Posted by Terence McManus on July 13, 2004 at 03:58:05 from 211.150.249.103 user Terence_McManus.
In Reply to: Re: Casabianca posted by Pam Adams on July 13, 2004 at 01:08:25:
The Swallows were pretty negative about modern shipping. In Chapter 1 of S&A Roger pretends to be a schooner because of John's condemnation of steam ships. In later books fun is made of Roger's interest in engines. Peter Duck, as a mouthpiece for the S&As (and AR?), laments the passing of sail due to steam.
On the other hand I'm not sure that Masefield is being negative about the coaster. Although the cargo is mundane, even comic, I feel that there is a power and rhythm in the third verse which is less evident in the first two. "Butting through the Channel in the mad March days" is a wonderfully evocative line. Masefield had been a professional seaman (albeit for a single voyage?) and I suspect he felt respect and even affection for the coaster. The dirt and salt crust seem to me to be references not to slovenliness, but to a vessel and its crew toiling to make an honest living in all weathers.