“Now think, ye farmers all, I pray
Of Goody Blake and Harry Gill (Wordsworth 63).”
The speaker closes with the above passage which I find to be a warning. A warning to all farmers not to forget the lesson Harry Gill learned. I believe Harry Gill made the mistake of lacking compassion for the suffering, poor and old. Harry Gill was a young, stout farmer versus Goody Blake who was old, thin, hardworking yet poor, and very cold. Harry Gill had no problem jumping out at, grabbing, and shaking this old, poor, suffering woman. The narrator made it clear that she was terribly poor and so cold thus one would think she is stealing his sticks, only for that reason. Harry Gill had no compassion for her situation. Goody Blake upon praying for him to never be warm again, in a sense, cursed him or God cursed him as he was cold from that point forward. Harry Gill was forced to be cold and suffer just the way that Goody Blake had. I think the warning is directed at all farmers because someone who is suffering and poor or possibly poor and old may attempt to steal food or wood from a farmer who has larger quantities of such. Should the scenario arise, farmers put yourselves in the next mans shoes or suffer his suffering too.
Of Goody Blake and Harry Gill (Wordsworth 63).”
The speaker closes with the above passage which I find to be a warning. A warning to all farmers not to forget the lesson Harry Gill learned. I believe Harry Gill made the mistake of lacking compassion for the suffering, poor and old. Harry Gill was a young, stout farmer versus Goody Blake who was old, thin, hardworking yet poor, and very cold. Harry Gill had no problem jumping out at, grabbing, and shaking this old, poor, suffering woman. The narrator made it clear that she was terribly poor and so cold thus one would think she is stealing his sticks, only for that reason. Harry Gill had no compassion for her situation. Goody Blake upon praying for him to never be warm again, in a sense, cursed him or God cursed him as he was cold from that point forward. Harry Gill was forced to be cold and suffer just the way that Goody Blake had. I think the warning is directed at all farmers because someone who is suffering and poor or possibly poor and old may attempt to steal food or wood from a farmer who has larger quantities of such. Should the scenario arise, farmers put yourselves in the next mans shoes or suffer his suffering too.
Lena -
ReplyDeleteYou provide a reasonable explication of the poem's message. I would ask if you think that message is really directed at farmers in particular. Perhaps the real issue is a more general lack of compassion from the privileged and powerful for those who are seemingly weak and lacking in resources.