The Roaring Personification

Browning has incorporated a variety of techniques to expose the horrors of slavery. The influence of her Romantic predecessors Byron and Wordsworth have helped shape her poetry to inspire social and political judgments, which is perhaps why she is able to effectively discuss slavery and sexual prudery in her poetry. The versification of her poem has provided her with a platform in which she can explore the horrors endured by slaves. The personal perspective is considerably convincing for all readers, thus rendering her techniques effective. On the contrary, the social context of Browning’s era has limited the extent of effectiveness as the role of the Church and its doctrine has suggests that the mercy of God will not submit slaves to damnation;

A prime example of is the ‘oceans roar’ (line 18) and the ‘roar of the hurricanes’ (line 75). Roaring is used for multiple reasons, including territorial proclamation, communication with other animals and an expression of anger. In the context of poem, the roar of the water could signify the great force of oppression that white people imposed on slaves. If we accept this interpretation, it is ironic that the speaker looks to the sea as a means of freedom and escape. However, this perspective is not uncommon as during the Victorian era, nature was a ‘respiratory feeling’ and Victorians ‘were all too eager to retrain’ it. This personification suggests that freedom is impossible and that oppression is inevitable, and nature is a harsh, constant reminder of this. The naivety of the speaker in trusting there is hope in the sky and sea is the true horror of slavery. I perceive that this is an effective tool that Browning has used as the image of entrapment is truly unnerving for all

Within Tess of the d'Urbervilles, Hardy addresses societal views regarding female purity and rape. The societal assessment of women losing their virginity outside of marriage as unjustifiable, regardless of the circumstances, would be distorted to a modern reader. Within the poem, the slave is raped and recalls ‘it was too merciful/ to let me weep pure tears and die’ (line 105). The use of pure is suggestive she has been robbed of her virginity. To reach a point where grief, tears and death are an act of mercy implies life has been horrific. Considering the Victorian morals at the time, perhaps the rape was not as horrific as it is to a contemporary