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The poem explores themes of oppression, suicide, and power dynamics during the Indian Mutiny through the lens of a couple contemplating their fate in a round tower. Different perspectives like feminist and Marxist ideologies shed light on the complexities of the narrative.
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In the Round Tower at Jhansi, June In the Round Tower at Jhansi, June 8 8th th, 1857 , 1857
In the Round Tower at Jhansi, June In the Round Tower at Jhansi, June 8 8th th, 1857 , 1857
Thesis Thesis – – Interrogating the poem through Interrogating the poem through different perspectives different perspectives How would the Indians, who feel oppressed, feel about those that kill themselves rather than face punishment?
TASK • Analyse the poem in pairs. • Form – narrator/speaker – tone/tonal shifts (does it change? Why? What could it represent?) • Structure – rhyme scheme, scansion (metrical analysis), caesura (what could it symbolise?) • Language – tone/tonal shifts • Feminist Perspective – Investigate how gender/sex is portrayed • Marxist Perspective – How is power and hierarchical structure of society depicted in the poem
Indian/ Indian/Sepoy Sepoy Mutiny Mutiny 1stWar of Independence East India Tea Company
Tim Kendall Tim Kendall Rossetti appended a footnote in 1875 'I retain this little poem, not as historically accurate, but as written and published before I heard the supposed facts of its first verse contradicted.' She had discovered (or thought she had discovered) that, far from committing suicide, the Skene family had been captured and killed. There is still no consensus as to their fate. Here is one rather melodramatic Victorian view of the Skenes' demise:
Historical Context (AO3) Historical Context (AO3) • It is thought that Captain Skene and his family were captured and killed.
Summary Summary • The poem commemorates a historical event - often called the Indian Mutiny, it was an Indian uprising against the British colonists, who were massacred. In the poem, they stand in the tower and see the swelling masses below, and decide to take their own lives rather than be overtaken by the revolt. • Although the poem may not be historically accurate, some factors of it to recall events of the Indian Mutiny. Throughout the poem, the couple is contemplating on whether or not they should take their own lives, or leave their fate in the hands of “the swarming howling wretches below”. The omniscient narrator asks for “God to forgive them this”, which shows the struggle they endured in order to come to a decision – they did not want to displease God or disobey His word by committing suicide; however, they did not want to allow their fates to remain in the hands of others. The pair make attempts to console each other as they question if it will “hurt much”. • As their life draws to a close, and their time on earth grows shorter, they attempt to create long-lasting intimate moments by comforting each other. They “kiss and kiss” and “kiss once more” in order to block out and ignore the “swarming howling wretches below” and, say their “goodbyes”.
Form Form • Omniscient third person narrator. Setting is distressful “in the round tower” - they are isolated and alone. • Tone is fairly calm which reflects the couple’s acceptance of death. • Also, sad, yet harsh tone follows: “the agony struck them dumb”. Intimate comforting tone, as they “kiss and kiss” and “kiss once more”. Desperate. Trying to hold onto moments
Structure Structure • Regular rhyme scheme - ABAB. Regularity mirrors their acceptance of fate/death. Even stanzas – collectively reinforce the consistent progression of the “howling wretches” towards their position. Reinforces their knowledge of their fate – calm acceptance of inevitable death. Strict rhyme scheme and even stanzas show control they have over fate. Frequent caesuras – hyphens – convey their attempts to prolong their death. Heightens fear. Outbursts of anxiousness.
