Gerard Manley Hopkins

I was immediately drawn to Gerard Manley Hopkins poem “Spring and Fall” though I had to read it several times to feel I understood what Hopkins was trying to express. I usually do have some struggle finding the meanings behind poetry (and most of the time I am probably way off in my assumptions!) but for some reason I struggled more with Hopkins then some of the earlier authors who were deemed to be more difficult. I am not sure why but this particular poem really intrigued me and I think having to work so hard to gain some kind of understanding made the poem that much more enjoyable for me!
In this poem Hopkins is addressing a young child named Margaret. She is “grieving” over something and the speaker is trying to figure out why she is so sad. Never does he try to comfort her though, which I found interesting. What I understood is that Margaret was mourning the end of the spring, which could also be metaphor for the end of her youth. Hopkins suggests she regards nature and “leaves” in the same way she thinks of “things of man” or people. This was interesting because many of the Victorians left connections with nature out of their writings and so reading that one line was like a flashback to earlier romantics. Hopkins is using this poem to express the origins of sadness. The one bit of advice he does offer Margaret (which he may have intended to be comforting, though I find depressing) is that as she grows up she will become numb to this feeling of loss.

“Ah! As the heart grows older
It will come to such sights colder”

This signals to me that whatever Margaret is experiencing is something which the speaker has also gone through. I am assuming that the emotion Hopkins tries to convey through Margaret is the loss of innocence, as this was a widely explored topic during the time. As you grow older, you become more understanding of losing morals and with maturity comes a lack of innocence. This reminds me of how William Blake separated his work into Innocence and Experience. As you become more experienced you become numb, or “colder”, and you realize things are not as simple or naive as they once seemed. Hopkins proves this to me, and the idea that all grief come from within the self through the last line of the poem. “It is Margaret you mourn for.” This lets me believe that what Hopkins is trying to say is that we all create our own sadness. Instead of comforting Margaret, Hopkins has the attitude that this is just a facet of life. Everybody experiences times of mourning and must learn to cope. This idea is not unique to Hopkins but has been evident through the writer of Keats and Tennyson as well as many others.
What I enjoyed about reading this poem was being able to relate it back to so many authors we have studied leading up to the Modern Period. I enjoyed being able to relate themes and similarities to previous eras and authors. It proved to me just how influential the earlier writers were to the course of literature!

John Stuart Mill

A theme that keeps popping up while I read the Victorian authors is the institution of marriage in Victorian society and the restrictions placed on women. John Stuart Mill is perhaps the most extreme liberal I have come across in this course. He has many thoughts similar to other writers but in my opinion delves into them deeper and takes greater risks in creating an argument for equality of both sexes. Through his “The Subjection of Women” Mill’s creates a history of why men and women are treated with so many differences. What I found so admirable about Mill is that he asked readers to create their own opinion of situations. He was honest with his opinion and made sure it was heard, he never really forced it upon others. Instead, he wrote the facts as he saw them and he wrote why he thought it was unjust. Mill was a great mind who was brave enough to challenge society. It is scary to think where society might be today without Mill and others who dared to question normality.
Mill reveals the truth behind the inequalities of men and women. He addresses several misconceptions, not afraid to say things others may cower away from admitting. It was very commonly mistaken that women voluntarily took their role as servant to men with honor and dignity. This however is far from the truth. “In the first place, a great number of women do not accept it. Ever since there have been women able to make their sentiments known by their writings, an increasing number of them have recorded protests against their present social condition.” (523) Perhaps the reason why it appears that women so eagerly accept their role is that there is no proper outlet where they can express their feelings. Writing was the only way from them to earn publicity and not every woman had the education or ability to achieve this. They were given no legal rights or place in the court system and so government would not hear of their complaints. I can not imagine how frustrating it must have been to be a woman during this period. If your husband abuses you and cheats on you, the courts can still find you guilty. There is no opportunity for advancing in society and having a career or passion outside of the social norm was unheard of!
Not only did Mill write about the unjust marriage institution what I found noble was that he publicly denounced adhering to these laws in his own marriage. In his “Statement Repudiating the Rights of Husbands” Mill actually says that these laws are so unfair that he will not take any part of them! “Feel it my duty to put on record a formal protest against the existing law of marriage…and a solemn promise never in any case or under any circumstances to use them.” (527) Mill Continues to vow that in the event of marriage between him and Ms. Taylor she will be able to keep all her freedoms and have the same rights and privileges as himself. I felt it was extremely important that Mill take this step to define the grounds on which he would be married. Unlike so many other authors who simply write about these principles using made up characters to express them, Mill takes action in his own life and leads by example. While he may not have been the first to approach a marriage with this attitude, he is the first I have come across that has publicly sworn to it. I find myself really admiring Mill for his work. His bravery paved the way for many later activists who fought for women’s right. I think Mill’s would be proud to see today that in most parts of the world women are treated with the same regards as men.

