Demonstrate the persistence of Wordsworthian ideal of country folk Essay

Demonstrate the persistence of Wordsworthian ideal of country mob, childishness and native education in the two text editions that you capture chosen.Critical examine by Rachel Gowland.Wordsworth, as a poet of the ro objet darttic era, had s for everal pennings, which contri providede to this title. This demonstrate will be looking at these themes and disc everywhereing whether they have any relevancy in the texts studied. These are, the Secret tend and Goodnight Mr tur secernate cock.The preference for rural intent and its populate was at the height of fashion at the clock time of Wordsworth. Social reformers such(prenominal) as Rousseau talked ab turn expose the noble savage and the rustic idyll was an authentic theme for artistes and poets alike. While the social revolutions may have changed by the time the texts were written, the ideals are still continued to some degree.Wordsworth had manhoody sympathies with the victims and vagrants that wande ruby in the cit ies and the countryside. many another(prenominal) of his short poems were portraits of aboveboard rural people, int abateed to illustrate the nature of these folk and their basic recognition. Poems such as Michael (1880) have the constituents about fused with their inwrought purlieu. In Michael, patience and tenderness are the key features of the anile mans character. thither is strength and a natural affinity to the hills and handle in which he bouncingd and worked. 1The Secret garden is almost a glorification of rustic folk and their simple modal value of living.bloody shame Lennox foremost encounters Martha, who gives her glimpses of a simple life quite alien to her.Theres twelve of us an my stick only gets sixteen shilling a week. I tail assembly tell you my mothers put to it to get porridge for em each(prenominal). They wrinkle about on th moor an play there every last(predicate) day an mother says th air of th moor fattens em. (Page 32) 2Through Martha, she be gins to emerge from her egotistical former self. She starts to infer about others preferably than herself.Thank you. She said it stiffly because she was not used to thanking people or noticing that they did things for her (Page 71) 2Martha come ins a particularly content and dignified individual, who takes p seat in her work and her family. She treats bloody shame as an equal in many ship canal and is amazed by Marys colonial pride. Marthas simply good sense is treated with adore by means ofout the book and her dialogues with Mary often bring about great changes in her untried accuses military strengths.It was not the custom that Mistress Mary should do anything provided stand and allow herself to be dressed like a doll, but before she was ready for breakfast, she began to suspect that her life at Missthlewaite Manor would end by teaching her a number of things quite current to her. (Page 32) 2Marthas is described as an un accomplished Yorkshire rustic who was not trained to be subservient and had no notion that she should be. In this focus she sours an recreate character, who helps Mary to kindle finished her plain sense.Martha was obviously trained tumefy by her mother who also is a rustic woman. She is almost the directive hand in the lynchpinground, helping Mary, and later Colin, to transform. Her wisdom shines by Martha and Dickon and all the principles held in family life.Hers is the good mother, the mother earth in Wordsworths poems. The respect for her and her kind shines through in the text as it does in the poems, through the voice of the narrator. She is again a considered equal in the narrators eyes to all who she comes into contact with. This makes it possible for her to contact Colins father and speak to him about his charges. I sent for you today because Mrs Sowerby said I ought to fascinate you. (Page 112) 2The idea of simple sense and country wisdom is proved right in the text. It is the uneducated, untrained folk in the text who can see through the external ugliness of Mary and Colins characters to the beauty that lies beneath. And it is the country folk who unlock these children from their past to an almost redemption.This solemnisation of rural life and the people can also be seen in Good night Mr turkey cock. The events that occur in results life in the urban center are everywherecome by the calm prevalent life of the country and its folk.The main character in Wills life is Tom who exudes this country wisdom and good sense. Will takes to run acrosst Toms thoughts when persevering with a new task like pecking to ride a bicycle.He could hear his Dads words over and over again in his head. Takes yer time, everythin as its give time. (Page 291) 3Tom guides Will through his life events, helping him to come to foothold with all that life throws at him. This is in marked crease to the ideas of the psychologist, Mr Stelton, whom they both encounter in the hospital when Will is rescued. Toms ideas of ameliorate through fresh air, hard