"O 'Melia, my dear, this does everything crown!
Who could have supposed I should meet you in Town?
And whence such fair garments, such prosperi-ty?" —
"O didn't you know I'd been ruined?" said she.
— "You left us in tatters, without shoes or socks,
Tired of digging potatoes, and spudding up docks;
And now you've gay bracelets and bright feathers three!" —
"Yes: that's how we dress when we're ruined," said she.
— "At home in the barton you said `thee' and `thou,'
And `thik oon,' and `theäs oon,' and `t'other'; but now
Your talking quite fits 'ee for high compa-ny!" —
"Some polish is gained with one's ruin," said she.
— "Your hands were like paws then, your face blue and bleak
But now I'm bewitched by your delicate cheek,
And your little gloves fit as on any la-dy!" —
"We never do work when we're ruined," said she.
— "You used to call home-life a hag-ridden dream,
And you'd sigh, and you'd sock; but at present you seem
To know not of megrims or melancho-ly!" —
"True. One's pretty lively when ruined," said she.
— "I wish I had feathers, a fine sweeping gown,
And a delicate face, and could strut about Town!" —
"My dear — a raw country girl, such as you be,
Cannot quite expect that. You ain't ruined," said she.
Notes
Composition Date:
Westbourne Park Villas, 1866.The lyrical form of this poem is aabb.
1. 'Melia: Emilia.
6. digging up with a chisel-like spade.
docks: weeds
9.barton: farm
11. 'ee: ye.
13. bleak: \
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Comments
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The Ruined Maid
From guest Melia (contact)
The internet is amazing. I was looking for ideas for Halloween, a victorian dress and I came upon this poem on one of the web-sites. My name is Melia, I have only met a few with my name and certainly never knew it was around over a hundred years ago. I also enjoyed the poem. -
Thomas Hardy - Ruin
From guest JeanJeanie (contact)
Heard this poem on Radio 4, loved it, gonna learn it off by heart it is so funny. -
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Amazing
From guest mitesh (contact)
i loved this poem, i wish there were more like this it was world class and very intersting -
Ruin'd Maid
From guest Tom Dillingham (contact)
The great Elsa Lanchester sang this song on her album of cockney ditties. It's a terrific poem and doubly entertaining when she does the two voices. Much more recently, Margaret Atwood devotes several paragraphs to a discussion of the poem in her fascinating book, Payback. -
"The Ruined Maid" by thomas hardy
From guest Topsy Kretts (contact)
The first time I read this poem I immediatley related to it. I am an exotic dancer and full time college student. Everday I see girls I grew up with and complete strangers marvel at my beauty and the nice things I have acquired. They wish they could have the semi-care free life I have and the great body.But I would never consider myself ruined ,because dancing is a far cry from prostitution and a great way to have an independent income with no boss! -
Nothing has changed
From guest E. Moore (contact)
If we compare the life style of a farm worker (maybe immigrant) and the life style of what is called a "social escort" we will find the same difference in life style. In the poem "Melia" tells her friend in the last line exactly what she has to become if she wants a better life. -
From guest Michelle Tomes (contact)
we were given a list of Hardy's poems to read for English and we have to pick two and contrast them. This is the only one I liked out of the 7 we were given..... I like it because its light, yet meaningful -
the contrasts in many ways are stark, softness delicacy, comfort, good things comes with moral ruin but the one must struggle and be coarse and poor and without the pretty things if a poor maiden is to hold on to her honour. I dont know if i quite agree with pozo that the poem conveys a positive attitude towards prostitution, I feel it conveys the irony, that that is the price a girl has to pay in order to get the good things in life. There is a strong threa of irony running through the poem wherever the words about ruin are mentioned and it is strongest towards the end almost like the ruined maiden is telling the other one not to wish for such frivolous things but to hold on to her maidenly modesty as that is worth much more. I agree that the poem is left open to thought
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This is a great poem about the fallen woman as he wrote it with really heavy irony. It's interesting to note that 'melior' is Latin for better which contrasts completely with the word 'ruin'. The childlike simplicity of this poem is a great facade for what he was really writing about, prostitution. This poem successfully conveys a positive attitude towards prostitution, when faced with the alternatives, whilst still leaving the topic open for thought by the reader.
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Compare and contrast 'the runied maid' by thomas hardy and 'cousin kate' by christina rosetti!! Helppppppppppppppppppp!!!
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10/10
this poem is brilliant and a stark contrast to many aorund the time. i love how it uses irony to explore teh validity of the vlaues and societorial attitudes of the nineteenth century! -
Very funny one
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