The life of Martha Ballard----authors intent

I think that Laurel Thatcher Ulrich wrote and explained Martha’s diary, because she wanted us, the readers, to see how unique and dedicated Martha was to her community and family. By reading this book, I was able to pick out a few good life rules, that everyone should live by. The major thing, that caught my attention, was that it seemed Ulrich was trying to get everyone to know that Martha’s life wasn’t an easy one, it was a struggle, but it was how she made her life. She made it so she had people to fall back on, and she had her life, the way it was meant to be.

I also think that Ulrich wanted people to understand, that women’s roles back in the 18th century, wasn’t as useless as we think. It was shown, that women were as valuable in a community as the men working were, by staying at home, and keeping the house. It was just another way, that Ulrich showed Martha’s perseverance towards her life.

Martha’s personality was very unique. She showed that determination and old age, shouldn’t make your life less valuable. Ulrich had a great understanding of Martha’s life, and she wanted us, the readers, to be able to understand her life too. Martha was unique, in so many ways, and being able to capture those ways in writings is amazing.

The way the diary was portrayed, and the explanations in each chapter show that Ulrich had a good understanding of Martha’s practice, her diary, and what she went through. I think her intent was to teach us what a midwife, with a strong community, goes through in her life. Even though, Martha struggled, she persevered through it all.

I think Laurel Thatcher Ulrich wanted to show us that Martha’s life was a natural thing for a women. I think her intent was to spread Martha’s work through out readers minds, so we know what dedication means. Ulrich did a good job, explaining her diary, and showing us, what it really meant to be a midwife in the late 18th early 19th century Maine.