by Paul Rance

Created on: November 04, 2011   Last Updated: November 07, 2011

Jane Austen was arguably Britain's greatest female novelist, penning such classic novels as 'Pride and Prejudice', 'Sense and Sensibility', 'Emma', and 'Mansfield Park'. Though dwarfed by her successful career as a novelist, Jane Austen was also a gifted poet. 

A Poem about Etiquette 

'Miss Lloyd Has Now Went to Miss Green' is a poem that tells the reader a lot about the etiquette of late 18th Century and early 19th Century England. The etiquette of how the death of a "Relative dear" should be observed, to be precise. 

Miss Lloyd has issued instructions to Miss Green as to what would be appropriate to wear to mourn her relative. There is also an insight into how people communicated in the upper echelons of English society in the late 1700s and early 1800s. "It is better to write than to speak" indicates that communication about death is to be done in a formal manner.

Jane Austen uses five rhyming couplets in this poem, and the rhythm of the poetry emphasizes its content. It gives the impression that Miss Green is not just being offered advice, but that she is being told what to do. Miss Green is also told that the Black Ploughman's Gauze must be "made up directly". Miss Green will be expected to receive and to wear her mourning clothes by the end of the week. 

Even if Miss Green wasn't fond of her dead relative, she is still expected to be seen to be in mourning. Almost as if observing the correct manners is as important, or even more so, than the fact that someone close has died. The adherence to proper procedure still persists in British culture today, and is underlined by the phrase: "Being seen to be doing the right thing." 

The Overbearing Miss Lloyd 

The poem comes across as humorous, because many people will have come across a Miss Lloyd in our lives. Miss Lloyd is a person who has some authority, or thinks she has, and revels in it. Miss Lloyd also doesn't seem to be considering the emotional feelings of Miss Green, who may be devastated by the death of her relative. But Miss Lloyd seems to be so haughty that she probably thinks that her advice will be appreciated. She will not presume that it comes across as advice delivered in an overbearing manner - and to a person who may be in a distressed state. 

Though the poem is only ten lines in length, it says a great deal about English culture of the time. It shows the desire for efficiency, but also that compassion is often sacrificed in favor of that efficiency. 

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