How Proudly Man Usurps the Power to Reign

Hanson has taken the standard English sonnet and modified it by presenting a very new topic of women’s right to equality. Instead of the usual lamentation by a male over unreciprocated love, this poem discusses the upcoming wave of change, where women will be equal to men. Hanson’s use of specifically detailed or vague diction, coupled with the structure of the poem, enhances her central idea of women’s rights.

In the first stanza, where the focus is on men, Hanson uses very specific diction to describe his power. He is able to reign over every region of the world, ranging from the “cold Northern Zone” to as far South as possible. It is easy for the reader to conjure the typical image of a King sitting on a throne with his kingdom laid before him. The thought of any part of the world will fit into this image, since “every climate of the world” is included under his power.

Moving into the second stanza, however, the diction becomes vague. The regions that were very specific before are now “wide expanses” and there is no “realm” that a woman occupies. The idea of the soul, freedom, heaven and human kind are suggested, forcing the reader to use their imagination instead of focusing on a specific idea. These are all words that mean something different to each individual, allowing the reader some interpretation. In this stanza women are not equal to men. They have not been able to reach the same power level as men even though there is no fundamental difference that is causing this phenomenon. The vagueness of this stanza stands in stark contrast to the previous one, which shows males direct control.

However, in the third stanza and the couplet Hanson moves back to specific diction but with the central character being female. She brings imagery of servile chains, submissive bows and names of actual people. With this change she is able to show her vision for the future, where women are able to match men since they are equal. She has a “proud soul” that refuses to be bound by the social rules in place. The reader is able to think of a specific individual, the author, as a leader in England, with the female population looking up to her.