Virginia Woolf: THE Lady in the Looking Glass

Virginia Woolf is a challenging modern poet for me to understand. After reading her bio and extra information from Wikipedia, I could understand why her style of writing was the way it was. She had many psychological issues, including depression as well as she suffered from mental breakdowns for much of her life.
In the Looking Glass, she writes about the life of a Lady through what of her belongings one can see through a mirror hanging over her mantle. The mirror is something that Woolf enjoyed using in her work; having it illuminate the idea that writing is supposed to mirror reality, but Woolf was very skeptical in that even the best writers cannot utilize language and words to explain something as well as when someone actually experiences something. She was a firm believer that words and language have limits and they simply are no substitute for the subjective experience of something.
She begins with the following comment, “People should not leave looking- glasses hanging in their rooms any more than they should leave open cheque books or letters confessing some hideous crime” (p. 1224). This certainly hints to the fact that Woolf believes that firstly, when looking through a mirror we get a pretty good glimpse of reality and secondly, looking at a person and their belongings through a mirror can give you a good idea of their personal identity. She then describes everything that can be seen in the room through the mirror’s reflection including a sofa, a path outside the window, curtains blowing, and a rug. She describes the images seen through the mirror as, “held there in their reality unescapably… things had ceased to breathe and lay still in the trance of immortality” (p. 1225), which is very true; they are stuck there forever as if in a picture book as opposed to real life.
Woolf begins to describe the young lady who lives in this house. “But one was tired of the things that she talked about at dinner. It was her profounder state of being that one wanted to catch and turn to words, the state that is to the mind that breathing is to the body, what one calls happiness or unhappiness” (p. 1227). This sentence gives a lot of interesting ideas for the reader to interpret. First, she discusses certain things at the dinner table probably because those are things expected of a young lady. She was not taught to discuss how she was feeling. Woolf may be hinting to some issues she has with gender roles of the time. Secondly, interestingly, Woolf uses the word “profound” to describe the state of being happy. This word seems to be reserved by most people for well versed public speakers and intriguing novels not for a woman’s state of being. Thirdly, Woolf desires to have the woman’s state of being interpreted into words; but, turning a subjective feeling into words for others to comprehend seems like a very difficult task. Lastly, she makes the claim that happiness is to the mind that breathing is to the body, which I’m not sure is scientifically valid, but considering Woolf’s constant state of depression, she is certainly aware of what it is like to live in a state of unhappiness.

James Joyce's Dubliner's Clay

James Joyce’s talent in narration and novel work is evident in “Dubliner’s Clay” as he portrays the life of Maria, a special member of Dublin by Lamplight laundry, which is a refuge for the prostitutes of the city (footnote 5, 1134).  In modernistic style, Joyce portrays the nontraditional lifestyles of the city in which women lives independently of men with prose uncensored from vulgarity.

The women of this age is clearly portrayed as hard working and independent as “women began to come in by twos and threes, wiping their steaming hands in their petticoats and pulling down their sleeves of their blouses over their red steaming arms.”  The independent working women are just one of the drastic differences addressed by modern authors of the twentieth century.  Here, Joyce gives a good example of this theme.

Joyce continues to show Maria as a woman who is past her primes and lack of beauty.  She lives a life full of interaction, only to hide the loneliness within her soul.  Her situation is sad, as we can see that her desires still exists when the author constantly teases her with events and jokes relating to marriage.  For example, Maria’s misery is evident as she is frustrated with the “young men [that] don’t seem to notice her” (1135).  As a result she thinks she “would have to stand in the Drumcondra tram” while waiting to go to Mass.  Her situation becomes worse as she learns that the nice “elderly gentlemen” who befriends her in lieu of the “young men” has only done so as to trick her of her “plume cakes.”  With “shame and vexation and disappointment,… she nearly cried outright” (1136).

