Cousin Kate (1860)

"Cousin Kate" by Christina Rossetti

Context

Christina Rossetti was a 19th-century poet known for her exploration of themes such as love, betrayal, and morality. In Cousin Kate, Rossetti critiques the double standards of Victorian society, particularly the treatment of women. The poem examines issues of social class, purity, and female agency through the voice of a scorned woman reflecting on her seduction and abandonment by a nobleman.

The Poem

I was a cottage-maiden Hardened by sun and air, Contented with my cottage-mates, Not mindful I was fair.

Why did a great lord find me out And praise my flaxen hair? Why did a great lord find me out To fill my heart with care?

He lured me to his palace-home – Woe's me for joy thereof – To lead a shameless shameful life, His plaything and his love.

He wore me like a golden knot, He changed me like a glove: So now I moan an unclean thing Who might have been a dove.

← Simile

O Lady Kate, my Cousin Kate, You grow more fair than I: He saw you at your father's gate, Chose you and cast me by.

He watched your steps along the lane, Your sport among the rye: He lifted you from mean estate To sit with him on high.

Because you were so good and pure He bound you with his ring: The neighbours call you good and pure, Call me an outcast thing.

← Repetition

Even so I sit and howl in dust You sit in gold and sing: Now which of us has tenderer heart? You had the stronger wing.

O Cousin Kate, my love was true, Your love was writ in sand: If he had fooled not me but you, If you stood where I stand,

← Metaphor

He had not won me with his love Nor bought me with his land: I would have spit into his face And not have taken his hand.

Yet I've a gift you have not got And seem not like to get: For all your clothes and wedding-ring I've little doubt you fret.

← Contrast

My fair-haired son, my shame, my pride, Cling closer, closer yet: Your sire would give broad lands for one To wear his coronet.

← Juxtaposition

5 quotes + analysis to achieve a grade 9

1. "He wore me like a golden knot, / He changed me like a glove:"

• Analysis: The simile "changed me like a glove" emphasises the disposability of the speaker in the eyes of the lord. This objectification reflects the Victorian double standard where women were judged harshly for their relationships while men faced little consequence. The imagery highlights the power imbalance and the fleeting nature of the lord's affection.

2. "Because you were so good and pure / He bound you with his ring:"

• Analysis: The repetition of "good and pure" underscores society's obsession with female chastity and the judgment placed on women's virtue. While Cousin Kate is celebrated for her purity, the speaker is shamed and ostracised, exposing the hypocrisy of societal values.

3. "My love was true, / Your love was writ in sand:"

• Analysis: The metaphor "writ in sand" suggests the fragility and insincerity of Cousin Kate's love compared to the speaker's genuine feelings. This contrast highlights the betrayal by both the lord and Cousin Kate, deepening the speaker's sense of injustice.

4. "Yet I've a gift you have not got, / And seem not like to get:"

• Analysis: The contrast between the speaker's maternal pride and Cousin Kate's material wealth highlights the theme of moral and emotional fulfilment versus superficial gain. The speaker reclaims her power through her son, positioning herself as superior despite societal judgment.

5. "My fair-haired son, my shame, my pride, / Cling closer, closer yet:"

• Analysis: The juxtaposition of "shame" and "pride" captures the speaker's conflicting emotions about her son. While society views her child as a mark of disgrace, she sees him as a source of personal triumph and redemption. This duality challenges societal norms by asserting the value of her motherhood.

Form & Structure Points

• Ballad Form: The poem follows a traditional ballad structure with regular quatrains and an ABAB rhyme scheme. This form gives it a lyrical, narrative quality, reinforcing its storytelling nature.
• Dramatic Monologue: The first-person perspective allows the speaker to voice her pain and resentment directly, creating a powerful sense of intimacy and emotional depth.
• Contrast: The poem contrasts the speaker's experiences with those of Cousin Kate, highlighting the hypocrisy of societal values and the consequences of class and gender inequalities.
• Repetition: The repeated questioning ("Why did a great lord find me out?") reflects the speaker's anguish and the cyclical nature of her thoughts, emphasising her inability to escape her past.

Themes

1. Betrayal and Hypocrisy: The poem critiques societal double standards that condemn women like the speaker while excusing men like the lord.
2. Love and Loss: The speaker contrasts her genuine love with the superficial relationships around her, underscoring the pain of betrayal.
3. Social Class and Power: The lord's ability to discard the speaker and elevate Cousin Kate reflects the rigid class hierarchies of Victorian society.
4. Female Agency and Resistance: Despite her suffering, the speaker reclaims her power through her son, challenging societal expectations and asserting her resilience.

Example Paragraph for a Grade 9 Answer

In Cousin Kate, Rossetti explores betrayal through imagery and contrast. The metaphor "He wore me like a golden knot, / He changed me like a glove" highlights the speaker's objectification and the lord's betrayal of her trust. Similarly, the repetition of "good and pure" exposes societal hypocrisy, where Cousin Kate is rewarded for her perceived virtue while the speaker is ostracised. The juxtaposition of "shame" and "pride" in "My fair-haired son, my shame, my pride" reveals the speaker's complex emotions, as she reclaims her power through motherhood. These techniques allow Rossetti to critique Victorian society's double standards surrounding gender and morality. Comparably, in [Insert Other Poem], [Insert Comparison]. Both poets highlight betrayal as a catalyst for emotional and societal conflict.