner\u27s framework for rhetorical history as social criticism integrating text and context. Ten essays from The Spectator as well as ten essays from The Female Spectator were selected based on content and subject matter regarding manners and gentility. When Turner\u27s framework for analysis was applied to the essays, defining characteristics of gentility were revealed. A presentation of the results of the textual and contextual analysis of these twenty selected essays is provided. An analysis of the instruction of the different genders is also revealed. This study concludes with implications of the research and suggestions for future research