Literary Criticism Research Portfolio: 'Song of the Shirt' Analysis

This document presents a research proposal for a literary criticism analysis of Thomas Hood's poem, 'Song of the Shirt'. The proposal outlines the background of the poem, which discusses the wretched conditions of a widow and seamstress, Mrs. Biddell, and the broader plight of working-class individuals in 19th-century England. The research aims to understand the poem's relationship with culture and feminism, with specific objectives including analyzing the central theme, assessing its cultural connections, exploring its feminist aspects, and examining the applicability of Marxist theory. The rationale emphasizes the importance of understanding worker conditions and promoting equal rights for women. The critical approach explores the poem's reflection of unjust labor practices, the misery of the culture, and the discrimination faced by women. The research references various scholarly sources to support its arguments, providing a comprehensive analysis of the poem's themes and significance.

Literary criticism research
portfolio

Table of Contents
RESEARCH PROPOSAL...............................................................................................................1
Background of the study..............................................................................................................1
Aim of the research......................................................................................................................2
Objectives of the research............................................................................................................2
Rationale of study........................................................................................................................2
CRITICAL APPROACH.................................................................................................................2
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Background of the study
The 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 sewing
shirts and trousers with the help of material being given by her employer. She was forced to
deposit £2 in order to get those clothes. In order to fulfil the desperate requirement of feeding
child, she mortgaged her clothes. It left her in debt which she could not pay. Inability of
repayment 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 working
poor of England. These are the people who are forced to spend seven days a week, labouring in
inhumane 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 weekly
magazine, Punch. The poem not only became famous due to the condition of Mrs. Biddell, but
because 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 to
avoid 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 of
misery. Her life of drudgery and a tale of sweated labour has been discussed by Thomas Hood in
a well-defined manner (Buchanan, 2013). The state of poverty and pitiful situation has generated
the requirement of articulating concerns about a lot of working women. Moreover, oppression
faced by them due to cultural and social condition of women has been clearly stated hardships of
life with repetition of words, “Work, work, work”, in the poem.
Rhythmic couplet of the poem also has a strong emphasis on overworked lady with poor
physical appearance. Despite of indulging so much in work, she is not being able to earn
adequate wages that can help in feeding her child. Inhumane and mechanical stress faced by that
women has primary focus on suppression, due to culture of inequality and ineffective economic
condition that has been shown in the poem in context to the woman (The Song of the Shirt
Satire or Serious?, 2016).
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Aim of the research
The aim of present research is “To understand the relationship of Thomas Hood’s poem
‘Song of the shirt’ with culture and feminism”.
Objectives of the research
Based on the above aim, following objectives can be framed:
 To analyse the central theme of Thomas Hood’s poem “Song of the shirt”
 To assess the relationship of Thomas Hood’s poem with culture
 To explore the relationship of Thomas Hood’s poem with feminism
 To understand application of Marxist theory on the poem “Song of the shirt”
Rationale of study
It is important to have adequate relevance to a research topic that has been chosen by the
researcher. It helps in understanding requirement of enhancing knowledge base regarding subject
matter. The present research will aid in developing adequate understanding with respect to
conditions of workers in England. Moreover, importance of initiating equal rights to women
without discriminating on the basis of sex is yet another factor that will clearly be described in
the present research report. Hence, it can be stated that present investigation holds a great deal of
importance in understanding the relationship of Thomas Hood’s poem ‘Song of the shirt’ with
culture and feminism.
CRITICAL APPROACH
Theme 1: Relationship of Thomas Hood’s poem with culture
According to Cohan and Hark, (2012) the poem reflects on unjust treatment that is given
