Christina Rossetti: Maude Clare Flashcards
What happened in one Rossetti’s former suitors’ lives the year this poem was written (1858)?
In 1858, James Collinson, Rossetti’s ex-fiancé, married Eliza Wheeler. This came after his engagement to Rossetti ended when he reverted to Catholicism and declared he wished to become a celibate priest.
Complete the quotation from the first stanza: “the bride was like a _____ _____, Maude Clare was like a _____”. What is the significance of this line?
“The bride was like a village maid, Maude Clare was like a queen”
These two similes are significant because through their use, Rossetti empowers Maude and portrays Nell as her inferior. However, in the eyes of society this generally would not have been considered the case: as an unmarried woman, Maude’s social status would now be inferior to Nell’s.
Why was the marriage market particularly competitive for women in the mid-19th century?
The marriage market became extremely competitive for women during the 19th century because there was a shortage of young men and a surplus of women of a marriageable age, most likely because of the numerous conflicts that had taken place since the mid-18th century. This meant men had more choice but women struggled to marry before a suitable age, and risked becoming ‘spinsters’.
What did A&C Belsey say about Victorian spinsters? How does this apply to Maude Clare?
“Nothing was more pitiable than the Victorian spinster” - A&C Belsey
Whilst Maude may be presented by Rossetti in a strong, dignified way, in reality her social position would have been far from desirable. In marrying, Nell has gained social and financial security- if Maude does not find a suitable husband, she will risk facing spinsterhood and will remain the dependent of her family- a “pitiable” position for any woman in a society where their primary expectations are to marry and bear children.
Why might a feminist celebrate Rossetti’s presentation of Maude Clare and Thomas’ relationship in stanza 8?
A feminist would celebrate Rossetti’s powerful depiction of Maude Clare, particularly when she intimidates Thomas. He “faltered” when trying to “match her scorn with scorn” and “hid his face”, symbolising his anxiety and shame when confronted by Maude.
Why does Rossetti include a conversation between Thomas and his mother in stanza 3 of the poem?
Thomas’ mother alludes to the historical tradition and expectation of the marriage of convenience, which has clearly been repeated across generations as she has “a similar tale to tell” about her marriage to Thomas’ father. In upper-class Victorian families, marriages would be arranged by the parents of two families, normally to strengthen the families’ social reputations and to ensure that their wealth was shared amongst a family of a similar social standing. Thomas may have loved Maude Clare, but he would have been expected to marry Nell.
What could the “golden chain” symbolise?
The “half of a golden chain” mentioned in the poem seems to have been given to Maude by Thomas, which seems to be an unofficial symbol of commitment (as opposed to an engagement ring). Here, Maude acknowledges that Thomas broke a promise to her by ending their relationship and marrying Nell.
Maude Clare reminds Thomas of “the day we waded ankle deep for lilies in the beck”. Why might this admission ruin Maude’s reputation?
“Wading ankle deep” meant that Maude would have lifted her skirts and shown more skin to Thomas than considered proper or respectable in the Victorian era- this may suggest that Maude and Thomas engaged in an intimate, sexual relationship. If true, Maude would be considered a ‘fallen woman’ in the eyes of society, and finding a respectable husband would now be impossible for her.
At the end of the poem, which line from Nell suggests she knows Thomas does not love her?
Nell says to Maude “I’ll love him till he loves me best, me best of all, Maude Clare”. She seems to acknowledge here that Thomas does not, at this point, love her more than Maude, but she also knows that Thomas cannot escape their marriage and will have to learn to love her.
Rossetti may have been influenced in writing this poem by Coventry Patmore’s 1851 poem (John Everett Millais painted an illustration of both Patmore’s poem and Maude Clare). What is the poem called and what similarities does it share with Maude Clare?
The poem is called The Woodman’s Daughter; it describes the ill-fated relationship between Maud, the daughter of a woodsman, and the son of a squire. Years later they have a love affair which cannot end in marriage because of the difference in social rank between them. Maud gives birth to an illegitimate child, drowns it in a pool and goes mad.
