In the blog, I will summarize Appendix B: Religion and Factory Reform from Elizabeth Barrett Browning (EBB) Selected Poems. I will then analyze The Cry of the Children based on my reading.
Summery:
This compilation of experts from various journals and other writing can be broken into two separate parts. The first involves EBB's use of religion in her poems, as well as the harsh working conditions of the Victorian Era. First, I would like to focus on the region portion. The various authors of the works highly regard EBB's use of religion in her poetry. Samuel B. Holcomb states in his work Death of Mrs. Browning, "We rejoice to be able to assert, most distinctly, that Mrs. Browning, though no sectarian, is eminently a Christian poetess," as well as calling her "the Shakespeare among her sex," (321-322). Holcomb mentions how, although EBB was very aware of the ideas of modern science and had explored the controversies of her time, it is evident through her poetry that she never wavered from her true faith. Throughout many, if not all, or her works, she recognizes, "a Divine Creator of all things, a Being of perfect love and wisdom, who is to each and all of His numberless creatures really and truly a Heavenly Father and person protector," (322). Several other authors discuss EBB's focus on The Virgin Mary. Although many other artists (including poets and authors not only painters and sculptors) attempt to portray Mary's true essence, one author says none are able to do so besides EBB, whose writing is, "the portraiture of Mary's soul, such as in material lineaments no art could express" (324). The remainder of the section on religion discusses EBB's use of poetry to capture the deepest aspects of Mary.
The next section of Appendix B is called Factory Reform however, it is mainly just several account on the harsh working conditions (particularly for children) during the Victorian Era. During that time, child labor was a problem that was running rampant. Children were desired in factories because they had small hands that could easily fit into small areas of machinery. Although it was very dangerous work, many families could not provide for themselves and children were forced to begin working at early ages. Many of the excerpts in this section were first-hand accounts of what the working conditions were like for children. They describe various young people during work hours and what those young people thought of their work. Although many did not blame the people they worked for, they did often wish for a better life. The excerpts described the children of being dirty, malnourished and with hardly any clothing. It also describes a horrific accident that caused the death of one boy and severe injuries to others. As a part of their jobs, children were forced to work with dangerous heavy equipment and accidents happened often. One specific passage talks about 10 year-old Eliza Field, who has been working in one factory for at least a year. She was a religious girl but, "has never heard of Heaven; nor Jesus Christ," (328). Eliza had gone to school when she was very young but was forced to start working before the age of nine.
Analysis:
When I frost saw the title of Appendix B, the two subjects seemed very random and I did not understand why they had not separate "religion" and "factory reform" into different appendices. Soon after starting the section in Appendix B on "factory reform" the reasoning behind the odd pairing clicked and I completely understood. EBB's The Cry of the Children is mixture of a religious piece as well as a call for factory reform. EBB uses incredible imagery to bring to life the suffering of the young working children. In the fourth stanza of the poem, the children admit that they could die before their time and recall one girl, named Alice, who had died young. However, they do not see death as something to be afraid of. In fact, they almost welcome it. Like Alice, if they die there will be no one trying to wake them saying, "Get up…it is day," (152). Death is an escape from their suffering and, "it is good when it happens," (152). The children do not mention any word of heaven or God when they talk about death; however, they realize life will be better for them once they do die. To these children, God does not exist and they are on there own. They have suffered so much throughout their young lives and they say, "We look up for God, but tears have made us blind," (155). They do not know God and if they knew Him once, their faith has left them.
I think EBB made a bold statement with this poem. From reading Appendix B, I have realized that she is gifted in bringing out deep religious messages in her poems. She seems to praise all that is God, including Jesus and Mary. However, with this poem, EBB brings to life the fact that deep, true suffering can break even the strongest faith: the faith of a child. If there is anything I have learned since I started working with children, it's that they have almost unfailing trust. They believe in things adults cannot believe in. A child's faith is the purest and deepest faith. The young people in The Cry of the Children, many of which are no older than 10, have been broken through work and no longer have faith in God. EBB could have easily turned this poem strictly into a religious work by giving the children unfailing faith in their God. It would not have had the same effect though. This poem was meant to be a call for reform. EBB created very real images of the never-ending suffering of children and she really hit that image home when those children are faithless and cynical. Those are qualities only seen in adults and we believe no child should have those qualities. Seeing those suffering children almost standing right in front of us strikes a deep emotion deep inside that sticks with the person who reads the poem. It is that emotion that EBB needed in order to try and make a change.
Work Cited
Stone, Marjorie, and Beverly Taylor. Elizabeth Barrett Browning Selected Poems. Broadview Editions, Print.
