From Aurora Leigh:
I had my windows broken once or twice
By liberal peasants, naturally incensed
At such a vexer of Arcadian peace,
Who would not let men call their wives their own
To kick like Britons,–and made obstacles
When things went smoothly as a baby drugged,
Toward freedom and starvation; bringing down
The wicked London tavern-thieves and drabs,
To affront the blessed hillside drabs and thieves
With mended morals, quotha,–fine new lives!–
My windows paid for’t.What is the meaning of the phrase in bold? It does not seem to be coherent at all. It’s not connected to the previous words.
To whom does “to kick like Britons” refer? To “wives”, to “peasants”, or to the person pronouncing the sentences?
Answer
He describes the attitude of the “liberal peasant” who claims that he owns his wife as property and therefore has the same right as every other free (male) Briton: to kick her whenever he feels like it. Romney denies both the ownership and the liberty.
Attribution
Source : Link , Question Author : CowperKettle , Answer Author : StoneyB on hiatus