Victorian Ladies and Gentlemen

Victorian Society had very high expectations for the ways which “Ladies and Gentlemen” were supposed to act. This was a time where nature stopped being a focus and society and class started being critical. It was now not necessarily your intellect that got you ahead but rather your “character” which could be defined superficially based on trivialities such as your cricket skills, how elite your public school was, and who you married. Not only were certain behaviors expected, but it many were more then just customs they were laws. Women in this time had no legal status and were their purpose was thought to be only to serve men. Once a women married all legal rights and property were handed over to the husband since the two were considered one. While many women accepted their role with honor, others spoke out against how these restrictions and chose to show the injustice of the inequality.
Queen Victoria was a prominent woman of her time. She often pondered her feelings on the way women were repressed in society, and the restrictions marriage placed on a women. She wrote letters to her daughters where she often commiserated over the pains of marriage and parenting. “When I think of a merry, happy, free young girl – and look at the ailing, aching state of a young wife generally is doomed too – which you can’t deny is the penalty of marriage.” (579) She looked at marriage with regret and felt like she had no freedoms or individuality. Her whole life became serving her husband and children and she no longer was given the same respects as any other person. Despite hating the position of women, she felt it was a reality not to be challenged. She believed that God determined the distinct roles of the different genders and too go against it would be heresy. “Woman would become the most hateful, heartless, and disgusting human beings were she allowed to unsex herself; and where would be the protection which man was intended to give the weaker sex?” (580-581) These are very strong words unfortunately felt by a majority of European citizens. It amazes me how they would just sit back and believe that they were below men. Fortunately, for me other voices in the argument were not prepared to be so complacent.
Caroline Norton suffered an unhappy marriage where her husband left her, took her children, and even tried to take her earnings as a writer. All this of course was perfectly legal! Though she had done nothing to deserve this, by law her husband had full rights to all her property, money, and even her children. In England at the time the mother was granted no custody rights to her own children. Norton was not the type of woman who was just going to sit back and let this happen. Instead she wrote a letter to the Queen pointing out the injustices of England's law and telling how she had been cheated. The Bronte sisters also made it very publicly known through their writing how unfairly women were treated in the profession of Governess. In a letter to her sister Emily, Charlotte Bronte expresses the hardships of being a “lady” and attending to the more privileged end of society. “I used to think I should like to be in the stir of grand folks’ society but I have had enough of it – it is dreary work to look on and listen.” (560)
Though subtle in their fight Norton and Bronte both paved the way for future women activists.
The Victorian Era seemed to be full of shallow aspirations and superficial rewards. Everyone strived to mimic the nobles and upper class, yet they were failing to think for themselves. Living by these rules caused them to sacrifice any individuality and as women any freedoms. I am just grateful to live in an era where society is not based on birth right or education, but rather rewards on hard work and achievement.

Robert Browning

Most of the poetry we have studied so far has been well-expressed and the subject matters while interesting have rarely had many surprises or suspense. Robert Browning stood out in this way. When I started reading “Porphyria’s Lover” it seemed like any other romantic love poem, little did I know just how abruptly that would change! When the main character strangles his lover, I found myself stopping stunned. Did it really just say that? It is for that reason that I loved reading his poetry. You never knew just what to expect, he strayed away from the ordinary and made sure to hold your attention. Browning was able to bring theatre into poetry which made his work unique and exhilarating. Like his wife, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, he was not afraid to try new things and comply with limitations set out by his predecessors.
A common theme Browning appeared to focus on was the topic of morality and female sexuality. I found two of his poems, “Porphyria’s Lover” and “My Last Duchess” to have many commonalities and both were highly entertaining to read. Both of these poems have to deal with male characters who murder their female lovers in order to protect the purity of female sexuality. In “Porphyria’s Lover” Browning depicts Prophyria as exuding sexuality and offering herself to her lover without any inhibitions of what friends or family may think. When her lover realizes the extent of Prophyrias devotion, he sees no choice but to murder. So he does, he strangles her with her own hair and even tempts to suggest that it is God’s will by the last line of the poem. “And yet God has not said a word!” The reason he gives for murdering her is so that they will be able to remain together, and so that he will always be able to keep that moment where she gave herself to him.

“That all it scorned at once is fled
And I, its love, am gained instead
Porphyria’s love: she guessed not how
Her darling one wish now be heard
And thus we sit together now
And all night long we have not stirred.”

