Hi All,
So, I forgot that you have to be a member of the blog to make a new post. Sorry about that! Just do your responses to the "Views of the Famine" in the Comments section. Remember, you only have to comment on one article among all of them.
--Dan
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
18 comments:
HE GALWAY STARVATION RIOTS
As I read the scenes describing hungry mothers and their children waling down a street in a riot for food reminding me of an article I read in the paper today. The article in today's article was about the horrific conditions of Louisiana shelters which housed evacuees from New Orleans fleeing Hurricane Gustav. The conditions of the people in Ireland during the famine at this time were very horrific and the desperation of the mothers for not only themselves but their children can be understood by anyone reading the article today. The same desperation can be felt for those evacuees standing in line for food and water after the storms. The parallel between both articles in close although the famine riot was a bit more extreme situation being the length of the famine and the living conditions at that time were worst than any situation now. As I read the article I remembered the desperate and hopeless feeling I felt waiting in those long lines for MRE's and water after Gustav. I remember at times wanting to just start a riot after they turned me around for the second time waiting for ice. I know I would have definitely been a leader in that riot of the potato store if I was living in that situation.
-Jenny Cruz
“Evictions of Peasantry in Ireland”, an article dated December 16, 1848, in the Illustrated London News portrays the mass eviction of the “mere Irish” out of their homes and on to the street. One of the pictures has a mother and child pleading with a gentleman on a horse while their house is being taken apart piece by piece. It is sort of symbolic of how England took Ireland apart piece by piece when it was colonized. The expression of the mother and child show hopelessness and it kind of reminds me of the 1929 stock market crash better known as Black Tuesday where Americans loss everything and illustrated that very same look of hopelessness. But this situation is different for America’s 1929 crash because the Irish are being kicked out of their homes and neighborhoods by aristocrats. The article speaks of hospitable Irish national trait diminishing because the race is upon extinction. It appeared to me that the writer of the article was an outsider looking in on the despair of the “mere Irish” thus he did not fully understand their plight, because he constantly identified them in the third person. He author of the article’s tone sympathized with the poor Irish but he spoke as if this was evitable because this was “social revolution” and necessary. It seemed as if the desires of a few where placed before the needs of many.
The Pictorial Times
Peasant Cottage Interior
I read a few articles from the different newspapers. I even read the same article as Jenny-The Galway Starvation Riots. I completely agree; it did remind me of Hurricane Gustav. It was actually quite bad at the walmart on Siegen Lane. It took a while for the system to become organized. Anyway, I decided to look at The Pictorial Times and I found this picture of a peasant cottage interior. It shows a small family in a small sparse cottage. What I found interesting was that there are 4 farm animals sitting around with them. I didn't seem to mind, but in thinking about the prejudices against poor Irish peasants, a journalist could have used this picture against them. They might call them ignorant peasants who are starving while plentiful food sits in the same room with them. It just really got me thinking about what people would say about this picture.
It was very interesting to read the different approaches that each newspaper took to inform their readers of the problems that were taking place because of the potato famine and the Englich invasion. One article I read was explaining how authorities were researching famines in other countries; rice famine in India and corn disease in America, but they failed to find a connection and were still looking for information on crop disease. They were sure the records existed somewhere but they had no leads. It must have been so frightening to be threatened by starvation, try as I might, I can hardly relate. As terrible as it was, it did give the rich, poor, Irish, English all a common ground and the urgency they felt to secure the crops seemed to be universal. I also read a very funny article from "Punch" that personified the potato and described him giving a thankyou speech after his full recovery from sickness. At least they were able to keep a sense of humor.
THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS Jan. 16, 1847
FAMINE AND STARVATION IN THE COUNTY OF CORK
This article tells of the different stories of death and poverty in the various parts of the country of Cork, Ireland. It relates just how poor the people of the area were, with shocking high numbers of people dying a day of fever, starvation, or coldness. It also tells how most of the people who died during this time weren’t buried in coffins, only in their clothes because their families didn’t want to buy a coffin when money was so hard to come buy. One man interviewed said, “'I would rather give 1s. to a starving man than 4s. 6d. for a coffin.” They were also trying to work on the public roads at the time and the workers often died of being cold and hungry—while they were still outside working on the roads. Statics give in the article reveal just how impoverished the people were. “Rev. Robert Traill, chairman of the Schule Relief Committee, county Cork, states that 15,000 persons in that wide district are destitute; of this 5000 are entirely dependent on casual charity; fifty deaths have resulted from famine and "hundreds" are so reduced that not food or medicine can restore them! The deaths, he adds, now average 25 daily!!”
The Jury at the inquests at Bantry made a statement reprimanding the state for not making action. He said if the government does not lower the price of food they were asking for the mass amount of deaths by starvation and for the people to riot.
