Critical Article Analysis: The Grasmere Journals Essay Example

leaves for Yorkshire and the landscape surrounding Grasmere becomes “dull and melancholy” (DW, 392) or when she is happy walking with William and everything becomes much more vibrant. The way she views the world around her seems to be dependant on her feelings toward William.This can also be seen in Dorothy’s journal entry describing William’s wedding morning. (DW, 401) “Through displacement of her negative emotion onto natural scene, which she refuses to analyze, and by constant reference to physical ailments, the journal she knew William would read thereby reveals encoded dissatisfaction--a mode of writing the self which allows Dorothy to express concern with William's impending marriage in ways that do not threaten her place in his heart and home. (Angelino) Her concern deals with her fear of being replaced in William’s life and her journals allow her the voice to express this.

Lastly, given the time and the subordinate role women played in comparison to men, Angelino describes how The Grasmere Journals and the relationship between Dorothy and William allows Dorothy an unspoken role as a literary author; something reserved exclusively for men. …Traces of Dorothy in William's work suggest that even as he writes through her, Dorothy's mediation of his writing facilitates a power dynamic in which she can write herself through him”. (Angelino) Whether or not implicit, it seems that Dorothy is well aware of the influence she has on William and what this could possibly mean for her. I found Jill Angelino’s critique of The Grasmere Journals to not only be helpful in understanding the text but extremely insightful as well.

As much of it was based on literal interpretation, it was hard to

find disagreements with any her evaluations. Angelino’s analysis showed very concretely how Dorothy’s journals were vital to both the relationship she shared with her brother and the success of William Wordsworth as one of the greatest poets of the Romantic period.