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Thomas Hardy The Ruined Maid

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In Thomas Hardy’s satirical poem, “The Ruined Maid,” he uses anapestic meter, rhythm, closed-form poetry, and imagery to display how society views someone that has become “ruined.” Thomas Hardy demonstrates closed-form poetry while writing “The Ruined Maid.” The tight structure of the poem connects with how victorian society had rigorous rules for the girls. Although the poem is closed-form and constricted, there is also an anapestic meter opposing with its sing-song rhythm showing that there is also a more lenient view on girls who have become “ruined.” Society will look down at someone if they have become ruined, but in Melia’s eyes her life has become immensely greater than what it once was. At the end of the poem, envy is displayed by the other maids. Also being displayed by Hardy is imagery disclaiming the societal views for being ruined. In “The Ruined Maid” lines 5-10 Melia is demonstrated wearing “gay bracelets and bright feathers three!” While all the other maid are left behind wearing only, “...tatters without shoes or socks.” Dressed in the more luxurious clothes is Melia while she …show more content…

The speaker states, “I wish I had feathers, a fine sweeping gown, / And a delicate face, and could strut’ about Town!” While the victorian society creates the mindset of the people to believe that if you are ruined you are going to have a horrible life, but Hardy insists that those who are ruined do not suffer as much as those who are pure. Thomas Hardy may have put a twist on the poem, to make you believe the one who is “ruined” is Melia, where in reality it is those who still have their virginity. Throughout “The Ruined Maid,” Thomas Hardy displayed anapestic meter, rhythm, closed-form poetry, and imagery explaining the views of the victorian society among those who have become ruined. Satire was also demonstrated by irony with how the “ruined” maid was actually the happier

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