Dorothea Dix: Memorial to the Legislature of Massachusetts (January 1843)

A Plea for the Pauper Insane and Idiots

Dix presented this petition to the Massachusetts state legislature after visiting a number of jails to chronicle abuses.

Gentlemen,

I respectfully ask to present this Memorial, believing that the cause, which actuates to and sanctions so unusual a movement, presents no equivocal claim to public consideration and sympathy. Surrendering to calm and deep convictions of duty my habitual views of what is womanly and becoming, I proceed briefly to explain what has conducted me before you unsolicited and unsustained, trusting, while I do so, that the memorialist will be speedily forgotten in the memorial.

About two years since leisure afforded opportunity and duty prompted me to visit several prisons and almshouses in the vicinity of this metropolis. I found, near Boston, in the jails and asylums for the poor, a numerous class brought into unsuitable connection with criminals and the general mass of paupers. I refer to idiots and insane persons, dwelling in circumstances not only adverse to their own physical and moral improvement, but productive of extreme disadvantages to all other persons brought into association with them. I applied myself diligently to trace the causes of these evils, and sought to supply remedies. As one obstacle was surmounted, fresh difficulties appeared. Every new investigation has given depth to the conviction that it is only by decided, prompt, and vigorous legislation the evils to which I refer, and which I shall proceed more fully to illustrate, can be remedied. I shall be obliged to speak with great plainness, and to reveal many things revolting to the taste, and from which my woman's nature shrinks with peculiar sensitiveness. But truth is the highest consideration. I tell what I have seen -- painful and shocking as the details often are -- that from them you may feel more deeply the imperative obligation which lies upon you to prevent the possibility of a repetition or continuance of such outrages upon humanity. If I inflict pain upon you, and move you to horror, it is to acquaint you with sufferings which you have the power to alleviate, and make you hasten to the relief of the victims of legalized barbarity.

I come to present the strong claims of suffering humanity. I come to place before the Legislature of Massachusetts the condition of the miserable, the desolate, the outcast. I come as the advocate of helpless, forgotten, insane, and idiotic men and women; of beings sunk to a condition from which the most unconcerned would start with real horror; of beings wretched in our prisons, and more wretched in our almshouses. And I cannot suppose it needful to employ earnest persuasion, or stubborn argument, in order to arrest and fix attention upon a subject only the more strongly pressing in its claims because it is revolting and disgusting in its details.

I must confine myself to few examples, but am ready to furnish other and more complete details, if required. If my pictures are displeasing, coarse, and severe, my subjects, it must be recollected, offer no tranquil, refined, or composing features. The condition of human beings, reduced to the extremest states of degradation and misery, cannot be exhibited in softened language, or adorn a polished page.

I proceed, gentlemen, briefly to call your attention to the present state of insane persons confined within this Commonwealth, in cages, closets, cellars, stalls, pens! Chained, naked, beaten with rods, and lashed into obedience.
As I state cold, severe facts, I feel obliged to refer to persons, and definitely to indicate localities. But it is upon my subject, not upon localities or individuals, I desire to fix attention; and I would speak as kindly as possible of all wardens, keepers, and other responsible officers, believing that most of these have erred not through hardness of heart and wilful cruelty so much as want of skill and knowledge, and want of consideration…. It is the Commonwealth, not its integral parts, that is accountable for most of the abuses which have lately and do still exist. I repeat it, it is defective legislation which perpetuates and multiplies these abuses. In illustration of my subject, I offer the following extracts from my Note-book and Journal:

Lincoln. A woman in a cage. Medford. One idiotic subject chained, and one in a close stall for seventeen years. Pepperell. One often doubly chained, hand and foot; another violent; several peaceable now. Brookfield. One man caged. Granville. One often closely confined; now losing the use of his limbs from want of exercise. Charlemont. One man caged. Savoy. One man caged. Lenox. Two in the jail, against whose unfit condition there the jailer protests. Dedham. The insane disadvantageously placed in the jail. In the almshouse, two females in stalls, situated in the main building; lie in wooden bunks filled with straw; always shut up. One of these subjects is supposed curable. The overseers of the poor have declined giving her a trial at the hospital, as I was informed, on account of expense…

Besides the above, I have seen many who, part of the year, are chained or caged. The use of cages all but universal. Hardly a town but can refer to some not distant period of using them; chains are less common; negligence frequent; wilful abuse less frequent than sufferings proceeding from ignorance, or want of consideration. I encountered during the last three months many poor creatures wandering reckless and unprotected through the country…

I give a few illustrations; but description fades before reality…

Men of Massachusetts, I beg, I implore, I demand pity and protection for these of my suffering, outraged sex. Fathers, husbands, brothers, I would supplicate you for this boon; but what do I say? …Here you will put away the cold, calculating spirit of selfishness and self-seeking; lay off the armor of local strife and political opposition; here and now, for once, forgetful of the earthly and perishable, come up to these halls and consecrate them with one heart and one mind to works of righteousness and just judgment.

