EPISODE · Mar 16, 2026 · 5 MIN
Silence Dogood Essay 3 - Silence's Promise to Her Readers
from The Spectral Summit · host Creative Actors Lab
Send us Fan MailThis is 16-year-old Ben Franklin's third essay as his alter-ego Silence Dogood, a middle-aged widow who has some strong opinions about the world around her. In this shorter but important piece, Silence formally lays out her purpose and promises her readers what they can expect going forward. She acknowledges her civic duty to contribute to society and vows to share the knowledge she has gathered throughout her life. Recognizing that no single writer can please everyone, she cleverly commits to covering a wide variety of topics — from politics to love, humor to serious moral reflection — so that every reader finds something worthwhile. She also personally invites women readers to write to her directly, making this essentially the colonial era's first reader engagement campaign. Learn more about The Spectral and Literary Summit at our website - www.spectral-summit.com. We offer historic and literary videos and podcasts that make the past and literature come alive. This is a production of Creative Actors Lab . Check out our Instagram page here.
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Send us Fan Mail This is 16-year-old Ben Franklin's third essay as his alter-ego Silence Dogood, a middle-aged widow who has some strong opinions about the world around her. In this shorter but important piece, Silence formally lays out her purpose and promises her readers what they can expect going forward. She acknowledges her civic duty to contribute to society and vows to share the knowledge she has gathered throughout her life. Recognizing that no single writer can please everyone,...
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Silence Dogood Essay 3 - Silence's Promise to Her Readers
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