di Alessandro Claudio Giordano
La società cambia poco la sua natura anche nella sua accezione più generale. Vive e cresce condizionata dagli elementi che la caratterizzano.
La struttura della società era ed é gestita dalla quotidianità, dalle notizie e forse ancor più dalle supposizioni. Il chiacchiericcio un tempo ed oggi i media creano e distruggono, alimentando dibattiti a volte interessanti spesso futili. Questo accade oggi ed accadeva alcuni secoli orsono. Un tempo erano i salotti buoni oppure i giornali, oggi diremmo i socials ed i media. Così in un momento in cui tutto è fermo e tutto sembra permeato dalla certezza che ciascun messaggio è verificato e modulato oppur ancor più rimodulato, mi sembrava opportuno ed interessante riflettere su alcune lettere pubblicate dal New England Courant nel 1722 a firma Silence Dogood. Uno pseudonimo perché in realtà dietro a quel nome si nascondeva un giovane dal brillante avvenire capace di squassare la rigida Fildalfia. Il giovane, sedicenne,era Benjam aiuto tipografo di cognome Franklin.Silence una donna di mezza età tenne in scacco i lettori del giornale raccontando le vice della sua vita travolgendo tutti gli schemi e le certezze di una siocietà con l'atavico dubbio di mettersi in discussione e magari rintracciare tra le righe lette qualcosa di familiare ed a anche un poco scandaloso. Di seguito la lettera in lingua originale e parte della traduzione per capire ed entrare nel personaggio che impareremo a conoscere con il tempo apprezzandone l'intelligenza. Considerando poi che queste vennero chiamate le lettere beffa ....
It may not be improper in the first place to inform your Readers, that I intend once a Fortnight to present them, by the Help of this Paper, with a short Epistle, which I presume will add somewhat to their Entertainment.
And since it is observed, that the Generality of People, now a days, are unwilling either to commend or dispraise what they read, until they are in some measure informed who or what the Author of it is, whether he be poor or rich, old or young, a Schollar or a Leather Apron Man, &c. and give their Opinion of the Performance, according to the Knowledge which they have of the Author's Circumstances, it may not be amiss to begin with a short Account of my past Life and present Condition, that the Reader may not be at a Loss to judge whether or no my Lucubrations are worth his reading.
At the time of my Birth, my Parents were on Ship-board in their Way from London to N. England. My Entrance into this troublesome World was attended with the Death of my Father, a Misfortune, which tho' I was not then capable of knowing, I shall never be able to forget; for as he, poor Man, stood upon the Deck rejoycing at my Birth, a merciless Wave entred the Ship, and in one Moment carry'd him beyond Reprieve. Thus, was the first Day which I saw, the last that was seen by my Father; and thus was my disconsolate Mother at once made both a Parent and a Widow.
When we arrived at Boston (which was not long after) I was put to Nurse in a Country Place, at a small Distance from the Town, where I went to School, and past my Infancy and Childhood in Vanity and Idleness, until I was bound out Apprentice, that I might no longer be a Charge to my Indigent Mother, who was put to hard Shifts for a Living.
My Master was a Country Minister, a pious good-natur'd young Man, and a Batchelor: he labour'd with all his Might to instil vertuous and godly Principles into my tender Soul, well knowing that it was the most suitable Time to make deep and lasting Impressions on the Mind, while it was yet untainted with Vice, free and unbiass'd. He endeavour'd that I might be instructed in all that Knowledge and Learning which is necessary for our Sex, and deny'd me no Accomplishment that could possibly be attained in a Country Place; such as all Sorts of Needle-Work, Writing, Arithmetick, &c. and observing that I took a more than ordinary Delight in reading ingenious Books, he gave me the free Use of his Library, which tho' it was but small, yet it was well chose, to inform the Understanding rightly, and enable the Mind to frame great and noble Ideas.
Before I had liv'd quite two Years with this Reverend Gentleman, my indulgent Mother departed this Life, leaving me as it were by my self, having no Relation on Earth within my Knowledge.
I will not abuse your Patience with a tedious Recital of all the frivolous Accidents of my Life, that happened from this Time until I arrived to Years of Discretion, only inform you that I liv'd a chearful Country Life, spending my leisure Time either in some innocent Diversion with the neighbouring Females, or in some shady Retirement, with the best of Company, Books. Thus I past away the Time with a Mixture of Profit and Pleasure, having no affliction but what was imaginary, and created in my own Fancy; as nothing is more common with us Women, than to be grieving for nothing, when we have nothing else to grieve for.
As I would not engross too much of your Paper at once, I will defer the Remainder of my Story until my next Letter; in the mean time desiring your Readers to exercise their Patience, and bear with my Humours now and then, because I shall trouble them but seldom. I am not insensible of the Impossibility of pleasing all, but I would not willingly displease any; and for those who will take Offence were none is intended, they are beneath the Notice of Your Humble Servant,
SILENCE DOGOOD.
Signore,
Potrebbe non essere possibile in primo luogo per informare i vostri lettori, che intendo ogni quindici giorni per presentare loro, con l'aiuto di questa carta, con una breve lettera , che presumo si aggiungerà un po 'per il loro intrattenimento. E dal momento che si osserva, che la generalità delle persone, al giorno d'oggi, non sono disposti sia da elogiare o dispraise ciò che leggono, fino a quando sono in qualche misura informati chi o che cosa l'autore di esso è, se egli sia povero o ricco, vecchio o giovane, uno Schollar o un grembiule di cuoio uomo, & c. ed esprimere un parere della Performance, in base alla conoscenza che hanno di circostanze dell'Autore, potrebbe non essere fuori luogo per iniziare con una breve racconto della mia vita passata e presente Condizione, che il lettore non può essere in perdita per giudice se o no le mie elucubrazioni valgono la sua lettura…….