Her lack of a companion, in part, may be due to her looks as well as her age.  The author uses fine imagery to illustrate her strangeness as we can imagine her ridiculous features of “small” statue with a “very long nose and a very long chin” that the “tip of her nose nearly met the tip of her chin” every time she laughs.  Her appearance is further stressed as this very line is repeated many more times in the story.  She appears to not fit into any member of society.  Although not a prostitute, she works in Dublin’s Lamplight Laundry.  She goes to mass even though she is made fun of by the “next-door” girls.  And the only person who genuinely treats her nice, is the married Joe.  One of her laundry friends even  jokes (as she done so every year before) about her getting the “ring” during her game of Hallow Eves at Mass.

Maria’s final song “I Dreamt that I Dwelt,” represents a resolution to her true feelings as she sings “But I also dreamt, which pleased me most, That you loved me still the same” (1137).  This line does not just represent Maria’s desire for companionship, but also of her desire for those around her to truly love her as she does them.  Only in her dreams does she fulfill this false happiness.  The story of Maria, in a unique way, is representative of the modernist poet, in that Joyce illustrates the imperfect love that secretly haunts Maria through daily experiences filled the vulgarities of life.  In “Dubliner’s Clay,” Joyce does a fine job at portraying the modernistic view of the independent woman and the experience of love’s miseries and imperfections.

William Yeats: The Second Coming

The title of this poem can be defined as the return of Christ on Judgement day according to the footnotes.  There is lots of imagery in this poem.  In the beginning, "things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; mere anarchy is loosed upon the world."  Every thing is pretty much in chaos.  The view of the "shape with lion body and the head of a man, a gaze blank and pitiless as the sun," I believe is the view of heaven and hell on judgement day.  Also, the image of the lion is the image of a rough Jesus taking his followers home to him.  This was an interesting imagery of the second of coming of Jesus.

William Yeats: No Second Troy

Yeats poem “No Second Troy” is a poem of rejection and heartbreak He compares Maud to Helen of Troy. In his poem he writes, “Why should I blame her that she filled my days with misery” (line 1 and 2).   It’s as if he came to the realization that he was only miserable because he allowed her to make him feel that way. Basically Yeats is kicking himself for allowing Maud to make him feel miserable, he realizes that she could only make him feel that way because he allowed her to.

Going back to Helen of Troy, she was a political figurehead, a ruler. She was to be loved by all, yet she causes chaos and destroyed a country. Keats uses the comparison of Helen of Troy to show the great destructive power women have. At the end of the poem he writes, “With beauty like a tightened bow, a kind That is not natural in an age like this, Being high and solitary and most stern? Why, what could she have done, being what she is? Was there another Troy for her to burn?” Again the comparison is evident, but when he asks if there was another Troy for her to burn its context is a mystery. It could be a variety of things; he could be wondering if this was the only heart scorned by her love? He could also be wondering, if there are more countries that will be destroyed by women with too much beauty and power?

Thomas Hardy: Channel Firing

Hardy lived during the time of Word War I and the events of the war influenced many of his poems. His poem “Channel Firing” was written before World War I which shows that had a huge impact on the thoughts of Thomas Hardy.  Hardy wrote “All nations striving strong to make/ Red war yet redder. Mad as hatters, they do no more for Christes sake, Than you who are helpless in such matters” (third stanza).These verses of the poems show  the madness and helplessness of war. Later Hardy attempts to justify why war is necessary, but here he shows the hatefulness of war. “All nations striving strong to make/ Red war yet redder” (third stanza), this give me an image of complete chaos. I imagine a sea of people from all over the world, or in this case near the English Channel, just slaughtering one another. I know that “slaughter” is not a very appealing word, but it conveys the intended meaning of a “Red war yet redder.” Since this particular poem is refereeing to military exercises this verse is of particular interest. He doesn’t take sides, he mentions “All nations” (1line 14), and this is a way of sharing the blame. Saying that all are partaking, all are striving to cause the chaos that is war. His concise words and thoughts added to the poem immensely. 

