“The artist speaks to our capacity for delight and wonder, to the sense of
mystery surrounding our lives, to our sense of pity and beauty, and pain.”
–Joseph Conrad
There truly is mystery and beauty everywhere in our ordinary lives, and art serves to remind us of that so that we don't forget and miss the wonderful things that happen everyday. Some of the best things that happen in our lives aren't big moments and wouldn't necessarily be considered great on someone else's standard when they think about it, but an artist can help to show an audience why the little things are sometimes the most important.
"Degas's Laundresses" by Eavan Boland a poem describing a generic chore in women's everyday lives, laundry and specifically bed sheets. There is importance in every small thing that people do, and Boland shared through this poem the beauty in an underappreciated task performed usually by women. "[Boland] is a feminist and a poet but,... not a feminist poet." This poem still took a partially feminist stance in exemplifying the subtle glamor in household tasks completed everyday but taken for granted in light of the blatant glamor of the life of the man of the household. This poem displays the beauty in a small task that only those who typically perform the task would see.
I agree with you saying Boland being partially feminist in this poem despite being "not a feminist poet." However, it feels as though this is the definite undertone rather than just partial to me.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the way you interpreted the quote and the way you applied it to the idea that sometimes the best moments in our lives aren't major events, but rather the little things that sometimes get glossed over. I also enjoyed your analysis of the poem and found it to be very accurate, but I'm forced to agree with Anthony in saying that the feminist aspect was definitely a major theme in the poem. Overall great job!
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