Givens 1
Harold Givens
Instructor Ms. Pettey
English 2323
29, May 2017
Critique Assignment II
“Woman Questions” in the Victorian Era; many of the readers who like these poems associate it with the dilemma pertaining to making choices and opinions on how women are treated in society in general. Its interesting to see how different eras thought and treated women differently or how they viewed women in different mannerisms. When studying literature Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning appear as one of the romantic literacy couples from the Victorian period; After reading her poems for the first time, Robert wrote to her: “I love your verses with all my heart, dear Miss Barrett – I Do, as I say, love these verses with all
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As her poem read “By the way the women are symbolical. We Sew, sew, prick our fingers; dull our Givens 2 sight, Producing what? A pair of slippers, sir, to put on when you’re weary – or – a stool to stumble over and vex you… curse that stool” (Browning) she believe that women were not treated fairly like men. She stated that she believed that which you make in this life will always affect you in the end.
To look at “My Last Duchess” Robert Browning, he engages the reader on many different levels. He was trying to impress her by his money, charm, the way he spoke and authority, she would just smile and laugh. His irony goes even further when reminds the representative he truly only wants only the woman herself, he clearly states the importance of a large gift tinged with a threat of unkind side; to the “gift” of his “nine-hundred-years-old” family name. Refusing to consent to “lesson” her unacceptable love of ever, he instead “gave commands” to have her killed when she
Armstrong, Isobel. 'A Music of Thine Own': Women's Poetry. in: Joseph Bristow, Victorian Women Poets. Emily Bronte, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Christina Rossetti. Basingstoke and London: Macmillan Press Limited, 1995, 32-63.
“Victorian poets illustrated the changeable nature of attitudes and values within their world and explored the experiences of humanity through these shifts.”
Women of both the ages of Victorian and early Modernism were restricted from education at universities or the financial independence of professionalism. In both ages, women writers often rebelled against perceived female expectations as a result of their oppression. To lead a solitary life as a subservient wife and mother was not satisfactory for writers like Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Virginia Woolf. One of the most popular female poets of the Victorian era, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, illustrated "a woman's struggle to achieve artistic and economical independence in modern society" (Longman P.1858). Many Victorian critics were shocked by Barrett Browning's female rebellion, which was rare for the era. With her autobiographical epic poem, Aurora Leigh provoked critics who were "scandalized by its radical revision of Victorian ideals of femininity" (P.1859). In the age of Modernism, women were finally given the some rights to a higher education and professionalism i n 1928 (p.2175). However, female poets of early Modernism, such as Virginia Woolf, were raised in the Victorian age. Rebellion toward "Victorian sexual norms and gender roles" (P.2175) are reflected in Woolf's modern literary piece, such as The Lady in the Looking-Glass: A Reflection. Also echoed in the piece, is how Woolf "never lost the keen sense of anguish nor the self-doubt occasioned by the closed doors of the academy to women" (P.2445).
In essence, Elizabeth Barrett Browning dramatic monologue proved a powerful medium for Barrett Browning. Taking her need to produce a public poem about slavery to her own developing poetics, Barrett Browning include rape and infanticide into the slave’s denunciation of patriarchy. She felt bound by women’s silence concerning their bodies and the belief that “ a man’s private life was beyond the pale of political scrutiny” (Cooper, 46).
Through her endeavors, this seems to be a new way of thoroughly expressing her admiration and vast affection for her husband. Emily Barrett Browning has proved herself a master poet. Not only does she use almost every literary device in the book, but she also delves deep into her feelings. These explanations of her feelings that she adds into the sonnets are rich in metaphors, alliteration, personification, and many more.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning was the most famous female poet in both England and the United States of America in the nineteenth century. Being an activist, she would write powerful poetry protesting many issues that she felt strongly about; such as slavery, prostitution, women’s rights, and child labor. Her poetry alone would spark social debate, calling people to political action. Concerned that her society was exploiting human life for profit, she knew she had to do something to open people’s eyes. The sonnet Barrett Browning wrote, The Cry of the Children, inspired change in the industrial revolution and inspired the British parliament to set child labor laws.
