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English Assignment- The Song of the Shirt

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Added on  2020-06-06

English Assignment- The Song of the Shirt

   Added on 2020-06-06

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English Assignment- The Song of the Shirt_1
Table of ContentsRESEARCH PROPOSAL...............................................................................................................1Background of the study..............................................................................................................1Aim of the research......................................................................................................................2Objectives of the research............................................................................................................2Rationale of study........................................................................................................................2CRITICAL APPROACH.................................................................................................................2REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4
English Assignment- The Song of the Shirt_2
RESEARCH PROPOSALBackground of the studyThe poem “The Song of the Shirt” was written by Thomas Hood in 1843, in honour of Mrs.Biddell, a widower and seamstress, living in wretched conditions. She was involved in sewingshirts and trousers with the help of material being given by her employer. She was forced todeposit£2 in order to get those clothes. In order to fulfil the desperate requirement of feedingchild, she mortgaged her clothes. It left her in debt which she could not pay. Inability ofrepayment made her to forcefully go in a workhouse and her ultimate fate is left unknown. Mrs.Biddell’s story acted as a catalyst for those who were against wretched conditions of workingpoor of England. These are the people who are forced to spend seven days a week, labouring ininhumane conditions. It has become difficult to survive and having no prospects of relief (Dylan,2012). The poem was first published anonymously in Christmas edition of a British weeklymagazine, Punch. The poem not only became famous due to the condition of Mrs. Biddell, butbecause of overall poor conditions of workers in England, in general. Though, Thomas Hood,was not famous for opting up any type of sociological topic, his poem “The Song of the Shirt”was able to gain popularity. It resulted in push of stricter labour laws in the country so as toavoid episode of forceful and bonded labour (Thomas Hood's poem about working conditions,'The Song of the Shirt'. 2015). The central theme of this poem is to discuss the condition of a widow and her situation ofmisery. Her life of drudgery and a tale of sweated labour has been discussed by Thomas Hood ina well-defined manner (Buchanan, 2013). The state of poverty and pitiful situation has generatedthe requirement of articulating concerns about a lot of working women. Moreover, oppressionfaced by them due to cultural and social condition of women has been clearly stated hardships oflife with repetition of words, “Work, work, work”, in the poem. Rhythmic couplet of the poem also has a strong emphasis on overworked lady with poorphysical appearance. Despite of indulging so much in work, she is not being able to earnadequate wages that can help in feeding her child. Inhumane and mechanical stress faced by thatwomen has primary focus on suppression, due to culture of inequality and ineffective economiccondition that has been shown in the poem in context to the woman (TheSong of the ShirtSatireor Serious?, 2016). 1
English Assignment- The Song of the Shirt_3

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