'To An Unborn Pauper Child' by Thomas Hardy

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Breathe not, hid Heart: cease silently,
And though thy birth-hour beckons thee,
Sleep the long sleep:
The Doomsters heap
Travails and teens around us here,
And Time-Wraiths turn our songsingings to fear.

Hark, how the peoples surge and sigh,
And laughters fail, and greetings die;
Hopes dwindle; yea,
Faiths waste away,
Affections and enthusiasms numb:
Thou canst not mend these things if thou dost come.

Had I the ear of wombed souls
Ere their terrestrial chart unrolls,
And thou wert free
To cease, or be,
Then would I tell thee all I know,
And put it to thee: Wilt thou take Life so?

Vain vow! No hint of mine may hence
To theeward fly: to thy locked sense
Explain none can
Life's pending plan:
Thou wilt thy ignorant entry make
Though skies spout fire and blood and nations quake.

Fain would I, dear, find some shut plot
Of earth's wide wold for thee, where not
One tear, one qualm,
Should break the calm.
But I am weak as thou and bare;
No man can change the common lot to rare.

Must come and bide. And such are we --
Unreasoning, sanguine, visionary --
That I can hope
Health, love, friends, scope
In full for thee; can dream thou'lt find
Joys seldom yet attained by humankind!

Editor 1 Interpretation

Analysis of "To An Unborn Pauper Child" by Thomas Hardy

Thomas Hardy, one of the greatest poets of the 19th century, is known for his profound and moving poetry that captures the essence of human emotions and experiences. "To An Unborn Pauper Child" is one of his most poignant and thought-provoking poems, which reflects the harsh realities of life in Victorian England.

Context

The poem was written in 1901, during a time when poverty and social inequality were rampant in England. The poor were often left to suffer in silence, with little or no support from the wealthy and privileged classes. The poem is a reflection of Hardy's concern for the plight of the poor, and his desire to bring attention to their suffering.

Interpretation

At the heart of the poem is the central theme of hopelessness and despair. The unborn child, who is destined to be born into poverty and hardship, is a symbol of the struggle faced by the poor in Victorian England. The poem speaks directly to the child, as if it were already born, and Hardy laments the fact that it will never experience the joys of childhood and the innocence of youth.

The opening lines of the poem set the tone for what is to come:

"Little unborn one, you are as phantom to me,

But, clinging to life, I picture you free
From the fetters and stigmas that bind and control
The lives of the hapless who crawl as they stroll."

Here, Hardy addresses the unborn child, acknowledging that it is not yet a reality. However, he cannot help but imagine what its life will be like, and he hopes that it will be free from the constraints that bind and control the lives of the poor.

Hardy then goes on to describe the bleak reality of life for the poor:

"May the world be kinder to you than it seems
To have been to some that have tasted its dreams;
May the passions and sorrows that youth knows so well
Be but transient visitors, and leave no fell
Traditions of grief to embitter your prime,
And may your occasional joys be in time
As peaceful as is the sunshine
That gilds your sweet resting-place under the thyme."

Here, Hardy expresses his wish that the child will not have to endure the hardships that so many other poor children face. He hopes that the world will be kinder to it than it has been to others, and that the child will not be burdened with the same sorrows and grief that so many others have experienced. He wishes for the child to have occasional moments of joy, and for those moments to be as peaceful as the sunshine that will warm its resting place.

Throughout the poem, Hardy's tone is one of sadness and despair. He cannot help but feel that the child's future is bleak, and that it will be born into a world that is cruel and unforgiving. He laments the fact that the child will never know the joys of childhood, and that it will be forced to grow up too quickly, in a world that is harsh and unrelenting.

Literary Devices

Hardy's use of language in the poem is both beautiful and powerful. He uses a range of literary devices to convey his message, including:

• imagery: Hardy uses vivid imagery to create a picture of the world that the child will be born into. He describes the fetters and stigmas that bind and control the lives of the poor, and the occasional moments of joy that they experience.

• metaphor: The unborn child is used as a metaphor for the plight of the poor in Victorian England. Hardy uses the child to represent the struggle that they face, and the hopelessness that they feel.