The thought process of the murderer is sick and twisted. His strangling Porphyria comes as a complete shock to most readers and shows how he was able to bring his theatrical background into poetry. In the Victorian time premarital sex and promiscuity were highly looked down upon and so if her family had discovered the way Porphyria approached her lover chances of them being able to remain together would be slim.
In “My Last Duchess” Browning reflects on another man murdering his lover. This time a Duke is being suspected of having his wife murdered on the grounds of her over sexuality. Here the Duke is discussing a painting of his dead bride and at first it may appear he is mourning her death but as he continues, the reader begins to realize that he himself has “commanded” her to be killed. The reason behind this is because she was caught flirting with too many other men, and perhaps capable of having an affair on her husband.

“Sir, twas not her husband’s presence only, called that spot
Of joy into the duchess’ cheek:….
For calling up that spot of joy. She had,
A heart – how shall I say? Too soon made glad
Too easily impressed; she liked whate’er
She looked on, and her looks went everywhere.”

Even if she was not having a physical affair (which the text never really gives evidence for) she was still being more suggestive to other men then was allowed for women during the time. The Duke felt as though he was morally obligated to put an end to this, and his way of doing so was by poisoning her.
Though both poems have different reasons for why the wanted to commit these murders they were both centered on the sexuality of women and morality. I feel as though Browning was trying to suggest that expectations in the day were perhaps a bit extreme for female purity. His wife wrote several works on unjust role of women’s place in society and I think he expands on this by delving into the realms of women’s sexuality. Both Browning and his wife had an amazing talent for words and were captivating to read. The way he incorporated drama into his poetry was genius and I really enjoyed every last twisted word of it!

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Equality for men and women was at one point in time a laughable thought. Men were thought to be inherently dominant and women were there to agree with them and make their life easier. Elizabeth Barrett Browning would not hear of this! There was no way she was willing to have her life defined by her gender. She was one of the great minds and brave women who have made it possible for women in modern society to have the independence and opportunity we are given today. Without women brave enough to voice their opinions, such as Barrett Browning did on the unfairness of Victorian society’s role of women, I myself might still not have the right to vote or lead a fulfilling life choosing my own future. Her piece titled “Aurora Leigh” was the first major English piece where the main character is female. In the poem, Barrett Browning creates a strong female lead who tries to break free of the constraints and limitations placed on women of her time. I found her works to be different from other female authors we have studied thus far. In her works, she seemed more daring and the content of her work inspired me more then the structure and diction. I have had personally observed that many of the other female authors have put more emphasis on the eloquence of their writing and tried (some failing) to create their works deeper then they may needed to be, in efforts to prove themselves among male authors. With Barrett Browning, I felt she did not do this, her writing seemed to be more effortless and natural, she did not hold back on subject matter and I admired that in her.
Her epic poem “Aurora Leigh was inspiring where she insulted the place women had in society. I was really drawn to the main characters disgust over her aunt’s expectations of how she should act like a “lady” and the lessons she should be taught. Aurora felt her Aunt had been deprived of living a real life and that she was blind to the opportunities which she was missing out on.

“She had lived, we’ll say,
A harmless life, she called a virtuous life,
A quiet life, which not life at all
(But that, she had not lived enough to know)”

Aurora felt that many women were deprived of living real lives and were unable to have some of the greatest experiences because they viewed their purpose as merely being polite and serving men. She linked this lifestyle to living as a “caged bird” who was being restricted to flying their own direction. Aurora did not feel that women really had a role in society they were there simply to sew, cook, and teach, but never to learn or think.

“The works of women are symbolical.
We sew, sew, prick our fingers, dull our sight,
Producing what? A pair of slippers, sir,
Or else at best, a cushion, where you lean,
And sleep, and dream of something we are not”

Aurora would not settle for this kind of life and neither would her author. Elizabeth Barrett Browning knew that there was no need for women to live life in the shadows. She did not suppress her thoughts or dreams of having more. I found reading her work particularly admirable since she fought for all the rights that women in society today are born with. It is hard to imagine a life where women were seen as secondary to men, even though I know it was not long before I was born that this happened. I look up to the women like Barrett Browning who fought for the equality women deserve.

