The Cry of the Children by Elizabeth Barrett Browning Poem Analysis

The poem, “The Cry of the Children” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning written in the 1800’s focuses on the horrors of child labor and the suffering that children endured during the industrialization period of Britain.“Children as young as 5 or 6 would work more than 12 hours a day for 6 days a week and the work was often very dangerous. Many young children were killed working or cleaning huge machines and often got very sick from working in the mines or dealing with dangerous chemicals” (ACTU Worksite). Browning formalizes a mournful tone with the use of literary devices such as metaphors, anaphora, and point of view, to implore her readers with knowledge about the conditions of child labor. 

Browning's use of metaphors is prevalent throughout the poem to explore the truths of child labor. In the first stanza of, “The Cry of the Children” Browning composes, “The young lambs are bleating in the meadows—The young birds are chirping in the nest—The young fawns are playing with the shadows -The young flowers are blowing toward the west - But the young, young children, O my brothers—They are weeping bitterly”(5-10). Browning compares three wild animals enjoying life to the young children who are weeping for their freedom through child labor. “Bleating in the meadows”, “Young fawns playing with their shadows” all resemble peacefulness with the innocent children suffering in the same land, creating a sense of sadness for the reader brought upon by a metaphor.

Anaphora, the use of repetition used commonly by authors to bring attention towards their writing, is perfectly used by Browning in regards to the Cry of the Children. Seen in the first stanza, Browning writes, “But the young, young children, O my brothers—They are weeping bitterly!”(7-10). This is also seen in the second stanza, Browning states, “But the young, young children, O my brothers—Do you ask them why they stand Weeping sore before the bosoms of their mothers - In our happy Fatherland?”(21-24). The phrases, “But the young, young children” and “O my brothers” in both stanzas create repetition highlighting the age of these children in inhumane environments. Browning's technique of referring to the people of Britain after describing the age of the children formalizes a feeling of sorrow for the reader. 

The main point of view comes from the author Elizabeth Browning, although she incorporates the point of view from a kid facing the hardships of child labor. Browning's craft of the kid’s point of view truly shows how they are being affected by child labor. In the third stanza, Browning says, “Your old earth," they say, "is very dreary;" — "Our young feet," they say, "are very weak;—Few paces have we taken, yet are weary—Our grave-rest is very far to seek;”(29-32). Browning’s use of point of view seen through the children of child labor focuses on the horrors and conditions they go through. This emotional element incorporated by Browning helps the reader feel for the kids in child labor.

Browning's poem illustrated the suffering of children during Britain's industrial revolution, emphasizing how their harsh treatment went against ethical morals. The use of a mournful tone throughout Browning's poems is developed by metaphors, anaphora, and point of view to explain to the readers the severity of child labor. The effective use of a sad tone ultimately reached the audience of Britain society making them a part of the problem regarding child labor.