The Ruined Maid by Thomas Hardy and Cousin Kate by Christina Rosetti Es

The Ruined Maid by Thomas Hardy and Cousin Kate by Christina Rosetti The poems that I studied are 'The Ruined Maid' by Thomas Hardy and 'Cousin Kate' by Christina Rosetti. 'The Ruined Maid' was published in 1901, and 'Cousin Kate' in 1879. These poems were both written in Victorian times, and they both reflect the attitudes towards women at the time. At the beginning of the Victorian period women's powers were extremely limited; they could not control their own money and were very much under the control of men. Among the few respectable jobs available to women were teaching and taking in embroidery, but these were poorly paid. The attitude towards women at this time was extremely patronizing. Women had not yet been given suffrage: As they could not vote, they had little power and little choice. In the light of these attitudes the poems will be analysed to show how they reflect the Victorian women of the time. The poem 'The Ruined Maid' is about a woman who used to be a country maiden, who was 'tired of digging potatoes and spudding up docks', so has become a prostitute. This poem satirizes the Victorian view of prostitutes as doomed and ruined women, and suggests that they may in fact be happy and refined. 'Melia, 'The Ruined Maid' in the poem, has met an old friend 'in town' and now that she has become ruined she seems to be far better off than she was before. 'Melia left her home 'in tatters, without shoes or socks' and now she has 'gay bracelets and bright feathers'. Since her ruin 'Melia has also improved her language. "At home in the barton you said 'thee' and 'thou' and 'thik oon' and 'theà ¤s oon' and 't'other'; but now your ... ... in society. This tone is conveyed by the use of positive language such as, my 'dear', wearing 'fair garments', such 'prosperity', she has 'gay bracelets' and 'a delicate cheek' and is 'pretty lively' now that she is ruined. In 'Cousin Kate', Kate has all of the material things that 'The Ruined Maid' wants, but in 'The Ruined Maid', 'Melia has all of the material things that the country maiden wants. The poem that best represents the women of the time is 'Cousin Kate' which, coincidentally, is written by a woman. Although Thomas Hardy is more understanding and respectful towards women in his novels, this poem, 'The Ruined Maid', displays a totally different attitude towards Victorian women. Of the two poems I prefer 'Cousin Kate' because it is a more typical and realistic portrayal of the life of a ruined maid.