The article includes an illustration of the Society of Friends’ Soup House, which was supported by people from the upper class and was able to supple 1500 gallons of soup daily. The price of a quart of soup and a half loaf of bread was one penny, which doesn’t seem like much, but I suppose in a time of crisis in 1847 and for a family of 6, that might be too much,
I read "Food Riots in Ireland" from the Pictoral Times (10/10/1846) and the language of the author struck me the most. Curtis, in the "Apes and Angels" excerpt, says, "These
prejudices were continually being reinforced by a number of assumptions
and axioms about the physical and mental traits of mankind." This is spot on- the writer of the Times piece says "We hold it to be a moral axiom, that the misfortunes of a nation, as of individuals, may be traced to a retributive justice, worked out through its own crimes or follies."
This writer makes a constant assertion that Ireland is basically a lesser and selfish country, dependent on England to keep them afloat when England supposedly gains nothing from this colonization (the author fails to clarify why England would have even chosen to colonize a country that has "always" been populated by a "discontented and starving people" if they had nothing to gain). The author does stress that England SHOULD offer aid but only so they will look better to the Irish and the Irish will listen to them over the "agitators". This shows a general hypocrisy of England not holding themselves to the same moral axioms that they expect the Irish to follow and it's definitely pretty infuriating.
The whole situation really reminded me a lot of Katrina and the way people were treated after that storm (and still are being treated)- I felt as though there was this idea that the country and the government saw New Orleans as a burden that they had to deal with and it was turned into a photo-op and an empty talking point in order to gain voters and press coverage without ever really helping the city itself. However, there was also a very self-righteous attitude that "we shouldn't HAVE to help you, but we will because you can't take care of yourself", completely overlooking the matter than government-built levees were supposed to protect the city and that many people were not able to evacuate. While there was, of course, a much higher fatality rate in Ireland than in LA, I still feel there is a connection to be made in these matters of government-body hypocrisy.
@ hotmess- I'm pretty sure the Punch article is trying to make light of the famine so the English don't have to feel guilty about their lack of concern? Many (all?) of the other Punch articles were highly disparaging of the Irish.
I also read THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS Jan. 16, 1847
FAMINE AND STARVATION IN THE COUNTY OF CORK.
The images described in the article are disturbing, such as fathers and daughters sharing a sick bed while they die, and a reverend administering the last rites of religion to six people in one house. There are good things in the article as well - there is an abundance of human compassion and concern for the poor who are dying of starvation, as well as soup kitchens being set up to aid the poor. I thought it was weird that they would make the poor pay a penny per person to eat at a soup kitchen. It also lists all of the pounds of food that they had to use to make the soup and it makes me wonder why these ingredients were so readily available to a soup kitchen or why they would not just dispense aid to the poor rather than setting up a shop and charging them for it, especially when the article states that the group lost £120-150 per month anyway. I am not aware of how hard or easy it would be for a poor family living in those days to pay that amount, but it seems as though many families benefitted from it at least. It is good that this group of people was taking action that didn't involve coffins or last rites. The article does refer to the starving as the "poor" and the "wretched" and one man is quoted as saying that if something isn't done by the government to lower the price of food, "the result will be a sacrifice of human life from starvation to a frightful extent, and endangerment to property and public peace."
LANDLORD EJECTMENT IN IRELAND
In this article, the reporter shares with readers a pitiful scene in which a landlord is evicted from the very building he was in charge of because he cannot regularly pay the supreme landlord who is over him. The reporter is clearly biased toward Ireland and its citizenry. Though I was expecting a description of the Irish which hinted at the reporter's biased view of their inferiority, I was not quite expecting the details to be so clearly prejudiced. The reporter even uses the vernacular of the landlord to prove their substandard status. His remarks toward the end become even more disparaging when he concludes with "What GENTLEMAN would live in such a country?" relating to readers that Ireland is a country of people who are as far away as civility as one can be.
The Cork Examiner-Jan. 1847
Instead of reading just one article, I skimmed through most of this month on account of their briefness. All talk in numbers of death and starvation, the horror that was the "Poor House" where not only the inmates were ill, but also the employees. People could neither afford a coffin when their loved ones died or a place in which to bury them. People are actually starving to death in droves, yes droves. I can not imagine that a place like Ireland, surrounded by so many "civilized" nations, could have this many people just starve to death with no invention. I am so depressed. Jan. 22nd says that these deaths are "Holocausts offered at the shrine of Political Economy". Having just finished an actual Holocaust novel, I'm very depressed and would rather stop writing now.
The Cork Examiner February 1st, 1847
I was truly astounded to read about the effects of the famine in this series of articles. Whole families dying in a shared bed, children emaciated to the point of literally appearing to be just flesh and bones. Probably in the most horrific account, a man and a woman trying to sell the body of their young dead nephew to a doctor for any kind of compensation. This action really shows how desperate the effects of the famine caused people to be. It is absolutely heartbreaking. I just can't believe that between starvation and death, peasants were being forced off of the land the rented by the owners. It was a bleak time. I can't even comprehend so much death and hopelessness.
