Sally Mathis' Canonball

Sally Mathis Foss Eng 335B-01 30 March 2011

The relevance of Simon Lee to the Canon William Wordsworth’s 1798 poem, “Simon Lee, the Old Huntsman, with an Incident in Which He Was Concerned,” discusses the struggles of an impoverished, elderly man. Wordsworth’s speaker happens to come across Simon Lee, and with one swift motion he is able to help complete the task that Simon has been toiling over for some time. Much like the life works of Hannah More, Wordsworth’s poem has an air of propaganda to it, suggesting that those of a better fortune and health than Simon should do their best to come to the aid of those who are beneath them socially and financially. Although Simon Lee and his wife are both very old and weak, they still manage to uphold a cheerful disposition, sending the message that everyone should be content with what they were given in life. This message, as well as a discouragement against rioting, can also be seen in the works of Mary Darby Robinson and Hannah More, and the inclusion of “Simon Lee” into the course readings would supplement their views on the matter. Wordsworth’s “Simon Lee” would be an excellent addition to the social and political economy section of the British Romantic Literature canon due to its urgings for the upper and middle classes to help the impoverished as well as its insinuation that the poor should be satisfied with their place in the class system. Throughout the poem, Wordsworth emphasizes the plight of the poor in order to gain the sympathy of the reader. Although Simon Lee is old and feeble-limbed, he has to work to support himself and his wife. Wordsworth writes, “he is lean and he is sick, his little body’s half awry, his ancles they are swoln and thick; his legs are thin and dry … now he’s forced to work, though weak, -the weakest in the village” (33-40). Of course the reader is going to feel sorry for Simon, Wordsworth has described him as a near-cripple who is forced to toil away in his old age, because the Lees are the “poorest of the poor” (60). In case his pity inducing description of Simon is not enough, however, Wordsworth appeals to the reader’s emotions further in order to make them want to help Simon and his wife, or those like them, either through the means of physical labor or a monetary donation. As evidenced in the poem by the speaker’s offer to help Simon with the removal of the “stump of rotten wood,” it only takes one gesture of “proferr’d aid” to earn the gratitude of the impoverished (84, 92) .Wordsworth makes it seem so easy to help others and become a hero in their eyes, for his speaker was able to “with a single blow [sever the tangled root] at which the poor old man so long and vainly had endeavor’d” (93-6). Simon Lee is extremely grateful, and his “thanks and praises seemed to run so fast out of his heart, I thought they never would have done” (99-100). Wordsworth portrays helping the poor as an exceptionally appealing activity, for not only does one get to be a hero, they receive praise and a self esteem boost as well. In a similar vein to Hannah More’s efforts to better the lower classes through literacy, Wordsworth seems to be urging the reader to go out and help the less fortunate in their own community. This aspect of the poem would fit perfectly into the society and political economy section of the British Romantic Literature canon. A second reason that “Simon Lee” is relevant to the class readings is that despite Simon’s daily troubles, Wordsworth still describes him as a remarkably cheerful man. In many of the poems that we have read so far, the lower classes are portrayed as being extremely content with their stations in life. Wordsworth writes, “though he has but one eye left, his cheek is like a cherry … and no man was so full of glee” (15-8). Here Wordsworth seems to be saying that in spite of Simon’s poor financial circumstances and health, he is able to uphold an upbeat attitude throughout it all. Although Simon’s health has declined, his mental state is still good. While “others say he’s eighty,” Simon sees himself as being only “three score and ten,” or seventy (8, 7). The old man is portrayed as being very young at heart, which is a quality typically associated with those with a positive disposition. By describing Simon as a jovial, yet poor man, Wordsworth is encouraging those who are impoverished to adopt a positive outlook on their life. This stance is very similar to the message espoused in Mary Darby Robinson’s poem, “The Poor, Singing Dame”. Robinson writes of an old dame who lived in a “poor little hovel,” who was one of the poorest in the land, yet she was “ever happy and singing” (Robinson 14, 29). Like Robinson, Wordsworth is showing his readers that it is possible for the lower classes to achieve happiness and to be content with their station, perhaps in an effort to discourage any attempts of the poor to riot. Hannah More’s work also focused a great deal on this notion, particularly “The Riot; or Half a Loaf Is Better Than No Bread,” in which Jack Anvil talks Tom Hod out of rioting. Jack acts as the voice of reason, preaching “If we’re not quiet, then let us not wonder/If things grow much worse by our riot and plunder;/And let us remember whenever we meet,/The more ale we drink, boys, the less we shall eat” (More 43-6). Here More, through the voice of Jack, is reminding the poor that even if they are to riot and seize the mill, they will be cheating themselves out of the wages for that day and will therefore have very little to buy food with. Wordsworth, along with More, is reminding the poor that it is best for them to be content with their life, for no matter how hopeless their situation may seem, it would only become worse if they staged an uprising. William Wordsworth spends a great deal of “Simon Lee, the Old Huntsman, with an Incident in Which He Was Concerned” encouraging the reader to feel pity for the poor. He does this through his descriptions of Simon’s old, feeble body, and the fact that due to Simon’s extremely impoverished state, he is forced to work even in his advanced age. Wordsworth does this to urge the upper and middle classes to help the poor, an action that is reminiscent of Hannah More’s own efforts to better the lower classes of society. However, Wordsworth’s messages are also similar to those conveyed in Mary Darby Robinson’s poetry and the works of Hannah More, that the poor should be satisfied with their lot in life and not attempt to stage a riot. “Simon Lee” would fit perfectly into the readings assigned for British Romantic Literature, due to its commentary on the role of society in bettering the circumstances of the impoverished and its message that the poor should be content with their station so as not to disrupt the status quo.

Word Count: 1209