to labourers which is given by ungenerous employers. The piece has been developed to focus
upon overburdened women who have to sew men’s shirt and pants so as to earn livelihood.
Being is widow, she also has to take care of her child along with working, which makes it even
more difficult for her. Her dull and pale appearance has also been described by Thomas Hood
with the help of perfect choice of words. The poem has been able to put strong words for
ineffective culture that has been prevailing in the country for labourer who are forced to work for
7 days in a week. However, in contrast to this, as per the views of Geist, Geist and Kuznik,
(2012) oppression faced by labourers due to sweated trades discuses a tale of misery of culture
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being followed in the country. The same edition of poem was then used to bring adequate
changes in labour laws so as to effectively alter condition of labourers who are treated as slave.
Theme 2: Relationship of Thomas Hood’s poem with feminism
As per the views of Hughes, (2014) a strong relationship in between Thomas Hood’s
poem and feminism can be ascertained through various phrases that have been used by the poet
in order to define the condition of Mrs. Biddell. Since, the central theme of poem is related to
misery of a women who has to work day and night to earn living and make her child feed. The
text explains utter exhaustion, a widow faces due to state of poverty. Even though, she works so
much, she is not able to earn suitable money. It reflects discrimination in wages that she must
have been facing at her workplace. The grief can be understood through constant repetition of
words, “Stich! Stich! Stich!”. It reflects that she is not able to earn adequately in comparison to
the work actually done by her. However, in contrast to this, as per the views of Liu and et.al.
(2012) issues in free trade and economy highlights the contradiction in labour market. Disruptive
presentation of woman in poem indicates that women used to be treated as oppressed class in the
society which generated requirement of adequate strategies that can lead to upliftment. Women’s
work in 19th century in London raises questions regarding their society.
Theme 3: Applicability of Marxist theory on the poem “Song of the Shirt”
According to Mariani, (2016) the poem “The song of the shirt” has been imaginatively
and intelligently reflected female ideology and their suffering due to existence of inequality in
the environment od England. It can be stated that there is a direct relationship between Marxist
theory and story and condition tat has been shared by the poet in the poem “The Song of the
Shirt”. Marxist theory reflects upon the concept of struggle of various classes. It plays an
important role in understanding the development of the country. The theory tends to initiate
adoption of communism by replacing capitalism. It will help in ensuring that all the people
belonging to the society are able to receive sources as per their requirement and abilities.
However, in contrast to this, as per the views of Dunn, (2015) Karl Marx’s theory can effectively
be applied on poem as in such cases, differentiation and inequality will be less existing in the
society and women will not be discriminated based on their gender. The applicability of Marxist
theory is quite positive on the poem, “The Song of the Shirt” as having communism approach
England can help in bringing revolution n condition and state of labour class individuals existing
in the country.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Buchanan, J. (2013). Translating Thailand's Protests: An Analysis of Red Shirt
Rhetoric. Austrian Journal of South-East Asian Studies, 6(1), 60.
Cohan, S., & Hark, I. R. (2012). 'FEMINIZING'THE SONG-AND-DANCE MAN: Fred Astaire
and the spectacle of masculinity in the Hollywood musical. In Screening the Male(pp. 56-
79). Routledge.
Dunn, G. (2015). The fellowship of song: Popular singing traditions in East Suffolk. Routledge.
Dylan, B. (2012). Forever Young: with audio recording. Simon and Schuster.
Geist, K., Geist, E. A., & Kuznik, K. (2012). The patterns of music: Young children learning
mathematics through beat, rhythm, and melody. YC Young Children, 67(1), 74.
Hughes, L. K. (2014). SIDEWAYS!: Navigating the Material (ity) of Print Culture. Victorian
Periodicals Review, 47(1), 1-30.
Liu, S. & et.al. (2012, October). Hi, magic closet, tell me what to wear!. In Proceedings of the
20th ACM international conference on Multimedia (pp. 619-628). ACM.
Mariani, P. (2016). Dream Song: The Life of John Berryman. Trinity University Press.
Online
The Song of the Shirt Satire or Serious? (2016). [Online]. Available through <
https://slumexplorers.wordpress.com/entertainment-and-culture/hannah-harvey/ >
Thomas Hood's poem about working conditions, 'The Song of the Shirt'. (2015). [Online].
Available through < https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/thomas-hoods-poem-about-
working-conditions-the-song-of-the-shirt >
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