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Towards the end of Paradise Lost, Milton adapts a passage from the biblical Book of Genesis (3:16) in which God punishes Eve for eating the forbidden fruit by cursing her to experience painful childbirth. In both Margaret Cavendish’s “Earth’s Complaint” and Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene, the reader encounters descriptions of pain related to motherhood experienced by two non-human characters: Earth and Error. Write an essay that explores how Cavendish and Spenser use these “personified” mothers to educate and persuade their readers to a specific moral or argument. What responses do these writers hope their depictions of motherhood will elicit from their readers, and how do their depictions elicit these responses? You might also consider what poetic devices each writer uses, and what ideas, stories, or stereotypes of motherhood are invoked in each text.
Sample Answer
Depictions of Motherhood in Margaret Cavendish’s “Earth’s Complaint” and Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene: Persuasion and Moral Education
In both Margaret Cavendish’s “Earth’s Complaint” and Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene, the personification of non-human characters experiencing pain related to motherhood serves as a means of educating and persuading readers towards a specific moral or argument. By invoking ideas, stories, and stereotypes of motherhood, Cavendish and Spenser aim to elicit emotional responses and convey their underlying messages about the consequences of human actions. This essay explores how these writers utilize these depictions of motherhood and the poetic devices employed to achieve their intended effects.
Personified Mothers and Moral Education
Cavendish’s “Earth’s Complaint” personifies Earth as a mother figure who suffers from the destruction caused by humans. She laments the exploitation and disregard for nature’s well-being, mirroring the consequences of Eve’s disobedience in Paradise Lost. Through this personification, Cavendish aims to educate and persuade readers about the importance of environmental stewardship and the potential ramifications of neglecting our responsibilities towards the Earth. By depicting Earth as a mother, she taps into the archetype of the nurturing, self-sacrificing maternal figure, thereby evoking a sense of guilt or remorse in readers for their destructive actions.
Similarly, in The Faerie Queene, Spenser personifies Error as a monstrous creature who symbolizes the consequences of straying from the path of righteousness. Error is described as a mother who gives birth to countless offspring representing vices and sins. This depiction serves as a moral lesson, illustrating the dangers of succumbing to temptation and deviating from virtuous behavior. By associating Error with motherhood, Spenser invokes the idea that negative actions and choices have lasting consequences not only for individuals but also for society as a whole. This portrayal seeks to elicit a sense of caution and a desire for moral rectitude in readers.
Poetic Devices and Emotional Response
Both Cavendish and Spenser employ various poetic devices to evoke emotional responses from readers and highlight the significance of their depictions of motherhood. Cavendish utilizes vivid imagery and sensory language to portray Earth’s pain, painting a vivid picture of destruction and ecological devastation. By appealing to the reader’s senses, she fosters empathy and a deeper emotional connection to Earth’s suffering.
Spenser employs allegory in The Faerie Queene, representing abstract concepts through characters and events. The personification of Error as a mother birthing vices and sins is an allegorical representation of the consequences of moral transgressions. This allegory allows readers to engage with abstract ideas through relatable and tangible imagery, making the message more accessible and impactful.
Invoked Ideas, Stories, and Stereotypes
In both texts, ideas, stories, and stereotypes surrounding motherhood are invoked to enhance the persuasive power of their depictions. Cavendish draws on the archetype of the nurturing mother who selflessly sacrifices for her children. By portraying Earth as a suffering mother, she taps into the cultural notion that mothers are caretakers and providers. This invokes a sense of responsibility in readers to protect and care for the environment.
Spenser invokes biblical stories and stereotypes surrounding motherhood. The personification of Error as a mother echoes Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden, emphasizing the consequences of straying from righteousness. This biblical allusion reinforces the notion that mothers hold great influence over their offspring’s moral development and underscores the importance of virtuous behavior.
Conclusion
Through their depictions of personified mothers experiencing pain related to motherhood, Margaret Cavendish in “Earth’s Complaint” and Edmund Spenser in The Faerie Queene employ persuasive techniques to educate readers about specific morals or arguments. Cavendish focuses on environmental stewardship, invoking empathy through vivid imagery to convey the consequences of neglecting Earth’s well-being. Spenser warns against moral transgressions by portraying Error as a mother who gives birth to vices, drawing on biblical stories and stereotypes surrounding motherhood. Both writers utilize poetic devices to evoke emotional responses and connect with readers on an empathetic level. These depictions aim to elicit feelings of guilt, caution, responsibility, and a desire for moral rectitude, ultimately encouraging readers to reflect on their actions and make positive changes in their lives.
