This poem is one that spoke so loudly to me while reading it, that I reread the poem repeatedly about six times. The amount of gender equality expressed throughout this poem is incredible. But, the equality is represented in such a subtle yet noticeable way as well. You see, the society we live in today often takes women's thoughts and ideas and pushes them to the side to the "men" can do their job. While reading this, I noticed how important a woman truly is in a mans life. Tennyson states "For woman is not undevelopt man, but diverse: could we make her as the man," (259-260). No matter what people say, a woman will almost always want the best for a man whether that be a father figure in her life, a boyfriend, husband or a child. So, at the end of the day, the woman doesn't want to challenge or rise over men but instead be seen equal to men when it comes to the community around them and not feel as if they are invisible.
A section in this poem that also stood out to me was when Tennyson says, "In our own lives, and this proud watchword rest of equal; seeing either sex alone is half itself, and in true marriage lies nor equal, nor unequal: each fulfills defect in each, and always thought in thought, purpose in purpose, will in will, they grow, the single pure and perfect animal, the two-celled heart beating, with one full stroke, life" (282-289). What does this section of the poem explain to you? What do you feel while reading this whether you are a male or female? For me, this spoke highly about men and women being seen as a whole and not separate items. I feel that even though this poem was written in the Victorian Age, you could still agree that the meaning behind this poem still has a MASSIVE impact on the image of society we have today. But, at the very end of the poem Tennyson says, "And again sighing she spoke: "A dream that once was mine! what woman taught you this?"" (290-291). After that poem was presented and expressed, the woman still believes that the thoughts that were represented were just a dream and were not yet thought of as something to be talked about when it came to women feeling heard. Very sad but still true to society we are in today, but as you can see it has happened for centuries throughout our history timeline.