Become the benefactors of your race, the just guardians of the solemn rights you hold in trust. Raise up the fallen, succor the desolate, restore the outcast, defend the helpless, and for your eternal and great reward receive the benediction, “Well done, good and faithful servants, become rulers over many things!”

Injustice is also done to the convicts: it is certainly very wrong that they should be doomed day after day and night after night to listen to the ravings of madmen and madwomen. This is a kind of punishment that is not recognized by our statutes, and is what the criminal ought not to be called upon to undergo. The confinement of the criminal and of the insane in the same building is subversive of that good order and discipline which should be observed in every well-regulated prison. I do most sincerely hope that more permanent provision will be made for the pauper insane by the State, either to restore Worcester Insane Asylum to what it was originally designed to be or else make some just appropriation for the benefit of this very unfortunate class of our “fellow-beings.”

Dorothea Dix Speech Analysis: Voice for the Voiceless

Instructions: Read Dorothea Dix's "Memorial to the Legislature of Massachusetts" carefully and answer the following questions in complete sentences. Provide specific examples and direct quotes from the text to support your answers.

Part 1: Understanding Dix's Purpose and Arguments

1. In the opening paragraph, Dix states she is "Surrendering to calm and deep convictions of duty my habitual views of what is womanly and becoming." What does this phrase reveal about the societal expectations for women in the 19th century and Dix's personal struggle or sacrifice in undertaking this work?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. What specific conditions did Dorothea Dix observe in the jails and almshouses that prompted her to action? List at least three distinct abuses or unsuitable connections she highlights.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Dix declares, "But truth is the highest consideration. I tell what I have seen -- painful and shocking as the details often are." How does she justify presenting such "revolting to the taste" details to the legislature? What is her intended effect on them?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. What is Dix's main argument regarding the cause of the abuses and the solution? Who does she hold accountable, and what action does she call for?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

5. Dix lists several specific examples of inhumane conditions (e.g., "A woman in a cage," "One idiotic subject chained"). Why do you think she includes these stark, brief examples in her memorial?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Part 2: Reflecting on the Role of Women and Advocacy

6. Dix directly addresses the legislators as "Men of Massachusetts, I beg, I implore, I demand pity and protection for these of my suffering, outraged sex. Fathers, husbands, brothers, I would supplicate you for this boon." How does she use her identity as a woman to appeal to the male legislators? What rhetorical strategies are at play here?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

7. Given the context of women's roles in the 19th century, why was Dix's act of presenting a memorial to the state legislature considered "unusual"? What qualities or motivations allowed her to transcend these norms?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

8. How does Dix connect the welfare of the "pauper insane" to the broader good of society, including even the convicts? What is her larger vision for a just society?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

9. In what ways can Dix's speech be seen as an early example of women's advocacy for social justice? What lasting impact might her approach have had on future movements?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

10. Consider the challenges Dix faced as a woman speaking to a male legislative body. What evidence from the text suggests she was aware of these challenges, and how does she navigate them?

Dorothea Dix Analysis Worksheet Answer Key

Part 1: Understanding Dix's Purpose and Arguments

1. In the opening paragraph, Dix states she is "Surrendering to calm and deep convictions of duty my habitual views of what is womanly and becoming." What does this phrase reveal about the societal expectations for women in the 19th century and Dix's personal struggle or sacrifice in undertaking this work?

   • Answer: This phrase reveals that in the 19th century, societal expectations for women were restrictive, generally confining them to domestic roles and discouraging public speaking or political advocacy. Dix acknowledges that her actions are "unusual" and not typically considered "womanly and becoming." Her statement indicates a personal struggle, as she had to set aside her ingrained beliefs about proper female conduct. It highlights her sacrifice in prioritizing her duty to advocate for the suffering over conforming to social norms, suggesting that her convictions were so strong they compelled her to defy convention.

2. What specific conditions did Dorothea Dix observe in the jails and almshouses that prompted her to action? List at least three distinct abuses or unsuitable connections she highlights.

   • Answer: Dix observed several horrific conditions. She found "idiots and insane persons" in "unsuitable connection with criminals and the general mass of paupers." Specific abuses include:
     • Confinement "in cages, closets, cellars, stalls, pens!"
     • Individuals being "Chained, naked, beaten with rods, and lashed into obedience."
     • Lack of exercise leading to "losing the use of his limbs."
     • Females in almshouses kept "in stalls, situated in the main building; lie in wooden bunks filled with straw; always shut up." (Any three distinct examples from her descriptions are acceptable).

3. Dix declares, "But truth is the highest consideration. I tell what I have seen -- painful and shocking as the details often are." How does she justify presenting such "revolting to the taste" details to the legislature? What is her intended effect on them?

   • Answer: Dix justifies presenting these "revolting to the taste" details by asserting that "truth is the highest consideration." She believes that by revealing the "painful and shocking" realities, she can make the legislators "feel more deeply the imperative obligation" to act. Her intended effect is to "inflict pain upon you, and move you to horror," not out of malice, but "to acquaint you with sufferings which you have the power to alleviate, and make you hasten to the relief of the victims of legalized barbarity." She aims to shock them into immediate and compassionate action.

