In addressing the issues faced by women in the poem ‘The Ruined Maid’‚ I must consider the conditions of women in Victorian society and more specifically‚ how the writer has represented them. The presentation of Hardy’s female characters‚ especially the fallen women‚ is rather sympathetic. Critic Geoffrey Harvey argues that Hardy’s ‘intelligent and sympathetic portrayal of women is informed by his perception of the inextricable entanglement of gender and class issues’‚ which means that he observes
Premium Woman Victorian era Black-and-white films
The Ruined Maid The “Ruined Maid” was written by Thomas Hardy in 1866. This poem has six stanzas‚ which consists of four quatrains each. In the beginning of each stanza the farm girl speaks‚ and ‘Melia‚ the “ruined girl” speaks just for the last line; however for the last stanza ‘Melia begins to respond to the farm girl from the second to last line. This paper will break down each stanza of the “Ruined Maid” for readers unfamiliar with this poem. Further‚ this summary will give information on the
Free Stanza Poetry Rhyme
pure‚ innocent‚ and clean‚ and anyone who didn’t fit that mold was considered damaged goods. A woman who lost her virginity outside of marriage (no matter the circumstances) was damaged and Hardy’s “The Ruined Maid‚" mocks society’s idea that a woman who lost her virginity before marriage is "ruined". This story is comprised of a discussion between a farm girl turned prostitute named Melia‚ and an unnamed friend from the farmyard. The two girls run into each other in town‚ and the farm girl is stunned
Premium Gender Woman Wife
The Ruined Maid Summary: In this poem the speaker recgonizes an olf frind named Melia who is now a wealthy woman and has turned very beautiful. However‚ Melia declares that she is ruined now‚ but the speaker still has an ultimate desire to be just like Melia. The speaker then talks about if this is ruined then I wish to be a ruined woman. Melia then proclaims how the speaker does not have what it takes to be ruined. Speaker: The speaker of the poem is an old maid who is in awe over Melia. Main
Premium Poetry Rhyme Rhyme scheme
“The Ruined Maid” a poem by Thomas Hardy‚ one may first portray it to be about two women who are contrasting and discussing Melia’s past and now ruined life. In the poem Thomas hardy examines the life of two women‚ one poor and one rich‚ debating which women’s life is harder. In the poem Hardy exemplifies melodramatic dialogue between two women revealing the insecurities and ethics of women in the Victorian Era. Moreover the poem satirizes how a prostitute‚ a woman who may have a ruined life but
Premium English-language films Woman Debut albums
“The Ruined Maid” is a complex poem and can be interpreted in an array of ways. Written by Thomas Hardy in the late 1800’s‚ the poem displays both a conversation and fashion statements or expectations of the time. “The Ruined Maid” can be broken down into two theories: the woman works as a prostitute‚ or the woman was sold to a rich man. The first theory to explain the wonder that is “The Ruined Maid” is that the Ruined Woman was a prostitute. This would explain the influx of money the Ruined Woman
Premium Woman Prostitution Gender
The Ruined Maid Denying the harsh moral codes set upon you can at times improve your material circumstances; however it can reduce you to a situation lower than poverty. Hardy’s dramatic dialogue “The Ruined Maid” attempts to portray the injustices and ironies of Victorian morality. Hardy is able to achieve this through his elaborate control over language. The class distinctions and moral codes placed upon women in the Victorian era have a large degree of irony. In the first stanza Hardy introduces
Premium
Thomas Hardy’s life can be divided into three phases. The first phase (1840-1870) embraces childhood‚ adolescence‚ apprenticeship‚ first marriage‚ early poems and his first unpublished novel. The second phase (1871-1897) is marked by intensive writing‚ which resulted in the publication of 14 novels and a number of short stories. In the third phase (1898-1928)‚ the period of the writer’s rising fame‚ he abandoned writing novels and returned to poetry. Thomas Hardy was an English poet and novelist
Free Poetry Love
Thomas Hardy Thomas Hardy‚ written by Trevor Johnson‚ is the detailed journey through the life of one of England’s greatest writers. This biography describes some of the major details of his life such as his family‚ his education‚ and his major works. 	Thomas Hardy was born in 1840 at the Village of Upper Bochampton. He was the child of a country stonemason. Hardy was the third Thomas of his family. His mother’s maiden name was Jemima Hand and she and her husband led Hardy to have an
Premium Thomas Hardy Poetry
Thomas Hardy‚ OM (2 June 1840 – 11 January 1928) was an English novelist and poet. A Victorian realist‚ in the tradition of George Eliot‚ he was also influenced both in his novels and poetry by Romanticism‚ especially by William Wordsworth.[1] Charles Dickens is another important influence on Thomas Hardy.[2] Like Dickens‚ he was also highly critical of much in Victorian society‚ though Hardy focused more on a declining rural society. While Hardy wrote poetry throughout his life‚ and regarded himself
Premium Thomas Hardy