Burdened by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
The poem explores the theme of emotional burden and the consequences of suppressing one's feelings. The speaker describes being overwhelmed by their emotions, which are likened to a heavy weight that threatens to crush them. The poem suggests that this burden is a result of societal expectations and the pressure to conform to certain norms.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1896 · Genre: Poetry, Feminist Literature, Philosophical Literature · 179 words
First lines
"Genius, a man's weapon, a woman's burden. "-Lamartine.
Dear God! there is no sadder fate in life / Than to be burdened so that you can not / Sit down contented with the common lot / Of happy mother and devoted wife.
To feel your brain wild and your bosom rife / With all the sea's commotion; to be fraught / With fires and frenzies which you have not sought, / And weighed down with the wild world's weary strife;
To feel a fever always in your breast; / To lean and hear, half in affright, half shame, / A loud-voiced public boldly mouth your name; / To reap your hard-sown harvest in unrest, / And know, however great your meed of fame, / You are but a weak woman at the best.
What this Textopian page supports
Burdened is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1896 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Date: 1896 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Feminist Literature, Philosophical Literature, Psychological Literature, Social Commentary
- Length: 179 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Burdened by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse and employs poetic devices such as rhyme and meter.
- Feminist Literature — The themes explore the struggles and societal expectations of women, particularly in relation to genius and domestic roles.
- Philosophical Literature — The work delves into existential questions and the burdens of intellectual and emotional intensity.
- Psychological Literature — The narrative examines the internal conflicts and emotional turmoil of the protagonist.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Women Authors · Social Commentary · Marriage · Family · Relationships · Society · Class Divide · Gender Roles · Feminism