Gerard Hopkins: I Wake and Feel the Fell of Dark, Not Day

After reading this poem, I felt there was a deep dark tone throughout the poem.  I am not sure what Hopkins referring to, but I'm guessing that he is lamenting or mourning about a death or a hard time he is going through.  Hopkins seems to be very bitter in this poem: "I am gall, I am heartburn. God's most deep decree Bitter would have me taste: m taste was me; Bones built in me, flesh filled, blood brimmed the curse."  He seems to be blaming God for the situation and his loss.  At the end of the poem, :"I see The lost are like this, and their scourge to be as I am mine, their sweating selves; but worse."  He seems to try to accept the fact that he has lost the one he loved, but he will not forgive himself for the loss.

Gerard Hopkins: Spring and Fall

In the beginning of the poem he talks about a girl who is "grieving" over the leaves falling. This poem sounds like a grown up teaching an innocent child of how things may come and go. Generally when people grieve it's over something like a person who has died, but she is so innocent she is able to grieve over leaves, which she seems to believe is dying. He explains to the girl that "As the heart grows older, It will come to such sights colder," which i believe he is telling her that, as she grows up, she will experience much more things such as true death, and other cruel things which she doesn't quite understand just yet. As the leaves are falling, they symbolize death. Leaves are always falling, and people are always dying. Children begin to realize death more and more when they grow up, and this child will one day realize that leaves aren't as important than people dying, and she will eventually no longer "spare a sigh" for the leaves.

Oscar Wilde: The Importance of Being Earnest

Wilde  develops a satirical approach in describing the society around him.  One reoccurring theme that is present is that there seems to be a false appearance instead of reality.  For example, the character of Ernest is only a fake character created for selfish purposes.  Jack and Algernon both lied in order to become something they were not.  When they finally got what they wanted from being Ernest, we can see that Ernest is facade that people liked not a really what they liked.  Wilde's purpose is to describe how shallow society is in order to emulate others and create what they want. Individuality and purpose in life is not the case for this society at the time. 

 

 

John Stuart Mill: The Subjection of Women

John Mill main theme out of this essay was equality between men and women, no special powers or previlages.  As we have so far studied, this is a very more modern view and issue for people at that time.  Women were always seen as inferior and "weak" to men; therefore men got more special previlages.  "It arose simply from the fact that from the very earliest twilight of human society, every women (owing to the value attached to her by men, combined with her inferiority in muscular strength) was found in state of bondage to some man.***" (pg. 522). 



 Mill points out a very important point that people of England does not condemn for a female ruler, but why do they condemn women to have equal rights."Nothing so much astonishes the people of distant parts of the world, when they first learn anything about England, as to be told that it is under a queen: the thing seems to them so unnatural as to be almost incredible" (pg. 522). 

Mill then reiterates the old views for women: "All women are brought up from the very earliest years in belief that their ideal of character was the very opposite to that of men; not self-will, and government by self-control, but submission, and yeilding to the control of others"(pg.523). Women were seen to be the child-bearing person and a stay at home wife.  She is not allowed to be ambitious nor seek for education. Men were allowed to be educated and work for the family.  Women must be submissive. 

 Mill then points out 3 important things between men and women: "When we put together three things- first, the natural attraction between opposite sexes; secondly, the wife's entire dependence on the husband, or depending entirely on his will; and lastly, that the principal object of human pursuit, consideration, and all objects of social ambition, can be sought or obtained by her only through him---" (pg.523). These are important points between men and women because they stronger together than separate. 


Mill concludes this essay that women should not be obligated to just be a child-bearer and run a family.  She should be allowed to seek her ambitions and desires. "And it was wrong to bring women up with any acquirements but those of an odalisque, or of a domestic servant" (pg.527).   This view that women should be house servants are absolutely against the now modern day views of the role of women.  IN all, women and men should be treated equally regardless of gender.

