Theme Of Patriarchy In Gwen Harwood's In The Park

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Women have been fighting for their rights for too long now. Even though this oppression has reduced over time, there is still a substantial number of breakthroughs women can achieve. In just two little, fourteen-line poems, one can learn about the patriarchy between men and women Gwen Harwood’s Petrarchan Sonnet, “In the Park,” forewarns the reader about the intense, genuine life of being a divorced, single mother in the 1960s. However, Elizabeth Browning’s Petrarchan Sonnet, “How Do I Love Thee?” displays the blind love that men would lure women into by implying this false act of love to be seen as flawless. By concentrating on Harwood’s sonnet with the support of Browning, readers are able to distinguish a pattern in the absence of a man …show more content…

Therefore, it is important that a child’s parents display true love for their children, so their children, along with future generations continue to grasp the purpose of marriage. However, the children in Harwood’s sonnet are going to face the absence of not only a father but an example of love and marriage. Their mother was the one telling him “the children’s names and birthdays” (Harwood line 10), indicating that the father is not involved in their lives at all. Fortunately, these children witness their mother strive and be successful, for being a single mother is a beautiful and inspiring accomplishment, especially when it comes to showing the strength of a woman. In comparison to the traditional, married woman in Browning’s sonnet, the single mother in Harwood’s sonnet is going to have a positive contribution to equal rights. For example, the woman in Browning’s sonnet claims she will love her husband even until after death, despite if he were to treat her with discrimination (Browning 15). Therefore, it is beneficial for children to witness their parents’ love for one another, witnessing the love a parent can have for their own self is just as powerful. While it is becoming more common for women to gain the courage and support to leave their husbands, possibly leaving the kids with no father, may just be …show more content…

As women’s rights began to finally advance, women are eventually able to leave their husbands a bit easier whether there are kids involved or not, however, still at very high risk. A mother caring and being there for her children is nothing new, for they have always been seen as the caretaker, so it is ironic that Harwood mentions the “small balloon” (Harwood line 9) rising above the father’s head. He does not understand the significance of a mother caring for her children in the financial state. Men “turn from Praise” according to Browning. ( line 8) so they have been unable to give credit to anyone, especially a woman, for being able to do anything strenuous. Therefore, it is absurd that the mother in Harwood’s sonnet would even remain single, for society normalizes the man providing everything when in reality, it is close to