Indignant Abstinence
Corey Frishling
Student #0624003
Dr. Lincoln Shlensky
English 200C
September 25, 2006
Indignant Abstinence: The Narrator’s Role in “Jenny”
Within any society, social prejudices are almost always present, often thrusting the dignity and stature of its members into peril. The narrator of Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s “Jenny,” is – while a respectable member of Victorian society – a man lacking true substance; while he possesses aspiration Though presented as a foil of the narrator, Jenny herself represents a member of a neglected and misunderstood group who, in reality, shares many of his beliefs. Despite the narrator’s views of Jenny, it is apparent that her character is ambiguous of his social philosophy.
As a self-appointed intellectual, the poem’s narrator takes the liberty of speculating on the emotions of a woman with whom he should be concerned on a purely physical level. A Victorian ethos is present from the poem’s commencement, the narrator noting that Jenny’s room “…looks/A change from [his] so full of books,” (22-23) lessening her value in his mind. It must, however, be questioned as to why a man of such poise is unable to resist the sexual temptations of the city if so adamantly engulfed in academic study and progress. At heart, he appears to envy Jenny and her ability to defy the morals of society – those that restrain him from true freedom – aspiring towards the Sisyphean ideal that he too could live a life of autonomy. “Where envy’s voice at virtue’s pitch/Mocks [Jenny,]” (71-72) she accepts it as a way of life and continues onwards; it is nearly impossible for the narrator to fathom how she can tolerate such disgrace, further widening the social gap between the two of them.
Due to his seemingly diverse academic background, the narrator conveys logos in a very analytical fashion. It is apparent throughout his speculations that he is a dualist, distinguishing mind and body as two separate entities. While all principles of Jenny’s mind are concealed in her slumber, she is still presented to him physically. He grows somewhat impatient waiting for the sexual satisfaction for which he is present, but does not take any physical action. Jenny to the narrator is “[l]ike a rose shut in a book[;]” (253) she will never be able to further herself intellectually as the narrator hopes her to, but the he will never be able to experience her promiscuity. He thinks that “…were the truth confess’d,/[she’s] thankful for a little rest,” (67-68) but her pursuits to this point have afforded her a comfortable life based on her circumstances, suggesting that he merely yearns for the self-satisfaction attained through helping another.
Beyond the narrator’s character and thought, what proves to be essential in the poem is the notion of pathos. He develops a genuine emotional connection with someone practicing a career upon which he has been taught to disapprove, showing that human sentiment is more powerful than social restrictions. Rossetti utilizes a number of metaphors to support the narrator’s emotional outreaches – books of knowledge, clouds of occupancy, lilies of soul, streets of loneliness, clay of creation, vessels of love, and paintings of beauty – each of these relevant to Jenny and her abstract lifestyle. While there are often negative assumptions about her being made, he exhibits – albeit possibly unknowingly – care for her that she has been stripped of by the rest of Victorian society. This compassion is far from faultless, but it serves as an essential possession that Jenny would have lacked entirely at this time.
Unfortunately, one’s ability to become well acquainted with another person is diminished greatly when few bonds are shared between them. As “Jenny” is written entirely through the eyes of the narrator, it is difficult to grasp her true character, but with detailed analysis, implications are present that suggest she differs considerably from how she is portrayed. While the future of both characters can be viewed as bleak, the time that they share together is likely to benefit them both. For, despite the views of other members of Victorian society, the compassion of one person is enough to sustain oneself through even the toughest of times. And upon the poem’s completion, it can be undeniably concluded that this is something both characters now possess.
Within any society, social prejudices are almost always present, often thrusting the dignity and stature of its members into peril. The narrator of Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s “Jenny,” is – while a respectable member of Victorian society – a man lacking true substance; while he possesses aspiration Though presented as a foil of the narrator, Jenny herself represents a member of a neglected and misunderstood group who, in reality, shares many of his beliefs. Despite the narrator’s views of Jenny, it is apparent that her character is ambiguous of his social philosophy.
As a self-appointed intellectual, the poem’s narrator takes the liberty of speculating on the emotions of a woman with whom he should be concerned on a purely physical level. A Victorian ethos is present from the poem’s commencement, the narrator noting that Jenny’s room “…looks/A change from [his] so full of books,” (22-23) lessening her value in his mind. It must, however, be questioned as to why a man of such poise is unable to resist the sexual temptations of the city if so adamantly engulfed in academic study and progress. At heart, he appears to envy Jenny and her ability to defy the morals of society – those that restrain him from true freedom – aspiring towards the Sisyphean ideal that he too could live a life of autonomy. “Where envy’s voice at virtue’s pitch/Mocks [Jenny,]” (71-72) she accepts it as a way of life and continues onwards; it is nearly impossible for the narrator to fathom how she can tolerate such disgrace, further widening the social gap between the two of them.
Due to his seemingly diverse academic background, the narrator conveys logos in a very analytical fashion. It is apparent throughout his speculations that he is a dualist, distinguishing mind and body as two separate entities. While all principles of Jenny’s mind are concealed in her slumber, she is still presented to him physically. He grows somewhat impatient waiting for the sexual satisfaction for which he is present, but does not take any physical action. Jenny to the narrator is “[l]ike a rose shut in a book[;]” (253) she will never be able to further herself intellectually as the narrator hopes her to, but the he will never be able to experience her promiscuity. He thinks that “…were the truth confess’d,/[she’s] thankful for a little rest,” (67-68) but her pursuits to this point have afforded her a comfortable life based on her circumstances, suggesting that he merely yearns for the self-satisfaction attained through helping another.
Beyond the narrator’s character and thought, what proves to be essential in the poem is the notion of pathos. He develops a genuine emotional connection with someone practicing a career upon which he has been taught to disapprove, showing that human sentiment is more powerful than social restrictions. Rossetti utilizes a number of metaphors to support the narrator’s emotional outreaches – books of knowledge, clouds of occupancy, lilies of soul, streets of loneliness, clay of creation, vessels of love, and paintings of beauty – each of these relevant to Jenny and her abstract lifestyle. While there are often negative assumptions about her being made, he exhibits – albeit possibly unknowingly – care for her that she has been stripped of by the rest of Victorian society. This compassion is far from faultless, but it serves as an essential possession that Jenny would have lacked entirely at this time.
Unfortunately, one’s ability to become well acquainted with another person is diminished greatly when few bonds are shared between them. As “Jenny” is written entirely through the eyes of the narrator, it is difficult to grasp her true character, but with detailed analysis, implications are present that suggest she differs considerably from how she is portrayed. While the future of both characters can be viewed as bleak, the time that they share together is likely to benefit them both. For, despite the views of other members of Victorian society, the compassion of one person is enough to sustain oneself through even the toughest of times. And upon the poem’s completion, it can be undeniably concluded that this is something both characters now possess.
Works Cited
Rossetti, Dante Gabriel. “Jenny.” Practa. September 23, 2006.
posted by Corey Frishling at 8:05 AM
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