PATHEDY OF MANNERS Although we all strive to obtain the best in life, we quickly learn that there is much more to life than just filling an empty void with luxuries. This is the prime theme in the narrative poem titled "Pathedy of Manners" by Ellen Kay. Kay uses strong imagery to describe this woman's superb lifestyle and the change of winds that occur as time passes. The woman in this story appears to be everyone's envy, however we quickly learn that perception is not always reality. Material things simply cannot fulfill and empty void of one's life. The poem begins with the author describing this perfect woman. As she goes on to say in line one, "At twenty she was brilliant and adored." The soft choice of words Kay choose create …show more content…
This woman instead did not keep her thoughts to herself and spoke her mind freely. This shows her liberation that sets her apart from the other, average women. The third stanza goes on to describe her continued success and accomplishments as time passes on. "She hung up her diploma, went abroad" as line 9 states, describes her graduation and the continuance of her education. She goes to a more refined, prestigious school abroad. This is symbolic to how much opportunity she has that has set her apart from others. She in fact continues her education as at that time most women probably did not. Lines ten through twelve, "Saw catalogues of domes and tapestry... learned to tell real Wedgwood from a fraud" depicts her extensive knowledge of all topics. She is exposed to lavish thing often such as tapestries and is so familiar with Wedgwood that it is practically of second nature to her. She returns back to her home and weds a man who is on par with her level. We can see that he also is successful and comes from an affluent background as Kay writes in line fourteen "A bright young man whose pearl cufflinks were real." We then learn about their ideal lifestyle they share together- an ideal marriage, an ideal house. But we learn that their children infact do not live an "ideal" life. Infact, they are "lonely children." Although this woman has many luxuries to keep her mind off her inner void,
As Wendy Martin says “the poem leaves the reader with painful impression of a woman in her mid-fifties, who having lost her domestic comforts is left to struggle with despair. Although her loss is mitigated by the promise of the greater rewards of heaven, the experience is deeply tragic.” (75)
The author writes this poem in order to inspire the readers to not be stuck to expectations. Gwendolyn uses multiple metaphors in her poems such as “Maud, who went to college, Is a thin brown mouse. She is living all alone In this old house.. “, using this to describe to the readers that
She later was caught and was put on trial.During her trial, she stood up to the judge. This shows a theme of bravery because a judge has a high authority over the victims and he can do whatever he wants.With Susan knowing that she still stood up to him anyways. Susan kept fighting for Women’s right all she could.She kept getting in trouble for her “Crimes”.This is especially bravery because she went against the law more than once.Even though she knows it could ruin her life for her future, she still risked her life for women all over the nation. If it was someone else who would be in Susan’s place, they might not have done as half as much as Susan such as “illegal” protesting or standing up to a judge during an important trial.This is Why the article think shows a theme of
We sse this today with the way certain celeberties such as Kanye West dress and how they seemingly are able to wear any "hat" they wish. We look at the rich to be role models simply because of their money and refuse to look at the heart of a person. She hit on the fact that those with little money do all they can to look like something they are not. She talked about the struggle of haveing womens club in the poor neighborhoods as many wouldn't leave a home adress or even attend becase everyone knew they finacial situation but they were going to differnt parts of town to those that didn't to seem like they were a person who were very well off in life. The piece hit om the fact that these chidren were often asked to stop their develepment and work to help the family and for some parenst it was an expectation that the children would care for them. LAstly she talked about war and how it preys on the untutered and poor to fight a battle they knew nothing about. One huge theme of the pieces were that we cannot keep using history and old customs to justify our shortcomings in
A common theme in Susan B Anthony Dares To Vote to be different. Because she sticks up for her gender when no other women
Most of the poem is sweet, but also tells them to hurry and enjoy life right now before they run out of time. Also that their bodies are energized now and later on they won’t be able to do what they would do when they were younger. In comparison to “To His Coy Mistress” the author tells them to get married also because they have something that time will sooner, or later take away and that would be sad that they didn’t get to enjoy it just because they wanted to
Both poets expertly use language to explore their childhood memories and communicate their feelings towards them now as adults. Duffys title 'Litany' is ambiguous, she skilfully leaves allows the reader to provide their own interpretations of the title and its meaning and how it relates to the poem, this allows the reader to connect with the poem on a personal level. Duffys use of negative word functions in the second stanza disclose Duffys own conception towards these women. Duffys reference to their marriages as 'terrible' are a clear indication of her distaste towards the social expectations of women to marry, care for their husbands and children and basically never really fulfill very much in their lives. Duffys imaginative description of the woman's hands as 'sharp' reveal her impression of them as acute and incisive creatures, consumed with a desire to portray the image of the 'model house wife', with very little other ambition. Duffy superbly transmits a tone of pity towards these women as their only real accomplishments will be owning "candlewick bedspread three piece suite display cabinet". Furthermore through her creative use of very descriptive verbs, which greatly appeal to the readers sences, Duffy conveys a tone of distain towards these women. Throughout Litany Duffy creates fantastic images for the reader from her imaginative use of imargery.
