Poetry · Chapter
In Defense explained
A satirical poem defending American women against British criticism for marrying British nobles, arguing that the practice is popular because it is considered English, and that British women also pursue wealthy matches.
What happens
A satirical poem defending American women against British criticism for marrying British nobles, arguing that the practice is popular because it is considered English, and that British women also pursue wealthy matches.
Themes in this chapter
Political Satire
The poem satirizes both American and British attitudes toward marriage, money, and social status.
Hypocrisy and Corruption
The speaker accuses the British of masking envy with scorn, while pointing out that British women also marry for money.
Key passages
“You may say, if you please, Johnny Bull, that our girls Are crazy to marry your dukes and your earls; But I’ve heard that the maids of your own little isle Greet bachelor lords with a favoring smile.”
You British may claim our women are obsessed with marrying your aristocrats, but your own women also welcome unmarried lords.
The speaker counters the British criticism by pointing out similar behavior in Britain.
“Nay, titles, ’tis said in defense of our fair, Are popular here because popular there; And for them our ladies persistently go Because ’tis exceedingly English, you know.”
Titles are sought after here because they are also sought after there, and our women pursue them because it is considered very English.
The defense is that the practice is rooted in English influence.
“It’s all very well, sir, your scorn to parade Of the high nasal twang of the Yankee maid, But, ah, to my lord when he dares to propose No sound is so sweet as that “Yes” from the nose.”
You may mock the nasal accent of American women, but when a lord proposes, he finds that nasal 'yes' quite sweet.
The speaker mocks British hypocrisy in criticizing American accents while accepting American brides.
“You’ve many a widow and many a girl With money to purchase a duke or an earl. ’Tis a very remarkable thing, you’ll agree, When goods import buyers from over the sea.”
Britain also has wealthy women who can buy a duke or earl, so it is odd to criticize Americans for doing the same.
The speaker points out that British women also use money to marry into the nobility.