Leading up to the English revolution in the 1600’s, poetry was the weapon of choice. Numerous poems were written to express the feelings of the people towards the leaders and the various activities believed to be immoral that were occurring at the time. This paper will highlight sections of two famous poems, “Anatomy of Abuses”-Phillip Studdes, and Corinna’s going amaying”-Robert Herrick and how they conflict with each other. The “Anatomy of Abuses” blatantly denounces traditional practices, which the writer believed were immoral, while “Corinna’s going amaying’s” author glorified and anticipated those practices. Stubbes compellingly expressed his annoyance by admonishing stage plays, games and customary entertainments.A specipific form of …show more content…
In fact, he called it satanic: “And no mervaile, for there is a great Lord present amongst them, as superintendent and Lord over their pastimes and sportes, namely, Sathan, prince of hel. But the chiefest jewel they bring from thence is their May-pole, which they bring home with great veneration, as thus.” He then went on to call them heathens: And then fall they to daunce about it, like as the heathen people did at the dedication of the Idols, whereof this is a perfect pattern, or rather the thing itself. I have heard it credibly reported (and that viva voce) by men of great gravitie and reputation, that of fortie, threescore, or a hundred maides going to the wood over night, there have scaresly the third part of them returned home againe undefiled.”
This was in contrast to the earlier quote from Herrick where he even encouraged the women to utter a short word of prayer before proceeding to enjoy themselves and entertain the lustful men. He reveled in it: “Made up of white-thorn neatly enterwove; As if here were those cooler shades of love. Can such delights be in the street, And open fields, and we not see't? Come, we'll abroad; and let's obay The Proclamation made for May: sin no more, as we have done, by staying; But my Corinna, come, let's goe a …show more content…
“Anatomy of abuses” which was Stubbes most popular work, clearly entailed a demoralizing attack on English culture particularly the sex aspect. Initially, Stubbs tend to condemn only extreme attention to what he viewed as worldly activities. Later, however, he denounced all forms of them. “And no mervaile, for there is a great Lord present amongst them, as superintendent and Lord over their pastimes and sportes, namely, Sathan, prince of hel. But the chiefest jewel they bring from thence is their May-pole, which they bring home with great veneration, as