‘Focus is on the Creation of CriminalʼTo what
extent do you agree? Refer to at least two
writers.
‘Focus is on the Creation of Criminalʼ
To what extent do you agree? Refer to at least two writers.
[25 Marker]
Focus on the creation of the criminal being vague in Peter Grimes – instead focus being on
the crimes themselves and society.
Focus being on the treatment of criminals in The Ballad of Reading Gaol.
Focus being on the psychology of the criminal in Browning.
Throughout centuries, critics have placed focus on the ‘creation of the criminalʼ as a method of
understanding motivation and psychology of the criminal. However, the questions emphasis on
the term ‘focusʼ suggests that ideas about the creation of the criminal lay at the forefront of the
poetry competing with the focus on aspects of crime such as the psychology of the criminal,
society in which the criminals are in, the crimes themselves, and lastly the punishment of the
crime. In this essay I will therefore discuss to what extent ‘focus is on the creation of the
criminalʼ in the selection of poetry.
Through the bildungsroman structure of Peter Grimes, it is one of the only poems which
provides insight into the ‘creation of the criminalʼ spanning the lifetime of Peter Grimes.
Immediately a sense of danger is created surrounding Grimeʼs character where it is stated that
he “knew not justice” and “laughʼd at the law”. This foregrounds the commission of his first
crime which is the breaking of the fifth commandment – “honour your father and mother” – as
his “fatherʼs love he scornʼd, his power he defied”, disobeying his father and establishing
himself in the position of the poems criminal. However, the poems vague and lack of reasoning
into why Grimes is this way detaches focus away from the focus of the criminal placing it on his
action instead of motivation for his actions. Instead, ideas about the creation of Grimes as a
criminal acts as a shadowy theme in the background of the poem and in the readers, mind
fitting in more so with the Victorian belief that criminals were born not made.
As stated by Brittenʼs (involved in the production of the Opera ‘Peter Grimesʼ) this allows focus
to instead be placed on the “individuals conflict and relationship with society”. This introduces
the theme of society in the poem, where society acts as its own character exemplified through
certain voices, being the only dialogue aside from Grimes to have a voice in the poem such as
on Line 78 where it is stated “Grimes is at his exercise”, a line echoed in the chorus of the Opera
also. The repetition of “none” when describing the societies response to the crime emphasises
the complicity of society , with the “feeling creature(s) subject to his power” which Grimes
extent do you agree? Refer to at least two
writers.
‘Focus is on the Creation of Criminalʼ
To what extent do you agree? Refer to at least two writers.
[25 Marker]
Focus on the creation of the criminal being vague in Peter Grimes – instead focus being on
the crimes themselves and society.
Focus being on the treatment of criminals in The Ballad of Reading Gaol.
Focus being on the psychology of the criminal in Browning.
Throughout centuries, critics have placed focus on the ‘creation of the criminalʼ as a method of
understanding motivation and psychology of the criminal. However, the questions emphasis on
the term ‘focusʼ suggests that ideas about the creation of the criminal lay at the forefront of the
poetry competing with the focus on aspects of crime such as the psychology of the criminal,
society in which the criminals are in, the crimes themselves, and lastly the punishment of the
crime. In this essay I will therefore discuss to what extent ‘focus is on the creation of the
criminalʼ in the selection of poetry.
Through the bildungsroman structure of Peter Grimes, it is one of the only poems which
provides insight into the ‘creation of the criminalʼ spanning the lifetime of Peter Grimes.
Immediately a sense of danger is created surrounding Grimeʼs character where it is stated that
he “knew not justice” and “laughʼd at the law”. This foregrounds the commission of his first
crime which is the breaking of the fifth commandment – “honour your father and mother” – as
his “fatherʼs love he scornʼd, his power he defied”, disobeying his father and establishing
himself in the position of the poems criminal. However, the poems vague and lack of reasoning
into why Grimes is this way detaches focus away from the focus of the criminal placing it on his
action instead of motivation for his actions. Instead, ideas about the creation of Grimes as a
criminal acts as a shadowy theme in the background of the poem and in the readers, mind
fitting in more so with the Victorian belief that criminals were born not made.
As stated by Brittenʼs (involved in the production of the Opera ‘Peter Grimesʼ) this allows focus
to instead be placed on the “individuals conflict and relationship with society”. This introduces
the theme of society in the poem, where society acts as its own character exemplified through
certain voices, being the only dialogue aside from Grimes to have a voice in the poem such as
on Line 78 where it is stated “Grimes is at his exercise”, a line echoed in the chorus of the Opera
also. The repetition of “none” when describing the societies response to the crime emphasises
the complicity of society , with the “feeling creature(s) subject to his power” which Grimes
