Reader Response The Cry Of The Children
Diamond Fuller
Roberts
LAL 121
5 May 2015
The Prophet’s Hair ‘The Prophet’s Hair’ by Salman Rushdie is based on a story of religious practice and worship as a number of people cross paths with a sacred relic that has been stolen from their mosque. early Victorian period has been named as the “Time of Troubles” because of the severe social conflicts and economic downfall linked with England’s exploring into the Industrial Revolution. Conditions in the new industrial and coal-mining areas were harsh. One of England’s most famous poet Elizabeth Barrett’s poem “The Cry of the Children” (1843) convey her thoughts to an official report on child labor that describes children straining their bodies by working sixteen hours a day in horrible conditions. Victorian writers were more worried about social difficulties, unlike Romantics writers. In the opening lines of the first stanza, Browning asks “Do ye hear the children weeping, O my brother / Ere the sparrow comes with years?” (1-2). I believe that Browning is asking this question to the male owners of the factories that are careless about the conditions of the factories. By using the word ‘brother’ I assume that Browning is questioning why the male dominated society does not consider the torturous working environments that women and children are in and the harmful effects on them. Browning also implies that the children look towards their mother for comfort and help but the mother is helpless because it’s a male dominated culture by writing, “They are leaning their young heads against their mothers, / And that cannot stop their tears” (3-4). Being a woman and caring for women rights this is related to her personal beliefs. During the rest of the first stanza, Browning illustrates a joyful image of young, innocent children playing but in reality the cruel circumstances that the children are in only makes them weep. Browning emphasizes on ‘young’ by being repetitive to remind the reader of how the children have lost
Roberts
LAL 121
5 May 2015
The Prophet’s Hair ‘The Prophet’s Hair’ by Salman Rushdie is based on a story of religious practice and worship as a number of people cross paths with a sacred relic that has been stolen from their mosque. early Victorian period has been named as the “Time of Troubles” because of the severe social conflicts and economic downfall linked with England’s exploring into the Industrial Revolution. Conditions in the new industrial and coal-mining areas were harsh. One of England’s most famous poet Elizabeth Barrett’s poem “The Cry of the Children” (1843) convey her thoughts to an official report on child labor that describes children straining their bodies by working sixteen hours a day in horrible conditions. Victorian writers were more worried about social difficulties, unlike Romantics writers. In the opening lines of the first stanza, Browning asks “Do ye hear the children weeping, O my brother / Ere the sparrow comes with years?” (1-2). I believe that Browning is asking this question to the male owners of the factories that are careless about the conditions of the factories. By using the word ‘brother’ I assume that Browning is questioning why the male dominated society does not consider the torturous working environments that women and children are in and the harmful effects on them. Browning also implies that the children look towards their mother for comfort and help but the mother is helpless because it’s a male dominated culture by writing, “They are leaning their young heads against their mothers, / And that cannot stop their tears” (3-4). Being a woman and caring for women rights this is related to her personal beliefs. During the rest of the first stanza, Browning illustrates a joyful image of young, innocent children playing but in reality the cruel circumstances that the children are in only makes them weep. Browning emphasizes on ‘young’ by being repetitive to remind the reader of how the children have lost