January 29, 1847: Brandon Bridge Place; Cork Examiner
Taken with a little imagination (and a quick google look-up of dysentery), this article describes what we would consider sub-human living conditions. Can you believe that over a THOUSASND people (compare that to one of LSU’s close-quarters dormitories, Herget, which houses just over 480 students) went to a poor house? How about at the Hospital and Dipsnsary? What would that place smell like if a woman there died of dysentery, a disease that infects the digestive system and results in the release of blood and other bathroom-related bodily functions, including vomiting and diarrhea? Was there a place for her to relieve herself? If she were lying in one spot dead for four days, what smells would be associated with her death on top of her illness? Did the doctors (or paid staff including a chaplain, clerk, matron, school master, and mistress) know that this illness is spread when people don’t wash their hands? In light of our past hurricane experience, did the poor house, the Fever hospital, or the Dispensary hospital have air-conditioning or lighting in the evening? I think it is interesting to note the universality that Sullivan intends to strike by describing the Irish as “suffering fellow creatures.” Of course, by “creatures”, did he mean to describe the animals who lived in the same house as the people, as described in Wild Irish Girl?
Finally, in the last paragraph, Mr. Sullivan indicates that the Irish people ought to seek British and Scottish help. This suggests that the Irish are essentially at the mercy of their neighboring country-men to bring them out of their “frightful state of misery,” which represents the Irish as unable to care for themselves. Clearly, the Irish Famine was a devastating period for this nation and potentially touching to surrounding countries as well.
After skimming through several articles and illustrations, it is easy for us to quickly learn of the devastation Ireland and her people suffered during her terrible years of famine. I was struck by the Pictorial Times article “Irish Relief” that covered the relief efforts England was making to help Ireland in her time of need. It is interesting (and of little surprise) that “Irish Relief” paints a condescending and inferior image of Ireland even in its call to unite the English sympathies for a neighboring country in need. For example, “To help them now, indeed, is our immediate duty; to teach them better habits, a wiser social economy, and a less selfish nationality, must be reserved for more fortunate times.” While the article tells its British readers to put aside prejudice and help fellow mankind, it blatantly portrays England as the gallant savior to the lowly Irish. There is an obvious bias which turns the piece into propaganda. “There must be some truce to national jealousy and misguided prejudice, when they see such ample proof of our sympathy and social affection.” Sounds like England’s big head just got a little bigger…
The article I chose was "The Depopulation of Ireland". It's sad to think that so many would risk their lives and their families in an attempt to escape that hardships the famine caused. Nearly 250,000 people a year, I can't imagine such a mass exodus.
An entire countries population fleeing their motherland for a chance to prosper in America. As someone reading this in present day my immediate thoughts turn to the years of poverty, violence and death that actually awaits them. These pilgrims are my ancestors; but, I find myself wanting to scream at them to go back. Cause in the end all you think is was it really that bad and worth the suffering.
Food Riots in Ireland, Conduct of the Liberator
I, like Mandi, was also taken by the tone of this article's writer. The writer of this article goes as far as to blame Ireland for its own famine. When the writer stated, "It is idle to look beyond ourselves for the source of whatever mischief of misery befall us," they are basically claiming that if Ireland was a better country and devoid of all its wrongdoings, it would not be going through the tragedy of famine. Also, I feel that the writer thinks it is necessary to lend a hand to their neighboring country only to set an example for them. However, the example the writer wishes to demonstrate is only that England is still far superior and only helping to better itself. Had it been England suffering the famine, the people would have most likely looked to Ireland for help. Given the attitude of this writer, the likely response would not have been that of gratitude, but shame for having had to seek help from a lesser country.
"Ireland and the Irish", this was one of the articles that I read for today's reading and as it was published by The Illustrated London News, the profoundly negative attitude of the author immediately made sense to me. This author was completely insensitive to the plight of the Irish people, instead of sympathizing with the destitute state of the Irish, the author simply acts as if they are deserving of it. Furthermore, all the Irish stereotypes are prevalent throughout the article. The author makes it a point to establish the Irish as "young barbarians" who would rather drink and carouse then work hard and educate themselves. By juxtaposing Irish cottage homes with the "cleanliness and comfort of the English cottage homes" the author paints a portrait of barbarianism of the Irish people. The author even describes the physical characteristics of the Connaught men as proof of their lack of moral character. In reading this article, I was disgusted by the way in which the author goes about depicting his "sister country" and by his methodology of coming to the conclusion that the Irish are deserving of their situation simply because they have diverse customs than the English. - Christina Maltese
The newspaper article I decided to reflect on comes from the Illustrated London News and is entitled Evictions of Peasantry in Ierland. This article reflects on the "vast social change" that was taking place in Ieralnd. Talking about the "increase of emigration," which is to leave one's country or region to settle in another, renders this article to reflect on the "human misery" of the Irish that is "absolutley apalling." In paragraph II of the article each succeding day in Ieralnd is compared to be "more terrible than the simoon, and more deadly than the plauge." A simoon is a strong, hot, sand-laden wind of the Sahara and Arabian desserts. This implies that the conditions of Ieraln at that time were quite horrible and could be compared with the deadliest of natural disasters. The article goes on to talk about "entire districts being cleared" and "vast tracks of the most fertile land in the world...thrown out for tillage." Basically, what was once meant to be a country pionerred for health and abundancy has now been reduced to a land of misery and lonliness.
Post a Comment