Robert Browning:Porphyria's Lover

When I finished reading this I was completely shocked.  Why would the man kill an innocent woman?  What was the purpose of this poem?  From analyzing the poem, I believe its main theme is centered around obsession and control over something that he knows he has no control over.  The beginning of the poem starts out with the woman dead already and the speaker is flashing back how he killed her.  "She put my arm about her waist, and made her smooth white shoulder bare, and all her yellow hair displaced." The speaker describes the woman as "too weak, for als her heart's endeavor, to set its struggling passion free." This shows the vulnerability of the woman.  "To set its struggling passion free From pride, and vainer ties dissever, and give herself to me."  This quote shows that he is trying to control her by taking her innocence away from her.  I interpret this as an obsession for a love that may not be present between them anymore.  "Be sure I looked up at her eyes Happy and proud; at last I knew Porphyria worshipped me."  I believe this quote shows that the man has past is point of no return on planning to kill her.  When he finally kills her, he probably felt a sense of superiority and power and macho for actually killing someone he dearly loved.  He probably rather to have her to himself or kill her.  That may be the reason why he killed her, since he could not have her anymore. 

Thomas Carylyle: Know Thy Work

In the very beginning, Carylye emphasizes that "there is a perennial nobleness, and even sacredness in work." (Page 481). He believes that work is necessary for a person to know itself and perfect itself ("an endless significance lies in Work"; a man perfects himself by working." (page 481). 

Caryle suggests you should find your passion and life purpose and pour yourself into it; this is the truest form of being blessed. He writes: "Know what thou canst work at; and work at it, like a Hercules! That will be thy better plan. (Page 481)

Carlyle talks aboout the Potter's wheel and how it using it turns rude lumps of clay into beautiful circular dishes (Page 482). Idleness is not close to godliness; but to sin. He states: "Of an idle unrevolving man the kindest Destiny, like the most assiduous Potter without wheel, can bake and knead nothing other than a botch." (Page 482)

 

"Blessed is he who has found his work; let him ask no other blessedness. He has a work, a life-purpose; he has found it, and will follow it!" (page 482).  This quote is important because he emphasizes again that work is more of a duty in life than just something used to provide oneself or for others.  Work is a purpose in life that allows yourself to mold into something worthy.  Carlyle is saying that "destiny, on the whole, has no other way of cultivating us. (Page 482).  You define who you are not destiny.  You can change destiny through your work. 

 

 

There is power and honor in doing what God has commanded us to do: He says: "Labour is Life: fromm the inmost heart of the worker rises his god-given Force, the sacred celestial Life-essence breathed into him by Almighty God." (Page 482).  Work is given to you by God, therefore you should not waste it shape or form or purpose.  

The last line summarizes the whole theme: "Doubt, of whatever kind, can be ended by Action alone."  Again, you determine your destiny not your destiny controlling you. 

Felecia Hermans: Woman and Fame

Hemans was very popular amongst women during her time as a poet and within Woman and Fame . She channels the women’s view on the world and perhaps sheds the light on a woman’s life during this particular era.
“She that makes the humblest hearth, Lovely but to one on earth,” is at the beginning of her poem and signifies the stereotypical portrayal of a women, that a woman does not want to be recognized but simply loved and have a family, very standard thinking for the time.
However as the poem progresses, a different approach to the archaic view of women is formed. She says the women ‘hast a voice, whose thrilling tone can bid each life-pulse beat, as when a trumpet’s note hath blown, calling the brave to meet,” (lines 13-15).  She meant that she wishes the women to have a voice that deserves to be heard. She knows what she says is new age thinking as she mentions that in “thy song a mockery in thine eye,” (line 20) suggesting that the ‘mockery’ is from the male public.  She comes into her own as a poet but not without the criticism and social ridicule that begins to eat at her as she says in the later part of her poem: “To the sick heart that doth but long for aid, for sympathy; for kindly looks to cheer it on, for tender accents that are gone.”  This shows she is searching for positivity and finds none and thus she wishes to be gone with the fame. In her final lines she declares her wish to be unseen once again:
Fame, Fame! Thou canst not be the stay
Unto the drooping reed,
The cool fresh fountain, in the day
Of the soul’s feverish need;
Where must the lone one turn or flee?—
Not unto thee, oh! Not to thee!
She wishes the benefits of fame but not the cruel voice of opinion that drags along with it. Though she did not refrain from speaking about the position she was placed into based on her gender, she fought and poured her heart in this poem and implored the sympathy of females and modern thinkers. She seeks to be respected, not humoured and bashed.