4. What is Dix's main argument regarding the cause of the abuses and the solution? Who does she hold accountable, and what action does she call for?

   • Answer: Dix argues that the primary cause of the abuses is "defective legislation which perpetuates and multiplies these abuses." She holds "the Commonwealth, not its integral parts," accountable, stating that local wardens and keepers err more from "want of skill and knowledge, and want of consideration" rather than "wilful cruelty." The solution she calls for is "decided, prompt, and vigorous legislation" to make "more permanent provision... for the pauper insane by the State," either by restoring the Worcester Insane Asylum or making new appropriations.

5. Dix lists several specific examples of inhumane conditions (e.g., "A woman in a cage," "One idiotic subject chained"). Why do you think she includes these stark, brief examples in her memorial?

   • Answer: Dix includes these stark, brief examples to provide concrete, undeniable evidence of the widespread and severe abuses. These short, impactful statements serve as powerful illustrations that resonate more deeply than general descriptions, making the abstract problem intensely real and personal. They prevent the legislators from dismissing her claims as mere exaggeration and underscore the urgency and extremity of the situation across different localities.

Part 2: Reflecting on the Role of Women and Advocacy

6. Dix directly addresses the legislators as "Men of Massachusetts, I beg, I implore, I demand pity and protection for these of my suffering, outraged sex. Fathers, husbands, brothers, I would supplicate you for this boon." How does she use her identity as a woman to appeal to the male legislators? What rhetorical strategies are at play here?

   • Answer: Dix uses her identity as a woman to make a powerful emotional and moral appeal. By referring to her "suffering, outraged sex" and addressing the legislators as "Fathers, husbands, brothers," she invokes their familial roles and perceived responsibilities towards women. This is a rhetorical strategy of pathos (appeal to emotion) and ethos (credibility derived from shared societal values, even as she challenges others). She positions herself not as a political adversary, but as a moral guide, using language that implies a shared responsibility for the vulnerable, particularly women. By supplicating them for a "boon," she subtly reinforces her female role while simultaneously making a strong moral demand.

7. Given the context of women's roles in the 19th century, why was Dix's act of presenting a memorial to the state legislature considered "unusual"? What qualities or motivations allowed her to transcend these norms?

   • Answer: Presenting a memorial to a state legislature was considered "unusual" for a woman in the 19th century because women were largely excluded from public political life and expected to remain in the private sphere. Such an act was seen as stepping outside "what is womanly and becoming." Dix was able to transcend these norms due to her "calm and deep convictions of duty" and her strong moral imperative to alleviate suffering. Her extensive, firsthand investigations gave her undeniable facts and moral authority, allowing her to frame her actions as a duty-bound response to humanitarian crisis rather than a pursuit of personal power, thereby making her advocacy more acceptable.

8. How does Dix connect the welfare of the "pauper insane" to the broader good of society, including even the convicts? What is her larger vision for a just society?

   • Answer: Dix connects the welfare of the "pauper insane" to the broader good by highlighting the negative impact their mistreatment has on others, including convicts. She points out that housing the insane with criminals is "subversive of that good order and discipline which should be observed in every well-regulated prison," and it is an "unrecognized punishment" for criminals to endure the "ravings of madmen and madwomen." Her larger vision for a just society is one where the state acts as "benefactors of your race, the just guardians of the solemn rights you hold in trust." She calls for the legislators to "Raise up the fallen, succor the desolate, restore the outcast, defend the helpless," demonstrating a belief in the state's moral obligation to care for all its citizens, not just the healthy and law-abiding.

9. In what ways can Dix's speech be seen as an early example of women's advocacy for social justice? What lasting impact might her approach have had on future movements?

   • Answer: Dix's speech is an early example of women's advocacy because she, as a woman, systematically investigated a social problem, gathered evidence, and directly petitioned a male-dominated legislative body for reform. She used moral suasion and detailed factual accounts to push for legislative change, stepping beyond traditional gender roles. Her approach likely had a lasting impact by demonstrating that women could be effective, compassionate, and powerful agents of social change, laying groundwork for future women's rights and social reform movements. Her success helped legitimize women's involvement in public policy and humanitarian causes.

10. Consider the challenges Dix faced as a woman speaking to a male legislative body. What evidence from the text suggests she was aware of these challenges, and how does she navigate them?

    • Answer: Dix explicitly states her awareness of these challenges in the first paragraph, mentioning her "habitual views of what is womanly and becoming" and her movement being "unusual." She also notes that her "woman's nature shrinks with peculiar sensitiveness" from the "revolting to the taste" details she must present. She navigates these challenges by:
      • Framing it as a duty: She presents her actions as driven by "calm and deep convictions of duty," not personal ambition.
      • Minimizing herself: She hopes "the memorialist will be speedily forgotten in the memorial," shifting focus from her gender to the cause.
      • Appealing to shared morality: She emphasizes "truth is the highest consideration" and appeals to the legislators' sense of "imperative obligation" and their roles as "fathers, husbands, brothers."
      • Using a formal, respectful tone: Despite the grim content, her language remains respectful, even when demanding action.