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Tennyson was perhaps one of the most influential writers to come from his time. I found reading all of his writings to be captivating and enjoyable. While reading most of the past writers I had trouble keeping interest in all of their works and struggled to find the one piece I felt comfortable enough with to write a blog entry. I did not find that to be true of Tennyson. His writings unexpectedly held my attention from start to finish and for once I found myself trying to choose from several topics which to write about. The most emotionally charged piece to me was his ode to a dead friend. In his collective piece “In Memoriam A.H.H.”, Tennyson writes over a three year span showing his feelings and struggles with losing his closest friend and confidant, Arthur Henry Hallam. The text suggests that many readers fail to see Tennyson’s overall hope and optimism throughout the sections because due to the “emotional nadir” of three particular sections which have a more depressing tone. The text cites sections 54, 55, and 56, as being so hopeless that they have the power to some readers to overshadow his true purpose of the poem and its optimistic attitude. In my opinion I find that hard to believe because so many of the sections end with hopeful subtleties that when read all together greater a stronger faith for the future to come.
When losing a loved one it is always natural to enter a period of mourning and depression. It easy during these times to lose hope and faith and question things you previously considered safe. While all those things are a natural part of the process, it is also important to return to normal and continue you life after this period of mourning ends. I feel that Tennyson depicts this natural process of emotions adequately in his “In Memoriam A.H.H.”. It was especially hard for Tennyson to lose this friend because it was a sudden and unexpected death and Hallam was his closest friend. His lowest points throughout the depression are sections 54, 55, and 56 which show when Tennyson his rock bottom and had trouble regaining his faith in the world around him. These three sections are full of doubt and desperation. The lines which stood out and exemplified this to me were found in section 54.

“So runs my dream: but what am I?
An infant crying in the night:
An infant crying for the light:
And with no language but a cry.” (17-20)

I do however feel that the lonely cries he displays throughout these sections are normal. They are all natural steps of the healing process. I do not feel that there is enough evidence in these three sections to dictate the entire mood of the poem. I feel other sections end with more optimism that create an overall essence of moving on.
Tennyson is undoubtedly feeling regret over the loss of his friend. He does not hide the fact that this has deeply affected him and caused depression. Along with the depression I think Tennyson wrote this collection to aide his healing and helps him move on from his friend’s death. In many of the sections where he is highlighting his loneliness and sadness, he is also showing how he is trying to move forward. In section 30 Tennyson is describing Christmas without his friend and while it is hard to find joy when missing someone you love, Tennyson still tries to find the hope and the “light” which will get him through this difficult time. I found it easy to find optimism in this section, and I found it to be a very relevant example of how he fights the depression and tries to push past it. The lines which I found let myself define the collection was found in section 27.

“I hold it true, whate’er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
‘tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.” (13-16)

These are lines which I have heard my entire life and until reading them in this text never did I understand it so completely. This is the attitude which I choose to believe that Tennyson is trying to convey.

Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution was a time of change for the entire world which has largely shaped today’s society. The industrial revolution brought the machine which changed life and economy for generations to come. Whether this change was for better or for worse was widely debated throughout Europe. Thomas Babington Macaulay understood and agreed that industrialization came at the price of many, however he also believed it was only a natural procession of society. Despite lower class citizens having to pay the consequences of machines taking over their jobs in nearly every occupation, quality of life for all citizens was dramatically improved because of this mechanization. Technological advances made every aspect of life easier from the clothes worn to transportation, and medical advances resulting from mechanization lengthened life spans and made it capable to cure the sick quicker. Macaulay realized that all of this positive change was worth the sacrifice. “History is full of signs of this natural progress of society. We see the wealth of nations increasing and all the arts of life approaching nearer and nearer to perfection, in spite of the grossest corruption and the wildest profusion on the part of rulers.” (493) This quote from “A review of Southey’s Colloquies” shows how Macaulay felt towards the mechanization. Just as any major change society has ever under gone it carried both good and bad. Macaulay unlike other writers of the time felt that the good outweighed the bad.
Macaulay was more unique in his opinion of the Industrial Revolution. The majority tended to believe that mechanization brought uncivilized change for the lower class citizens. They felt it was unjust and citizens were being treated worse then any time in previous generations. Charles Dickens made his negative feelings towards Industrial Revolution very apparent in several of his novels. Dickens focuses his arguments on mechanization on the growing trend of railway systems. Dickens spoke against the railways because he saw them as tearing apart communities, splitting neighborhoods, and creating environmental hazards to citizens. In Dickens novel “Dombey and Son”, he describes the construction of the railways as the “shock of a great earthquake” (496). Dickens, unlike Macaulay, could see nothing positive resulting from the construction of the railways. “Nothing the better for it, or thought of being so. If the miserable waste ground lying near it could have laughed, it would have laughed it to scorn, like many of the miserable neighbours.” (497) He felt that the destruction of the neighborhoods and the disruption of daily life had no benefit to the community. Dickens failed to understand how something as destructive of the railway system could have such a positive and influential difference on future generations ways of life.
Just as the French revolution before it, the Industrial revolution sparked many debates over opposing viewpoints of the changes which were occurring. At the time, it was hard to understand how much influence the changes of the time would have on our technologically advanced civilization today. All writers of the time could see was how drastically these changes affected their society. Dickens and Macaulay were just two voices of the debate but both had very valid points. I think reflecting back mechanization was very necessary in order for all of us in today’s society to live the technologically advanced lifestyle we sometimes take for granted.