The Prisoners of Naples
This narrative poem tells the story of a group of Neapolitan prisoners who are awaiting execution for their involvement in a rebellion against the Spanish authorities. The poem explores themes of patriotism, loyalty, and the human cost of war. Through the characters' conversations and reflections, Whittier highlights the complexities of political resistance and the moral dilemmas faced by those who fight for freedom.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1835 · Genre: Poetry, Political Literature, Religious Literature · 706 words
First lines
I HAVE been thinking of the victims bound In Naples, dying for the lack of air And sunshine, in their close, damp cells of pain, Where hope is not, and innocence in vain Appeals against the torture and the chain! Unfortunates! whose crime it was to share Our common love of freedom, and to dare, In its behalf, Rome's harlot triple-crowned, And her base pander, the most hateful thing Who upon Christian or on Pagan ground Makes vile the old heroic name of king. O God most merciful! Father just and kind Whom man hath bound let thy right hand unbind. Or, if thy purposes of good behind Their ills lie hidden, let the sufferers find Strong consolations; leave them not to doubt Thy providential care, nor yet without The hope which all thy attributes inspire, That not in vain the martyr's robe of fire Is worn, nor the sad prisoner's fretting chain; Since all who suffer for thy truth send forth, Electrical, with every throb of pain, Unquenchable sparks, thy own baptismal rain Of fire and spirit over all the earth, Making the dead in slavery live again.
What this Textopian page supports
The Prisoners of Naples is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier, dated 1835 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: John Greenleaf Whittier
- Date: 1835 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Political Literature, Religious Literature, Social Commentary, Romanticism
- Length: 706 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing poetic devices and structure.
- Political Literature — The themes revolve around freedom, oppression, and the struggle against tyranny.
- Religious Literature — The text invokes divine intervention and reflects on faith and providence.
- Social Commentary — It critiques societal injustices and the plight of prisoners.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Naples · Italy · Imprisonment · Freedom · Slavery · Abolitionism · Social Justice · Human Rights · Politics