Sunday, March 14, 2010
Sikes' Response to Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "Aurora Leigh": Book One
Well, directly following the section on the placement of women in society was a section on Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Her narrative poem, "Aurora Leigh", I don't care for much. Nothin' ain't interestin 'bout a young girl who thinks shes a poet. I'd rather be reading something like the "Newgate Calendar" any day than this poem. Aurora Leigh don't even know how lucky she is to come to England and be taught by her Aunt the true ways of women. English women are 'models to the universe', as her aunt says, and Aurora should take these lessons a littler more serious. Nothing can come from a woman's poetry, like she says there can at lines 873-889. There can be no truth from it, women's minds ain't made for that. Aurora ought to stop dreaming and start looking for a man to support her, just like I support my Nancy.
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My dear Bill, is it Aurora's fault that she was born into her position? To have an aunt who doesn't believe that women be poets?... She has such a love of writing poetry - perhaps a love greater than I have for you. Is it fair that she isn't able to do that JUST cause she's a woman?
ReplyDeleteWonderful argument, Nancy. Bill, of course women can be poets. I believe women can be whatever they wish, as long as they conduct themselves properly while doing it. Aurora has been properly educated, has many life experiences, and has the desire to be a poet. Bein' a female shouldn't matter none.
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