Research Proposal

The poem “The Song of the Shirt” was composed by Thomas Hood in 1843 as a tribute to Mrs. Biddell, a seamstress and widow who lived in extreme poverty. She paid a deposit to her employer for the supplies she used to sew shirts and pants. She incurred debt she was unable to pay back by mortgaging her own clothing in order to provide for her child, her destiny is uncertain, however she was eventually compelled to live in a workhouse. The terrible circumstances endured by the working poor in England, who toiled inhumanely seven days a week with no chance of relief, were brought to light by Mrs. Biddell’s account (Dylan, 2012). Punch, a British weekly magazine, published the poem anonymously for the first time in its Christmas edition. In addition to Mrs. Biddell’s predicament, the poem gained notoriety for the often subpar working conditions of English laborers. Although Thomas Hood was not well-known for choosing any kind of social subject, his poetry “The Song of the Shirt” managed to become well-known.

In order to prevent instances of forced labor and bonded labor, it led to the country’s labor regulations being more stringent (Thomas Hood’s poem about working conditions, ‘The Song of the Shirt’, 2015).The status of a widow and her predicament of suffering is the main topic of this poetry. Thomas Hood has written a clear and concise account of her life of drudgery and a story of sweated labor (Buchanan, 2013). Poverty and a miserable condition of affairs have made it necessary to express concerns about many working women. Additionally, the poem’s repeated use of the phrase “Work, work, work” makes obvious the tyranny they endure because of women’s cultural and societal circumstances.

An overworked woman with a bad appearance is also heavily emphasized in the poem’s rhythmic couplet. She is unable to make enough money to support her child’s food even if she is working a lot. Due to a culture of injustice and an inefficient economic situation, women experience inhumane and mechanical stress that mostly focuses on repression, as the poem illustrates (The Song of the Shirt Satireor Serious?, 2016).

Aim of the research

Understanding how Thomas Hood’s poem “Song of the Shirt” relates to culture and feminism is the goal of the current study.

Objectives of the research

Based on the above aim, following objectives can be framed:

  • To examine the poem “Song of the Shirt” by Thomas Hood’s main idea
  • To evaluate how Thomas Hood’s poetry relates to culture
  • To investigate how Thomas Hood’s poetry relates to feminism
  • To comprehend how Marxist theory is applied to the poem “Song of the Shirt”

Rationale of study

Having sufficient relevance to a research topic selected by the researcher is crucial. It aids in comprehending the need to expand one’s subject-matter knowledge base. The current study will contribute to the development of a sufficient understanding of the working circumstances in England. Another element that will be thoroughly discussed in the current research report is the significance of granting women equal rights without discriminating on the basis of sex. Therefore, it can be said that the current study is crucial to comprehending how culture and feminism relate to Thomas Hood’s poetry “Song of the Shirt.”

Analytical Perspective

Theme 1: Cultural Context and Interpretation of Hood’s Poem

Cohan and Hark (2012) claim that the poem examines the unfair treatment of workers by unscrupulous companies. The sculpture is designed to highlight overworked women who must sew men’s shirts and pants to make ends meet. Her situation is made much more challenging by the fact that, in addition to working, she must care for her child as a widow. Thomas Hood has also used excellent word choice to describe her lifeless and colorless appearance. The ineffectual culture that has been prevalent in the nation for workers who are compelled to work seven days a week has been well expressed in the poem. In contrast, Geist, Geist, and Kuznik (2012) argue that the oppression of laborers as a result of sweaty trades tells a story of the suffering of the nation’s culture. The poem’s same edition was then utilized to amend labor laws in a way that would significantly improve the lot of workers who are treated like slaves.

Theme 2: Feminist Readings of Thomas Hood’s Poem

 According to Hughes (2014), there is a strong connection between Thomas Hood’s poetry and feminism, as evidenced by the different expressions the poet uses to describe Mrs. Biddell’s situation. Because the poem’s main theme is the suffering of a woman who must labor nonstop to support herself and her child. The text describes the complete weariness that a widow experiences as a result of living in poverty. She works tirelessly, but she never receives a fair compensation, which emphasizes the wage discrimination she probably faces at work. Her frequent cry, “Stitch! Stitch! Stitch!” highlights the disparity between the amount of work she does and the inadequate pay she receives, revealing her anguish.

On the other hand, according to Liu et al. (2012), problems with free trade and the economy draw attention to the conflict in the labor market. The poem’s disruptive portrayal of women suggests that women were once viewed as a subordinate social class, which led to the need for effective upliftment tactics. The work of women in London throughout the 19th century raises issues about their society.

 Theme 3: A Marxist Interpretation of The Song of the Shirt

 Mariani (2016) claims that the poem “The Song of the Shirt” cleverly and imaginatively captures the idea of women and their suffering as a result of the inequalities in England’s surroundings. In the poem “The Song of the Shirt,” the poet shares a story and a condition that can be identified as directly related to Marxist ideology. The idea of class conflict is reflected in Marxist theory. In order to comprehend the nation’s progress, it is crucial. By displacing capitalism, the theory tends to start the adoption of communism. It will assist in making sure that everyone in the community may access resources according to their needs and capabilities.

On the other hand, according to Dunn (2015), Karl Marx’s theory can be applied to poetry in an effective manner since inequality and differentiation will be less prevalent in society and women will not face gender-based discrimination. Marxist theory can be applied to the poetry “The Song of the Shirt” in a very good way because England’s communist approach can aid in bringing about a revolution in the conditions and status of the nation’s working class members.

References

  • Buchanan, J. (2013). Translating Thailand’s Protests: An Analysis of Red Shirt Rhetoric. Austrian Journal of South-East Asian Studies,6(1), 60.
  • Cohan, S., & Hark, I. R. (2012). ‘FEMINIZING’THE SONG-AND-DANCE MAN: Fred Astaire and the spectacle of masculinity in the Hollywood musical. In Screening the Male (pp. 56-79). Routledge.
  • Dunn, G. (2015).The fellowship of song: Popular singing traditions in East Suffolk. Routledge.
  • Dylan, B. (2012).Forever Young: with audio recording. Simon and Schuster.
  • Geist, K., Geist, E. A., & Kuznik, K. (2012). The patterns of music: Young children learning mathematics through beat, rhythm, and melody.YC Young Children,67(1), 74.
  • Hughes, L. K. (2014). SIDEWAYS! Navigating the Material (ity) of Print Culture. Victorian Periodicals Review,47(1), 1-30.
  • Liu, S. & et.al. (2012, October). Hi, magic closet, tell me what to wear! In Proceedings of the 20th ACM international conference on Multimedia (pp. 619-628). ACM.
  • Mariani, P. (2016).Dream Song: The Life of John Berryman. Trinity University Press.