Poem Vs. Poem Issue 1: The World Is Too Much With Us Vs. The Best Thing In The World

Today I'll be comparing two poems about our ruined/beautiful world. Which one is it? Well it depends on which poet you ask.

(To save space I'm just going to link the two poems)

The World Is Too Much With Us by William Wordsworth

The Best Thing In The World by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

I chose these two poems for multiple reasons. The first is that both poems were written by British poets in the 19th century, just 50 years apart. But, the more interesting reason is that they denote contradictory ideas. Wordsworth proposes that nature has become more violent and that winds rip through the atmosphere at all hours. But Browning believes that the world is sweet and perfect, with calm breezes cascading through blue skies. As you can tell, the meanings of these two poems are polar opposites. But why? They were both written in the same century, by two poets living in the same country. I decided to look at the circumstances of 19th century England to see if current events shifted the views of these poets, rather than the poems themselves to find reasons for their viewpoints.

One major fact separates these two poems. Wordsworth wrote his piece before major industrialization took place. Browning wrote hers during industrialization. But, as you will see, that fact doesn't really explain the views of  At that point, many were tilling fields and working in agriculture. Wordsworth mentioned that the human race has "given our hearts away, a sordid boon!", implying that he accepts the reality that is using the worlds resources to keep us alive, but, he calls it immoral as well. I actually find it odd that Wordsworth see humans as hurting nature, despite the fact that farming methods of the time were more sustainable then methods used when Browning wrote her poem. But, there are other meanings in this poem. For instance, the speaker would rather me "A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn", then mentioning Greek gods at the end. Maybe he has lost faith in God, and is now looking to different deities to guide him.

However, historical events do explain Browning's views. She describes the best things in the world as sunny June days, love and pleasure. However, the last two lines of the poem flips its meaning on its head. "What's the best thing in the world? Something out of it." Browning may be implying that due to industrialization and factorization, the world has lost its beauty and charms. Other than that, the poem doesn't really have any other meanings. After all, it is only 10 lines.

So which poem resonates more to me in a modern setting? Wordsworth's by a long shot. Let's face it. Civilization has ravaged landscapes and stolen resources from our planet. And I also resonate with the message that most religious people, like Christians (I was raised as a Christian but I am no longer one) have ignored their own morals without remorse. To conclude, despite the fact that it was written 212 years ago, The World Is Too Much With Us paints a very compelling picture even today, even more so than a poem written 50 years more recently.