John Keats: "When I Have Fears"

In the first three lines, Keats explains he "fears that I may cease to be", before his "pen has glean'd my teeming brain, before high piled books in charact'ry."  This shows that Keats fears that he will not fullfill himself as a writer before he dies.  Also he fears to lose his love ones, as described in lines 9-12 of the poem.  Keats concludes this poem by resolving his fears by reflecting in the final line of the poem that"Till love and fame to nothingness do sink."  Keats believes that the love and fame is worthless when you are alone in the world, because he will never be able to experience the passionate and "fairy power of unreflecting love"(lines 10-11) once he is gone from this world. 



     

Percy Shelly: "To a Sky-Lark"

The speaker seems a bit jealous of the freedom of the skylark, which travels where it pleases. It doesn’t matter when or where—“the sunken sun”or“the silver sphere” —the speaker feels that the skylark is always flying high above. Even if we do not see it, or even hear it, “we feel it is there.”
The speaker admits to not knowing whether the bird is happy, however, or from where it receives its joy. Shelly puts five stanzas in the middle of the poem in metaphors, comparing the skylark to other living objects in nature (poets, a maiden, worms, and roses), which express love, pain, and sorrow. None of them, however, has the expressive ability of the singing bird. Shelly hopes to learn about the realm of spirit from the bird, plainly asking to teach him how it manages to continue on with its “rapture so divine” without ever wavering in pain or sorrow. Even the happiest of human songs, like a wedding song (“Chorus hymeneal”), does not compare to the song of a skylark.
The song of the skylark, rather than the skylark itself, is what holds all the power. It is the song that can have the “light of thought” of “the poet,” the “soothing love” of the maiden, invisible existence as the “glow-worm golden,” and the aura of “a rose.” It is this power to awaken so many different parts in nature, and make them aware to the human mind, that Shelley wants to “be taught.”
Eventually, the speaker seems to come to terms with the idea that in some ways, ignorance can be bliss. Yet, this makes the skylark’s joy inhuman. “We look before and after, and pine for what is not,” but a bird lives in the moment. Nevertheless, recognizing the beauty in the simple brain of this skylark, the speaker would be happy to know only “half its gladness,” seeking the ability to inspire others the way he was inspired by the bird.
Shelley’s skylark is symbolizing the relationship between sadness and joy, experience and knowledge, and his desire to only be under the influence of joy and knowledge, even though he knows that is not possible. Finally, beyond recognizing the difference between himself and the glorious song of the skylark, Shelley keeps the hope that someday his words will be heard and heeded the way he is listening to and being inspired by his avian muse.The fifteenth stanza, the question stanza, "What objects are the fountains, or thy happy strain? What fields, or waves, or mountains?  What shapes of sky or plain? What love of thine own kind? what ignorance of pain?" (lines 70-75).  This stanza marks the beginning of Shelley’s separation of the “mortal” from the “spiritual.” Asking questions creates room for Shelly to provide answers. The answer he comes up with is that we, unlike the song of the skylark, are “mortals” capable of “dreaming” sweet melodies. It is not good enough to have unreflective joy, and thus even our “sincerest laughter” is often accompanied with “our saddest thought,” yet this is the reality we must acknowledge.

George Gordon: "She Walks in beauty"

In the first two stanzas, Gordon paints an imagery of lightness and darkness in the lady.  And all  "that's best of dark and bright" (line 3) and "one shade the more, one ray the less" (line 7).  These two lines describes the beauty of the lady in both dark and bright.  Most importantly, Gordon is explaining that her beauty is present in her perfections and flaws which is different then just physical beauty.  In the last stanza, Gordon describes her physical beauty, "cheek, and o'er that brow, so soft, so calm, yet eloquent, the smiles that win, the tints that glow...." (lines 14-15).  This of course is a plus for most men, but Gordon ends this poem with these words, "A heart whose love is innocent!"  This final line expresses that the lady's inner love that she has from her heart (for others and for herself) is the most important thing about her beauty.  Gordon is pointing out that inner beauty from the heart is more important than physical beauty. 