work and simple country life are in conflict with the ideas of analysis and treatment.Even the appearance of Tom as a gruff, solid but warm-hearted individual is different to the definition of Mr Stelton.Tom was well into his sixties, a good robust, stockily built man with a head of thick white hair. (Page 10) 3In contrast toThe man was going bald and the hair that remained was of a thin texture. His fight was as white and shiny as a cloistered nun. He gave Tom a bland smile. (Page 217) 3The psychologists educated ideas appear whacky in response to Toms good sense.As in The Secret Garden the figures of authority and city education are made to look ignorant in response to the wisdom of characters such as Mrs Sowerby and Tom.The characters in the village of Little Weirworld are full of ecstasy and sincerity, with a genuine sense of community that includes everyone in their midst. Their simple pleasures and way of life helps them mainta in a sense of calm dignity and applicative sense, even in time of crisis. When Mrs Hartridge received a telegram, it was with care and business enterprise that the villagers arranged for someone to be there when she received it.This contrasts sharply with the escape of interest shown by the people in the district where Will to begin with came from.She keeps herself to herself. Bit of a madam. Thinks shes a bleedin saint if youll excooth me languid. She does night shifts so I dont never see her. I live next door yer see. Mind you, I dont arf hear some funny noises. Very funny. (Page 203) 3Tom is ridiculed by the city folk for his accent and intention, but they appear very flippant and foolish when the full story is uncovered.Id like to git my manpower on that women, the warden growled furiously. His pride had been shaken badly. It was embarrassing to have them theorise he didnt know his job. (Page 207) 3Again, it is the simple country folk in the text who can see through the ext ernal ugliness and flunk to the beauty that lies beneath. And it is the country folk who unlock Will from his past.Wordsworth and his contemporaries, viewed childhood as a time of great innocence and joy. A time when new experiences are welcomed and emotions and senses are at there most responsiveThere was a time when meadow, grove and streamThe earth and every greenness sight,To me did seemApparelled in celestial light,The glory and freshness of a dream. (Line 1-5) 4They viewed the child as a redeemer of the adult with their innocence and granting immunity of mind and tonicity.In the Secret Garden, the children can be seen to hold the key to all wisdom. Martha plays an important part in helping Mary to grow into a whole human being.He wouldnt like me. verbalise Mary in her stiff, cold little way. No-one does.Marta looked reflective again.How does tha like thyself? (Page 61) 2In the same way Mary then passes on her new wisdom to Colin and they both look to Dickon to expand the ir experience. It is Dickon who becomes the real redeemer. He exudes healthy childhood wholesomeness.A boy was sitting under a tree, with his top against it. He was a funny looking boy about twelve. He looked very clean and his nose turned up and his cheeks were as red as poppies and never had Mistress Mary seen such round and such blue eyes in any boys mettle. (Page 92) 2He makes Colin call back that he can get well and walk. His positivist calm attitude clears the gloom from Colins mind and he begins to believe in himself.When tha boodle bein terror-struck thalt stand on em, Dickon said with renewed cheer. An thalt stop bein afraid in a bit. (Page 206) 2Once Mary and Colin finally demand to become children again they can then redeem Colins father. He begins to wonder whether he can have a relationship with his news but has many doubts. Colin changes this by becoming a affirmatory character that is not afraid of the future or his health any more. In this way he heals himse lf and also his father.It seemed actually like the laughter of young things, the uncontrollable laughter of children who were trying not to be heard. (Page 272) 2AndHe said it all so like a healthy boy-his face flushed, his words tumbling over each other in his eagerness- that Mr fearfuls shook with unbelieving joy. (Page 274) 2The child as a redeemer can also be seen as a theme in Good Night Mr Tom.Will looks at Tom through the eyes of a child and as such does not see the gruff exterior that the villagers have seen for the forty years since his wife died.Will brings memories of his wife flooding back but with them comes healing.Tom stood behind him and stared over his head into the shop. He re penised how Rachel used to spin with delight in there. (Page 57) 3Tom learns how to socialise again through necessity and becomes a member of the village community once more.Mrs Fletcher looked steadily into his eyes. His forehead had lost its old furrowed look. The deep pitted wrinkles had softened outwards. Behind his scowling sort was a kindly old man and if it hadnt been for the arrival of a rather insipid