Language Language • “Howling wretches” portrays soldiers to be animalistic and inhumane. It shows the people below the couple outside the tower are dangerous and to be feared. • Critique of war – animalistic reference to soldiers. Heightens lack of immorality of soldiers as animals do not have a conscience – dehumanises them. Repetition of “kiss” reinforces idea that love always prevails over war and death. “Pale” shows fear. “Will it hurt much?” again emphasises fear and innocence, as death is a foreign concept to them
Critical Theory Critical Theory • MARXISM: • Despite the fact that it is not explicitly stated within the poem, it can be suggested that the couple is are “in the Round Tower” belong to the lower class. • In this case, people of the lower class have been demonstrated to be weak and vulnerable, as well as inferior due to the fact that they have been isolated and left alone in the overpowering “Round Tower”. This portrayal may be criticised amongst Marxists. However, the couple is then able to demonstrate a sense of power and strength as they decide to take actions into their own hands and take control over their own fate – they do not allow their death to be left in the control of the “swarming howling wretches”. This strength may please many Marxist critics. • On the other hand, it has been argued that this poem is based on the capture and murder of Captain Skene and his family, who belonged to the upper class, and had a clear amount of authority. Yet, it seems within the narrative that their power and influence is non-existent. This suggests that, no matter what class; position; and what power your possess; everyone is equal and may be in a similar situation. Your power does not ensure your safety. Class does not define you. Regardless of what authority you may have, you are not protected. Rossetti may be commended through this portrayal.
Context Context • The poem is mostly based on the Indian Mutiny, otherwise known as the Sepoy Mutiny, however; it may not be fully historically accurate. Some minor details may have been altered in order to be applied to Rossetti’s frequent theme of love. This tragic event involved an uprising or rebellion of a Mutiny if Sepoy’s working for the British East India Company. • This was India’s first war of Independence. As a result of the war, the British suppressed the revolt and the East India Company dissolved. In addition, the army; financial system and administration were all restructured. Rossetti herself appended a footnote stating: “I retain this little poem, not as historically accurate, but as written and published before I heard the supposed facts of its first verse contradicted”. • Historically, it is suspected that Captain Skene met his demise, along with his family, when they were captured and killed. Christina Rossetti’s poem In The Round Tower at Jhansi, June 8, 1857 targets the issues and struggles of the political subject matter and, on a larger scale, may be reflective of the effects and outcomes such political matters may have on the lives of others – shows how it impacts them
Oriental: of, from, or characteristic of Asia, especially East Asia. Despot – cruel, absolute ruler Edward Said: Said: Orientalism Orientalism (1978) (1978) • “Orientalism was ultimately a political vision of reality whose structure promoted the difference between the familiar (Europe, West, "us") and the strange (the Orient, the East, "them").” The other / othering The Myth of the Orient – the EAST The Stereotype of the Oriental Orientals are despotic and clannish. They are despotic when placed in positions of power, and sly and obsequious when in subservient positions. Orientals, so the stereotype goes, are impossible to trust. They are capable of sophisticated abstractions, but not of concrete, practical organization or rigorous, detail-oriented analysis. Their men are sexually incontinent, while their women are locked up behind bars. Orientals are, by definition, strange. The best summary of the Orientalist mindset would probably be: “East is east and west is west, and never the twain shall meet” (Rudyard Kipling). Myth masquerading as fact. BECOMES A DISCOURSE
Said Said: Culture and Imperialism 1993 But there's more than that to imperialism. There was a commitment to imperialism over and above profit, a commitment in constant circulation and recirculation which on the one hand allowed decent men and women from England or France, from London or Paris, to accept the notion that distant territories and their native peoples should be subjugated and, on the other hand, replenished metropolitan energies so that these decent people could think of the empire as a protracted, almost metaphysical obligation to rule subordinate, inferior or less advanced peoples. The difference between us in the modern period, the modern imperialists, and the Romans is that the Romans were there just for the loot. They were just stealing. But we go there with an idea. He was thinking, obviously, of the idea, for instance in Africa, of the French and the Belgians that when you go to these continents you're not just robbing the people of their ivory and slaves and so on. You are improving them in some way. I'm really quite serious. The idea, for example, of the French empire was that France had a "mission civilisatrice," that it was there to civilize the natives. It was a very powerful idea. Obviously, not so many of the natives believed it, but the French believed that that was what they were doing.
