Comment 3 of 13, added on March 30th, 2005 at 12:57 PM.

LIke this beautiful poem, i also feel as though i am in love, in love with a man who knows me so well...THis poem is great for any occasion i really enjoy it through and through

Erek Kucher from United States

Comment 1 of 13, added on January 31st, 2005 at 6:21 PM.

In ‘The Ruined Maid’, which Hardy wrote in 1866, Hardy focuses on one woman's recent loss of chastity and how she is perceived by a once close friend who is returning to town. This ‘Maid’ has found herself marring above her status and prostituting herself for riches and prosperity. Rather than feeling ashamed of her actions, she expresses a sense of pride in her self and confidence in her sex, much like a suffragettes attitude of the time. In the last line of each stanza, she points out how she is ruined; however, the tone of her various declarations is triumphant. For example, at the end of the third stanza she states, ‘A polish is gained with one's ruin'. This indicates that this ruined woman feels a sense of liberation and independence mirroring events in the late 19th century for women. After Hardy portrayed the idea of the fallen woman in this manner through his poetry, he proceeded to explore this idea within his novels as well.

Will Eves from United Kingdom