The Group- Mercy Otis Warren-- Post

In The Group, a play by Mercy Otis Warren, she uses clever language in the speech in Act II Scene iii. This speech by the character Meagre basically sides with all the common issues of all Tories in Massachusetts at the time, “I hate the leaders of these restless factions, For all their generous efforts to be free…hate the people, who, no longer gulled, See through the schemes of our aspiring clan…Could we erase these notions from their minds, Then (paramount to these ideal whims, Utopian dreams, of patriotic virtue…If we could keep our foothold in the stirrup…For I've a Brother, as the Roman dame Who would strike off the rebel neck at once.”

It is interesting how Warren speaks so well of the Tories’ beliefs in this issue. For it is all a bit sarcastic to those readers that really know the intent she is writing it. It is to mock the Tories and their theories, and to give more power and courage to the patriots in which most at the time are at limbo of whether or not they should fully side themselves with America and risk treason. The question is just how significant are Mercy Otis Warren’s efforts? Do the majority of the American citizens in this time period understand completely the clever wording and sarcasm that Otis uses in The Group, or are they too illiterate?