Samuel Coleridge: "Work Without Hope"

The first section of the poem talks about the beauty of nature. The man sees nature at work; "Slugs leave their lair – The bees are stirring – birds are on the wing…" (lines 2-3). The man refers to himself as an "unbusy" thing. Contrasting himself with the animals, he states, "And I the while, the sole unbusy thing, nor honey make, nor pair, nor build, nor sing" (lines 5-6).   He sees nature and begins to realize that while it is beautiful, he has trouble seeing the beautiful. "And Winter slumbering in the open air...." (line 3), he uses the imagery of winter, a desolate season, to describe his to imply the man’s attitude.

In the second section of the poem, the man develops these thoughts even further. He speaks of the beauty of the streams and flowers around him, but says, "Bloom, O ye amaranths! Bloom for whom he may, For me ye bloom not!" (lines 8-9). He knows of the beauty surrounding him, but in the state he is in, he is not able to see it and appreciate it. The man describes himself as having, "lips unbrightened" and a "wreathless brow." (line 11).  This represents his lack of success. He is sterile, like winter, having borne no fruit, or achieved any amount of success. He is despairing, and sees no hope for his future. The man is despaired with the unsuccessful times of the sterile winter days, and cannot see the beauty of nature around him.

The last two lines of this poem are the turning point, and make it all come together. Coleridge writes, "Work without hope draws nectar in a sieve, And hope without an object cannot live." The man is saying that drawing nectar in a sieve is impossible because is just drains through, as will any work without hope. Hope cannot live without an object, because if there is no hope and no point, then there is no reason to continue. These lines show how hopeless the man is. He has no hope, and sees himself as a cold, lonely winter. Although it is a beautiful day, blooming with the first signs of spring, he cannot see anything other than the hopelessness that surrounds him.

Dorothy Wordsworth: "Thoughts on My Sick-bed"

 

 

 As mentioned in the foot notes of the poem, Wordsworth was sick "with a series of debilitating illness."  Throughout this poem, Wordsworth describes her life she has experienced so far.  For example, "Hath been enriched by kindred gifts, That, undesired, unsought-for, came, with joyful heart in youthful days when fresh each season in its Round I welcomed the earliest Celandine Glittering upon the mossy ground" (lines 7-12).  Wordsworth seems to be painting the images of the wonderful things she has experienced, but yet, she has not always had a wonderful experience in life.  She has sought out "known and unknown "(line 13) things in order to experience every aspect of life that she can experience.  Wordsworth does a flashback and describes the "splendid flower" in which she never sought.   I believe Wordsworth did not fulfill everything she would have liked to, but she does not regret any of her experiences.  "No need of motion, or of strength, or even the breathing air;----I thought of Nature's loveliest scenes; And with Memory I was there"  (lines 49-52).  This powerful ending to the poem shows the beauty that sickness does not stop Wordsworth from experiencing her most desired things, but rather she fights to stay "alive" even if she is physically not present anymore. 

William Wordsworth "Michael"

In "Michael", Wordsworths depicts an ordinary man that goes through an emotional journey with his son.  Michael was a shepherd that lived an ordinary life.  His "only Son was now the dearest object that he knew on earth.  Exceeding was the love he bare to him" (lines 159 to 161).   Michael loved his life as a shepherd and loved his son, Luke, dearly.  The only problem was this was that his son did not have the same passion as Michael.  Luke "slacken in his duty; and, at length He in the dissolute city gave himself to evil courses..." (Lines 451- 453).  Luke abandoned being a shepherd and abandoned his father.  Michael was very upset and hurt by his son's action.  However, Michael stayed strong and  continued his daily shepherd duties because "there is a comfort in the strength of love; 'Twill make a thing endurable,"  in his shepherd duties  (lines 457-458).  Michael tried to mast his pain and grief from losing his son, Luke.  The last few stanzas of the poem from lines 476- to 480, Wordsworth describes the Sheep-fold that both Michael and Luke worked on.  This shows that there is sense of commitment in their relationship, and the unfinished  sheep-fold is the unending love that Michael has for Luke.  I believe Wordsworth themes for this poem is successes and failures, and hopes and despairs in life. 

