In the Preface of her 1814 novel, O’Donnel, Sydney Owenson (Lady Morgan) reveals a continuation of her then ten-year application of revolutionary purpose for her writing:
The character of my sex, no less than my own feelings, urged me, in touching those parts of Irish history which were connected with my tale, to turn them to the purposes of conciliation, and to incorporate the leaven of favorable opinion with that heavy mass of bitter prejudice, which writers, both grave and trifling, have delighted to raise against my country.
Clearly, Owenson is conscious of her aristocratic audience as she utilizes feminine rhetoric in direct correlation with her Anglo-Irish background to make her political statement.
Oh interesting! I shall have to look up this woman and her writing. Political? And Revolutionary? 1814...oh I love that time frame!
ReplyDeleteJeanne Iris; I really loved your poem "4th of July" read aloud. I loved the real time of the fireworks at the exact end of the poem! "Filled up on love" and the "feather boa" on the back of a bike! I get the feeling of freedom baby! Yah! You lead a fun life if this is autobiographical! How'd ya do that - on cue with the fireworks? Wonderfully refreshing!
Thanks, Ms. C. Yes, Sydney Owenson (Lady Morgan) was quite controversial for her time, which is why she is the subject my doctoral dissertation. The lady on the bike is not me. I took the photograph and wrote the poem about a friend of mine. Quite an inspiration she is. True.
ReplyDelete