little boy, she office never have known, nor might anyone else for that matter. (Page134) 3He responds emotionally to Will in ways that have been closed off for a long time.He called me Dad, he verbalize croakily into the darkness. He called me Dad. And although he felt overwhelmed with happiness, the tears ran silently down his face. (Page 288) 3In the same way, Will has his own redeemer in the mildew of Zach, who teaches him to like himself and believe in his own abilities. As Martha and Dickon, Zach is a positive thinker who believes anything is possible. Will had lived all his life with criticism and blame, and Zach and Tom gave him back his self-esteem.Willie almost dropped the clod of earth he was holding. No one had ever said they liked him. Hed always accepted that no one did. Even his mum said she only liked him when he was quiet and still. For he r to like him he had to make himself invisible. (Page 77) 3In this way both Mary Lennox and Will are similar, in that they have to learn to love themselves before they can be loved in rejoin or learn to respond to others around them.It seems clear that the theme of natural education is persistent in both texts.In the Secret Garden there is a distinct lack of formal education in all the children encountered. Mary had a series of governesses but learnt by her own volition, because she chose too.Her education almost begins again when she reaches Misstlethwaite Manor. Through Martha and Dickon she learns how to explore, imagine and play. She begins to discover the simple pleasures of play.The skipping rope was a wonderful thing. She counted and skipped, and skipped and counted, until her cheeks were quite red, and she was more interested than she had ever been since she was born. (Page 71) 2At first alone and then with Colin she explores the garden and her rareness and thirst for know ledge begins. The awakening of the garden itself mirrors her awakening. They learn through this almost holistic glide path, that through the garden and nature they become physically, socially and emotionally aware.Again it is Dickon who inspires them with his positiveness and his knowledge. Dickon, has little formal education but has a wealth of knowledge which appears to be much more useful than the facts leant in a classroom. He is a pure Wordsworthian invention.Do you pick up everything birds say? said Mary.I think I do and they think I do, he said. Ive lived on th moor with em so long. Ive watched em break shell an come out an fledge an learn to fly an begin to sing, till I think Im one of em. (Page 95) 2His mind is unfettered and full by a formal education, especially one that almost encourages hands-off learning i.e., the vessels to be filled approach, over active exploration and discovery.Mary and later Colin learn to become independent and active thinkers.Colin saw it al l, ceremonial occasion each change as it took place. Every morning he was brought out and every hour of each day when it didnt rain he spent in the garden. He would lie on the grass reflexion things growing, he said. If you watched long enough you could see the buds unsheathe themselves. (Page221) 2This positive attitude to learning and education can also be seen in Goodnight Mr Tom. Will has a formal education, but has to grow in spirit to progress in the mind. Again its the positiveness of the people and surroundings that help him to a new confidence.Well begin this evening, he said sharply. That do?Wot?Learnin to read and write. Ill teach you to write yer own name for a beginnin. (Page 102) 3His times of growth and change correspond to when he is with nature. He makes friends and begins to learn how to interact whilst picking blackberries. He becomes more relaxed and confident whilst on holiday by the sea.Again there is this almost holistic approach as Will improves physically, mentally and emotionally. He is able to express himself through art and then acting as his confidence grows. Finally through nature and physical expenditure he is able to come to ground with the grief and loss in his life.In both texts the children are changed by the country folk around them and the ideals and life that they uphold. These rustic folk become educators and healers through their wisdom and plain good sense. The children bloom through a newfound confidence and most importantly an acceptance of oneself. Once this happens they can then consciously and unconsciously redeem the adults around them. In these ways the Wordsworthian ideals are prevalent throughout the texts.BibliographyENGLISH ROMANTIC verse linePENGUIN BOOKS1986.FROM BLAKE TO BYRON BORIS FORD PENGUIN BOOKS 1982.THE SECRET GARDEN FRANCES HODGESON BURNETT PENGUIN CLASSICS 1995.GOODNIGHT MR TOM MICHELLE MAGORIAN PUFFIN BOOKS 1981.ROMANTIC CRITICAL ESSAYS DAVID BROMWICH CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY pack together 1987. BEYOND ROMANTICISM ROUTLEDGE 1992.LITERATURE, EDUCATION AND ROMANTICISM ALLAN RICHARDSON CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS 1984.