A Double Standard
The poem explores themes of love, betrayal, and societal double standards regarding gender and morality. The speaker reflects on her past love, expressing vulnerability and the pain of being judged for her choices. She questions the fairness of societal norms that allow men to escape accountability while women face harsh condemnation for similar actions. The speaker's love for a man is portrayed as genuine, yet she is ultimately deceived, leading to her downfall. She highlights the hypocrisy of a society that celebrates male privilege while shaming women for their perceived moral failings. The imagery of a "serpent" and "adder" symbolizes deceit and danger, emphasizing the betrayal she experienced. As the poem progresses, the speaker confronts the injustice of her situation, lamenting that crime has no gender, yet she bears the stigma of shame while the man continues to be honored. This disparity fuels her anger and disillusionment with societal values, prompting her to question the sincerity of those who condemn her. The speaker's despair culminates in a powerful assertion of her worth and the belief in divine justice. She expresses hope that a higher moral authority recognizes the complexities of human behavior and the inequities faced by women. The poem concludes with a call for accountability, asserting that moral wrongs cannot be excused based on gender. Overall, the work serves as a critique of societal norms that perpetuate double standards, advocating for a more equitable understanding of morality that applies equally to all individuals, regardless of gender.
By Frances Ellen Watkins Harper · First published 1866 · Genre: Poetry, Feminist Literature, Social Commentary · 519 words
First lines
Do you blame me that I loved him?
If when standing all alone I cried for bread a careless world Pressed to my lips a stone.
What this Textopian page supports
A Double Standard is listed on Textopian as a poem by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, dated 1866 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Frances Ellen Watkins Harper
- Date: 1866 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Feminist Literature, Social Commentary, Romanticism, Narrative Poetry
- Length: 519 words
- Structure: 1 section, 15 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is a poem that explores themes of love, betrayal, and societal double standards.
- Feminist Literature — The poem critiques gender inequality and the societal judgment faced by women compared to men.
- Social Commentary — The poem addresses social issues, particularly the hypocrisy in moral standards applied to different genders.
- Romanticism — The emotional depth and focus on personal experience align with Romantic literary themes.
Tags
Abolitionist Literature · American Literature · Anti-Slavery Novel · Black Feminism · Double Standard · Feminist Literature · Literary Fiction · Novel of Social Justice · Pro-Emancipation · Racial Equality · Social Commentary · Slavery in America