How the youthful Harlots curse
Ironic usage of the word "harlot" and "youtful." Is this perhaps an echo to how young women escaping their fates of marriage could only end up in ruin?
9 Matching Annotations
- Mar 2023
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Chimney-sweepers
The Chimney-sweepers were often little boys during this era and were often orphaned or sold by their parents for their life-dangering labor and during this time, the height of the industrialization era only heightened the exploitation for children.
Source: https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/History-Boy-Chimney-Sweep/
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And I made a rural pen
"Rural pen" used as a tool to write happy songs because in the rural there is the appreciation of the simplicity of cloud watching and songs made by pipes listening.
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On a cloud I saw a child. And he laughing said to me
The child is imagined hence representing the innocence of experience - cloud watching is also very child-like.
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O Earth O Earth return!
Themes are the same as William Wordsworth's focus in returning to the tradition
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And smil'd among the winter's snow, They clothed me in the clothes of death, And taught me to sing the notes of woe.
Parents providing to their children and thinking it is the height of parental love since the 1800s.
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They are both gone up to the church to pray
reminds me of Filipino values
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And the Angel told Tom, if he'd be a good boy, He'd have God for his father & never want joy
Almost a mockery to how church's holier than thou attitude only ever benefits the rich and keeps the working class, working. Here, religion was used as an excuse to exploit Tom.
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Were all of them locked up in coffins of black
This gave me goosebumps as it is the reality of these chimney boys, often they die young and unable to escape this environment.
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