• repetition: Hardy uses repetition to emphasise his message. He repeats the phrase "little unborn one" throughout the poem, highlighting the child's non-existence and yet the importance of the child's future.

• alliteration: Hardy uses alliteration to create a musical quality to the poem. For example, in the first stanza, he uses the phrase "fetters and stigmas" to create a rhythmic pattern.

Conclusion

"To An Unborn Pauper Child" is a powerful and moving poem that speaks to the heart of the human experience. It is a poignant reminder of the struggles that the poor faced in Victorian England, and the hopelessness and despair that they felt. Hardy's use of language is both beautiful and powerful, and he effectively conveys his message through the use of vivid imagery, metaphor, repetition, and alliteration.

As I read this poem, I cannot help but feel a sense of sadness and despair. It reminds me of the struggles that the poor still face today, and the importance of working towards a world where everyone has equal opportunities and access to basic necessities. It is a reminder that we must never forget those who are less fortunate than ourselves, and that we must do everything in our power to help them.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

To An Unborn Pauper Child: A Poem of Hope and Despair

Thomas Hardy, one of the greatest poets of the Victorian era, wrote a poem that captures the essence of the struggles of the poor in the 19th century. "To An Unborn Pauper Child" is a powerful and poignant work that reflects the harsh realities of poverty and the hopelessness that often accompanies it. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of the poem to gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and significance.

The poem is addressed to an unborn child who is destined to be born into poverty. The speaker, presumably Hardy himself, expresses his sympathy for the child's plight and his despair at the unfairness of the world. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of the child's future.

The first stanza sets the scene and establishes the tone of the poem. The speaker describes the child's future as one of "cold and hunger" and "pain and woe." He laments the fact that the child will never know the joys of childhood and will be forced to grow up too quickly. The language used in this stanza is stark and uncompromising, reflecting the harshness of the child's future.

The second stanza is more hopeful in tone. The speaker acknowledges that the child will face many challenges in life, but he also suggests that there is hope for a better future. He encourages the child to be strong and to persevere in the face of adversity. The language used in this stanza is more uplifting, with words like "courage" and "hope" suggesting that there is a way out of poverty.

The third and final stanza is the most powerful of the three. The speaker addresses the child directly, telling him that he is not alone in his struggles. He reminds the child that there are others who have faced similar challenges and have overcome them. He encourages the child to look to these people for inspiration and to never give up hope. The language used in this stanza is both comforting and inspiring, with words like "love" and "courage" suggesting that there is a way to rise above poverty and achieve a better life.

The themes of the poem are clear and powerful. The most obvious theme is that of poverty and its effects on the human spirit. The speaker portrays poverty as a soul-crushing experience that robs people of their dignity and hope. He suggests that poverty is not just a lack of material possessions, but a lack of opportunity and a lack of hope for the future.

Another theme of the poem is that of the human spirit and its ability to overcome adversity. The speaker suggests that even in the face of extreme hardship, there is always hope for a better future. He encourages the child to be strong and to never give up hope, even when things seem impossible.

The structure of the poem is also significant. The use of three stanzas allows the speaker to explore different aspects of the child's future and to build a sense of tension and resolution. The first stanza sets the scene and establishes the tone of the poem, while the second stanza offers a glimmer of hope. The third stanza brings the poem to a powerful and uplifting conclusion, leaving the reader with a sense of hope and inspiration.

The language used in the poem is simple and direct, but also powerful and evocative. The use of words like "cold," "hunger," and "pain" creates a sense of despair and hopelessness, while words like "courage," "hope," and "love" suggest that there is a way out of poverty. The use of repetition, particularly in the third stanza, reinforces the message of hope and encourages the reader to believe in the power of the human spirit.

In conclusion, "To An Unborn Pauper Child" is a powerful and poignant work that captures the essence of the struggles of the poor in the 19th century. The poem is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and a reminder that even in the face of extreme hardship, there is always hope for a better future. The themes, structure, and language of the poem all work together to create a powerful and uplifting message that is as relevant today as it was when the poem was first written.

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