In conclusion, Mr. Robert Browning depicts in ‘My Last Duchess” that the Duke is not an ideal husband by referencing how controlling he is over women and other people in his vicinity. Mr. Browning also references the Duke’s jealous and petty actions that make him seem desperate for a way to seek attention. That is why the Duke disposes of her since she was not giving him the proper care he wanted he decided that she was not worthy. The Duke is also not an ideal husband based on his views of how disposal women are to him. His jealousy and insecurity lead him to be an unhappy self-centered
During the Victorian Era, the concept of how a “proper” man and woman were to behave came under fire and there were men and women on both sides willing to argue for their beliefs. Though the traditional Victorian Era attitude is long since gone and devalued, it can be very enlightening to see the ways in which these attitudes surfaced themselves in the literature of the time. Sarah Stickney Ellis wrote The Women of England: Their Social Duties and Domestic Habits from the viewpoint that women should self-abnegate their own beliefs and become fully interested in the man. And to illustrate this point, Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “Sonnet 43” will be closely looked at along with the essay to make some critical points.
In "My Last Duchess", by Robert Browning, the character of Duke is portrayed as having controlling, jealous, and arrogant traits. These traits are not all mentioned verbally, but mainly through his actions. In the beginning of the poem the painting of the Dukes wife is introduced to us: "That's my last Duchess painted on the wall,/ looking as of she were still alive" (1-2). These lines leave us with the suspicion that the Duchess is no longer alive, but at this point were are not totally sure. In this essay I will discuss the Dukes controlling, jealous and arrogant traits he possesses through out the poem.
In an essay on feminist criticism, Linda Peterson of Yale University explains how literature can "reflect and shape the attitudes that have held women back" (330). From the viewpoint of a feminist critic, "The Lady of Shalott" provides its reader with an analysis of the Victorian woman's conflict between her place in the interior, domestic role of society and her desire to break into the exterior, public sphere which generally had been the domain of men. Read as a commentary on women's roles in Victorian society, "The Lady of Shalott" may be interpreted in different ways. Thus, the speaker's commentary is ambiguous: Does he seek to reinforce the institution of patriarchal society as he "punishes" the Lady with her death for her venture into the public world of men, or does he sympathize with her yearnings for a more colorful, active life? Close reading reveals more than one possible answer to this question, but the overriding theme seems sympathetic to the Lady. By applying "the feminist critique" (Peterson 333-334) to Tennyson's famous poem, one may begin to understand how "The Lady of Shalott" not only analyzes, but actually critiques the attitudes that held women back and, in the end, makes a hopeful, less patriarchal statement about the place of women in Victorian society.
She says “writing can be an expression of one 's innermost feelings. It can allow the reader to tap into the deepest recesses of one 's heart and soul. It is indeed the gifted author that can cause the reader to cry at her words and feel hope within the same poem. Many authors as well, as ordinary people use writing as a way to release emotions.” She makes plenty points in her review that I completely agree with. After reading the poem I think that Elizabeth Barret Browning is not only the author of her famous poem, but also the speaker as well. She is a woman simply expressing her love for her husband in a passionate way through poetry. In the 1st Line it reads “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” A woman drunk in love she is, and next she begins to count the numerous ways she can love her significant
The Victorian period was in 1830-1901, this period was named after Queen Victoria; England’s longest reigning monarch. Britain was the most powerful nation in the world. This period was known for a rather stern morality. A huge changed happened in England; factories were polluting the air, cities were bursting at the seams, feminism was shaking up society, and Darwin’s theory of evolution was assaulting long established religious beliefs. The Victorians were proud of their accomplishments and optimistic about the future, but psychologically there was tension, doubt, and anxiety as people struggled to understand and deal with the great changes they were experiencing. One of the authors known for writing during the Victorian Period was Robert Browning. Robert Browning was a poet and playwright whose mastery of dramatic monologues, which made him one of the Victorian poets. Robert died in December 1889. His Poem “Porphyria’s Lover” was published in 1836. This essay will explore three elements of Victorianism in Porphyria’s Lover by Robert Brown...
men, it was often they had a pretty girl beside them. She would act as
Elizabeth Barrett Browning has a knack for relying on her emotions to fill her writing with meaning. She grasps her readers through fear, desperation, hope, and unaffected admiration. With her large emphasis on emotions expressed not only directly through her writing, but also withdrawn from her audience’s own hearts, Mrs. Browning’s work has found a permanent stance within the study of British Literature. However, this excruciating display of emotions can be considered both good and bad. Due to her focus on relationships of a more romantic side, Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s seeming dependence on her love-interests throughout her sonnets may be part of the cause for the lack of independence within relationships in the generations of students
In modern day standards, one can view his relationship between him and his wife to be abusive, as the Duke views his “Duchess” is nothing more than a possession. He expects his wife to be exclusive to him in every aspect of her life. Given the contextual information, I understand that at that time, it was common for women to be viewed as lesser than men. However, as we became more evolved, it is clear to see that women are equal to men, and that the morality of that time resembles the primitive age and the dehumanization of women. This poem allowed me to see the magnitude of women degradation and exclusion in a new perspective.