Poem: The Song of the Shirt

Introduction
" The Song of the Shirt" by Thomas Hood is a 19th-century poem, composed in 1843, which clarifies the extreme working conditions dealt with by the working-class females in Victorian England. Embed in the context of the Industrial Revolution, the poem explains the predicament of a seamstress, who has a hard time to make ends satisfy while working tirelessly in a cramped and moist space. Through Hood's vibrant portrayal of her suffering, he exposes the exploitation and hardship dealt with by these women and slams the social passiveness and financial systems that perpetuate their mistreatment.

Content and Structure
The poem's title, "The Song of the Shirt", alludes to the female's monotonous labor, as she compares her work to the repeated act of singing a tune. The poem is divided into 10 verses, each including six lines. The consistency of the rhyme plan and rhythm show the boring nature of the seamstress' work, developing a sense of hopelessness and misery.

In the opening verse, Hood introduces the woman's unrelenting labor: "With fingers weary and used,/ With eyelids heavy and red,/ A female sat, in unwomanly rags,/ Plying her needle and thread". The poem utilizes repetition to highlight her perpetual work, as she starts to sing the tune: "Stitch-- sew-- stitch!/ In poverty, hunger, and dirt,/ And still with a voice of dolorous pitch/ She sang the 'Song of the Shirt!'".

Throughout the poem, Hood's imagery and word option stimulate the dreary and oppressive environment in which the lady works. She is referred to as having "eyelids heavy and red", revealing her exhaustion from working long hours with little rest. The "dolorous pitch" of her voice communicates her despair and discomfort. Using alliteration in "work-- work-- work!" and "sew-- sew-- sew!" adds to the experience of the poem's dullness and the female's endless labor.

Social Commentary and Critique
" The Song of the Shirt" is more than simply a poem about a seamstress's life. Hood utilizes the female's story to communicate a more comprehensive social commentary on the terrible living and working conditions of the time. The female's status is described as "unwomanly", which recommends that her way of living deviates from societal standards.

Her anguish is all-encompassing, as Hood's language stresses the relentless hardship, hunger, and filth that surround her. This representation is not restricted to physical suffering, but also extends to her mental distress. The poem mentions that "She wept, for the days so worn-down and used,/ And for the heart that has actually long been pitiable". This line shows the excruciating nature of the woman's emotion.

Throughout the poem, Hood reviews the financial system that sustains the exploitation of the working class, particularly women. The poem reveals the devaluation of human life and self-respect, as workers are viewed as simple cogs in a maker, driven by earnings. The last stanza highlights this point: "Oh, God! That bread needs to be so dear,/ And flesh and blood so inexpensive!".

The phrase "flesh and blood" suggests that the employees' wellness is deemed being lesser than material wealth. Hood's usage of religious language and imagery in this stanza highlights the moral crisis that the poem looks for to address.

Conclusion
" The Song of the Shirt" is an effective critique of the overbearing social and financial conditions faced by the working poor during the Industrial Revolution. Thomas Hood's vivid representation of the seamstress's life, characterized by long hours, mean working conditions, and near-starvation wages, raises awareness of the severe truths endured by these ignored members of society. The poem stands as a testament to the durability and strength of the working class, in addition to a condemnation of the systems that perpetuate their suffering.