“The Steam Loom Weaver” appears to be as a humorous parody of the normal early industrial revolution age love couple. Instead of illustrative references to beautiful landscapes and captivating and romantic scenes, the setting is portrayed through a love couple’s quarrel in a cotton loom factory. Curious, I searched online for the author to learn a little more background, but to my surprise, the author was anonymous. This is probably why the short introduction referenced this piece as a common poor man’s read during the time that was bought for “a penny or less.” This type of attitude towards the industrial age must have been very common since it was spread widely to the “urban poor” for leisure reading. So what does the common poor think of the industrial Age? “The Steam Loom Weaver” may give us one of many opinions at the time.
Reading this piece, we can get a feel that the life of the industrial age “bloom” is very fast paced and mechanical. However, this is done in a very indirect and somewhat ironic manner. Instead of references to machinery and time, the author makes use of how an agrarian couple would normally converse. If I was entitled to rename this poem, I would call it “The Allegory of the Steam Loom Weaver,” since this poem does a good job at conveying the typical factory work age in disguise of a walk through nature. Starting the poem with “the birds did sing” already sets the reader off in a different direction than what was intended. As the story continues of the couple’s conversation of their work, we have a mock of farming with the verse “She said my loom is out of fettle” as a farmer’s soil needs fertile. In addition, we would not “muster up the steam.” It’s noticeable that the author is making fun of the industrial revolution and its ugliness. Instead of a beautiful garden or a romantic setting, the lover’s flirt under the fast paced (“work away without delay”). Instead of flowers and gifts, the man satisfies the woman’s desires with steam, “pair[s] of picker[s],” and a “shuttle.” The last stanza is also strange in that the man works “amain,” which means forcefully or very hard in response to her letting him enter the “loom shop.” With some research, I picked up that it may have been a reference to sexual humor in that the man is very excited and working hard towards his reward. (What’s even funnier is that Googling “The Steam Loom Weaver” brings me to Dr. Glance’s last year’s student’s blog of this class: http://jennyenglish264.blogspot.com/2008/06/steam-loom-weaverthis-poem-was-poking.html) And I must admit, I had some helpful insight from this blog and the introductory paragraph.
(Quotes from P. 489 of the text)
Van,
ReplyDeleteAn interesting choice of text to discuss, but I think you do bring out some of the humor of the poem, and its switch from natural to mechanical imagery. You do hint at the poem's possible sexual undertone, although I would go a lot farther and say that nearly the entire poem has a double meaning, with most of the words and metaphors implying sexual acts.
Thanks for citing the previous student's blog--I am surprised that Google picked up that post. That puts more pressure on you, I would think--your blog may be read not just by me and your classmates, but by anyone!
Van,
ReplyDeleteI think your connection between the lack of a known author and the poem's being sold for a penny or less on the streets was very interesting. While a well known author's work probably would cost more, I think the price reflects much more than the anonymity of the author. The price reflects in this case the quality of the poem. It is a funny little work "printed on flimsy paper" (489). While it's double meaning are indeed amusing, it was not intended to be particularly thought-provoking at the time of its publication. Yet time changes perspectives, and now we look back and see it as a commentary on the ugliness of the Industrial Revolution.
Anyways, great job! I really enjoyed reading your blog!