This prayer is not from Punch but from The Children's Missionary Magazine (published in London from March 1838 through December 1894). What type of religion does it depict? What type of child might be expected to say this prayer? In what type of household would he or she reside? Can you imagine children at Lowood School saying this type of prayer? Why or why not? What are the implications about the British empire in this prayer? What would it mean to have small children thinking about Madagascar, Jerusalem, and Ireland? Why these three places in particular (especially Madagascar and Ireland, since Jerusalem has obvious Biblical implications)? Can you compare the type of religious belief expressed here to that held by Bute Crawley, Mr. Pitt Crawley, Miss Temple, Mr. Brocklehurst, Helen Burns, or Jane herself? (April 1, 1847)
Christianity, as it is depicted in The Children’s Missionary Magazine, is tied to the assumption of Britain’s imperial, and moral, supremacy. The article draws a distinction between "Christian countr[ies]" and "heathen lands," suggesting that the children are, in some sense, blessed for having received "instruction at church and at school" in the former. The inclusion of “none daring to make us afraid” is particularly telling, as if those outside the British empire are incapable of acting as a threat to its power. It is hard to imagine that the students at Lowood Institution would recite this prayer. They are taught to remain humble at all times—both in attitude and in appearance. And thus, it seems unlikely that they would relish England’s market hegemony (as they scarcely benefitted and were without access to foreign luxuries), or that they would associate themselves with moral or social import for having been born in a “Christian country.”
ReplyDeleteI believe the the prince to which the article alludes is Radama II of Madagascar, who, contrary to his predecessor’s policies, welcomed European traders and Christian missionaries. The reference to Ireland is a response to the potato famine, which many English Protestants believed was the result of Irish Catholicism (often likened to baseness).
I agree that Lowood children would not have said this prayer, but not only because of modesty - it's the impression I get of the school when Mr. Brocklehurst was presenting Jane to the rest of the school. It seemed that Mr. Brocklehurst wasn't very confident that Jane had a chance of going to heaven, and if SHE doesn't have a very good chance, then Brocklehurst probably wouldn't have even given these "heathen" countries a hope of salvation. This prayer (although supremacist) seems warmer than Brocklehurst's idealogies. Maybe warm Miss Temple might say this prayer, but without the air of superiority. Jane herself seems to lack this evangelical impulse to pray on behalf of other countries - she seems to pay more attention to people's actions than their "heathen-ness" or devotion to Jesus.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a Calvinist prayer - it talks about "grace and heavenly knowledge," and the idea grace is one of the major ideas in Calvinism. It seems to be one said by a well-to-do, educated family. If Corinne is right and the allusion to Madagascar stems from the idea that the country welcomed European traders, then this prayer may be teaching children to view other countries as long as they can be profitable. As for Ireland, the prayer makes clear that it is not profitable to England ("have pity upon her urgent necessities") - and as Corinne pointed out that Irishness=Catholic=baseness, then this prayer would just re-affirm this prejudice in the minds of the people praying.
I would disagree that Lowood girls would not have said a prayer like this, from my impression 'chants' blindly/dully emphasizing British supremacy were quite common, since published in a children's magazine after all. The religion depicted seems to be the 'don't ask, just believe' branch of Christianity which afflicted Europe at the time, not allowing questions but mandating compliance. Dull words for dull people, why make the prayers interesting when fearful servants of the Lord do not really matter as long as they're paying their tithes? Having small children think of places in turmoil serves two functions: making them aware of how lucky they are to live in a 'stable', safe, 'Christian' country, and instilling a condescending attitude in the next generation towards 'others'.
ReplyDeleteThis children's prayer can easily be broken in two pieces -- praying for personal guidance and praying for heathen salvation. In the first half, I would be more surprised to hear the children at Lowood recite. In this prayer, there’s a more positive message of “acceptance,” “constant care for our bodies,” “tender mercy for our souls,” and “good gifts.” This seems contrary to the tenants Brocklehurst holds to. For him, the body is separate from the soul, constraining it at any cost. This prayer may have been said by children whose parents were caring for their bodies, unlike the girls at Lowood.
ReplyDeleteHowever, those positive words are only extended to those children who are born into Christian countries and Christian schools. The second half of the prayer focuses on praying for those who are, in their eyes, less fortunate and less religious. Asking God to “deliver” the heathens, “bless the missionary work,” and “make the deep sorrows of that unhappy country to work for her spiritual good.” As other students have said, it certainly indicates the imperialistic power of the British government. It also suggests that Britain’s foreign expansion is linked to religious expansion, grounding it in divine motivation.
I believe this prayer would have been said at Lowood. While Brocklehurst does say that Jane doesn't have a very good chance of getting into heaven, he still insists that she try and be a good girl to try & avoid that fate. I think his point (while his execution is clearly flawed) is that each of the girls should become aware of their perceived character flaws and work hard to change them. The only difference between his own ideology and that expressed in the prayer is that he seems to focus on the Church as a means of escaping the fire and brimstone alternative to heaven.
ReplyDeleteThe prayer clearly demonstrates England's perceived moral and religious superiority, analagous to Brocklehurst's own self-admiration and superiority complex. This was particularly evident in the British conflict with Ireland throughout the centuries, in which it unsuccessfully tried to impose its own religious reforms and political systems. Interestingly enough, the switch from Roman Catholocism to Anglicanism in England was based primarily on political motives rather than moral or religious precepts. As a result, I find that I read the prayer as almost satirical (as a modern reader - I realize that's not the author's intention) - mocking England's pompous attitude of moral certitude just as Bronte criticizes Brocklehurst's philosophy.