William Blake: "The Lamb" and "The Tyger"

"The Lamb" and "The Tyger"  are totally different animals.  I believe Blake is trying to portray two important images: the goodness and the badness in the world. The lamb is a gentle, innocent creature while the tiger is a predatory animal that can be brutal.  In plate 5, line 4, from "The Tyger", "Could frame thy fearful symmetry?", Blake is making a reference to the "The Lamb".  He is pointing out that they are equally important in life, because they were both created by God.  I believe that Blake is trying to describe the good and bad things that God has created for each person on earth.  The lamb represents the innocence, youth, and good aspect in life.  This can be seen in "The Lamb" from plate 15, line1-2, "He is meek and he is mild, he became a little child."  However, the tiger represents the trials and tribulations that people may encounter throughout life.  Although the tyger may be represented as an evil tool from God, it may just be a test or challenge from God.  If a person can overcome that challenge then the person will grow from it. 

French Revolution

As nicely phrased from the textbook, "The Revolution in France overthrew the hierarchy, the aristocracy, and the monarchy, and the whole of that peculiarly insolent and oppressive system on which they were based" (p. 36).  This was a time for the low and middle class people to overthrow the corrupted monarchy and higher class.  During this time, there were several writers that came out and expressed their views about the revolution.  Among those were Helen Williams, Edward Burke, Mary Wollstonecraft, and Thomas Paine.  Williams, Wollstonecraft, and Paine were supporters of the revolution but they were clear that it was not targeted mainly towards the monarchy.  Rather, it was streamed around political principles such as liberty and equality.  Thomas Paine wrote that "The Monarch and the Monarchy were distinct and separate things; and it was against the established despotism of the latter, and not against the person or the principles of the former, that the revolution commenced, and the Revolution has been carried" (p.646).  Paine is explaining that the important matter is not the Monarchy family but rather the principles of the human rights of the people.Williams reenforces this idea by stating that "the foundation [for the revolution] was laid in wisdom" (p.46).In agreement with Paine and Williams, Wollstonecraft argues that humans are "rational creatures, who are raised above brute creation by their improvable faculties" (p. 58). Wollstonecraft is explaining that humans inherited rights when they were first conceived on earth.  Paine also reiterates this concept when he referenced the book of Genesis to help critique the aristocracy.  
 
In contrary, Burke's was against the revolution and the idea that lower classes were attacking the monarchy.  Burke states that "They have a right to the fruits of their industry; and to the means of making their industry fruitful.  They have a right to the acquisitions of their parents; to the nourishment and improvement of their offspring; to instruction in life and to consolation in death" (p.50).  In other words, Burke believes that the royal family or the financially well-established people should be allowed to be above other people on the social ladder.  In all, "all men have equal rights; but not equal things" (p. 50). I can understand where Burke is coming from in his ideology, but there should definitely be  a political power to balance out society at the time of the French Revolution.  There were many people starving and inflation did not help the matter either.  The monarchy family should not be allowed to sit and ignore the fact that their people were in bad condition.  If I had to pick a side in this argument, I would have to favor Williams, Wollstonecraft, and Paine's views.  Equality and liberty were the main arguments for the revolution. 

Introduction

Hello all!  My name is Marie Pham and I am a biology student at Mercer University.  I am taking this English class because it will fulfill the upper level English class that I need for general education requirements.  I'm excited about this class, because it will be a broad view the literature during the Romantic period.  However, literature is one of my weakest subjects because I am not such a great writer.  I'm anxious about the amount of papers I may have to write for this course. Other then that, I'm excited about the readings we will complete this semester.