Identity Mold A black hole of conformity sucks in the meaning and worth of those who enable themselves to be molded. Everyday citizens of our fragmented world spend hours on how they appear or how they act in order to conform to society’s expectations. In “Pathedy of Manners,” Ellen Kay tells of a woman who gives up her intelligence and true relations for wealth and upper class association. However, her family deserts her and her new identify traps her from realizing her flawed way of life.
The wife chooses to hold onto this doomed marriage even after knowing that her husband has betrayed her. She also knows that their love for each other is essentially a self-created illusion. She tries to maintain a positive image of her husband, from pride and need, and all while in the public eye. “Her pride assuages her almost, as if it were alone the cost”(Stanza 2, line 5-6)
The poem called ”Pathedy of Manners,’’ written by Ellen Keys in 1931. In the poem, the character that we follow along , is a woman who is a very wealthy and successful , which then, she graduates from school with a diploma in cultured jargon. However, she marries a wealthy man, which one year later, her husband dies. Which leaves her to struggle to have no money , with children of hers, and doesn't know what she can do anymore with her life alone with her life without any money anymore. The woman have so much money, so much riches in the beginning, that she ended up wasting her education and lost everything in the end.
In this poem, Dickenson creates a ballad of longing and attachment. The narrator of 511 is a housewife who is waiting for her husband or lover to come back. She describes how if she knew when he was coming back, the wait would be much easier. She believes counting the time would make her husband’s arrival come faster and give her the return to look forward to. However, since she does not know the time of his return, the wait is agony for her.
This really struck me because we live in a time where women are running for president and owning fortune 500 companies and could be taking over the world. It really is astonishing to me to see how the mindset of the author is versus how most people’s mindsets are today. The author clearly
After these lines, my personal guess at this point would be that the speaker and the woman aren’t actually married. This makes more sense now, because had they been married, the woman would not have been worried about losing her maidenhood as described in the last stanza.
Death is the major speaker of this poem, its persona shows how cruel and violent it can be, however she also speaks of getting everything out of life you can before death. Starting with line twenty three of the poem she begins talking about living a full life before death, "When it 's over, I want to say all my life/I was a bride married to amazement/I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms." (23-25). Being a bride married to amazement is a comparison to commitment, being with the same person every day. However in this case with a lifestyle instead. Doing amazing and memorable things every possible day you can, not letting life pass you by. This also fits perfectly with the next few lines
Ritchie describes marriage as a constant remembrance and up-hill battle; she also understands that everything happens for a reason. The speaker in the poem is remembering certain times when she was with her loved one, she happens to reminisce these memories as she is doing her laundry. She recalls the time they both spent together, both good and bad. This poem also contains metaphors and similes throughout specific pieces of clothing; through every-day occurrences which makes the speaker in the poem remember certain times she spent with her loved one. “ pillowcases, despite so many/ washings, seems still/ holding our dreams” (Lines 7-9) which seem to indicate that no matter how difficult times may appear to be that her and her loved one will still be together. Many times people will dream to achieve their goal in life and they do whatever it takes to make sure it is achieved. “ Our king-sized sheets/ like tablecloths/ for the banquet of giants” (Lines 4-6) It also explains in metaphors how working together is what will make their dreams come true, a relationship needs two people to make it work. The speaker also mentions how certain things went awry but thinking about them now were like stepping stones into their future. As the speaker is going through her laundry there are still pieces of clothing that are worn-out but still have a