Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Felicia Hemans - Women and Fame

Women and Fame were two words not usually put together in one sentence during the Romantic Era. Heman's unique situation as an abandonded wife left her able to make a living from her writing. She was able to live with her mother in Wales to study and write full time. She was no longer trapped in the typical female role. Because she moved home with her mother, Felecia Hemans did not have a stigma surrounding her from society because she chose her independence over getting remarried. In her poem Women and Fame she personifies fame and asks her words to be blessed.

When Hemans speaks of fame she speaks directly to it. “Thou hast green laurel-leaves that twine / in to so proud a wreath;/ for that resplendent gift of thine,” (Line 7 – 9). She is speaking to fame giving him praise for how powerful he is. “Thou hast a voice, whose thrilling tone / Can bid each life-pulse beat,” (Line 13 & 14). Fame is powerful enough to control a person’s heartbeat. She pleads with fame “But mine, let mine – a woman’s breast, / By words of home-born love be bless’d.” (Line17 & 18). It is as if fame laughed in her face because she laments about how it mocks her. “A hollow sound is in thy song, / A mockery in thine eye, / To the sick heart that doth but long for aid, for sympathy;” (Line 19 – 22). Fame eludes Hemans at the end of the poem.

Women did not become famous or obtain fame easily during the Romantic era. Women have only achieved fame comparative to men, in the late 20th century. There were women here and there who obtained fame, but not like today. There are famous women of all walks of life who make the same if not more than men. Politicians like Hillary Clinton, writers like Judy Blume, singers like Tina Turner, all achieved fame in their own right. Without the influence of strong, opinionated, and brave women like Felicia Hemans, women’s rights would not have progressed to this point. Other women paved the way for me to feel proud to leave the home and pursue a college degree. When I graduate I will make more money than my husband. He’s ok with that. Many generations of women had to push the envelope a little farther in order for women like me to have freedom and the choices we have today.

2 comments:

  1. Joan,

    Very good post, with insightful observations on and astute engagement with Hemans's poem, life and message. You do a good job of bringing together and showing connections between her life and writings, and this text and your life.

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  2. I agree with Dr. Glance, you do a good job using your own life to explain this poem and now I understand it much more. I really enjoyed this poem because it went along with John Mill's poem, The Subjection of Women. Talking about how women have the freedom of making their own decisions.

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