Listen to a Lady's Cry...

Situation and Setting #2: "In Westminster Abbey" by John Betjeman
This poem can be found on page 907 of the Norton.

This poem is about a woman in Westminster Abbey during World War II. Both the time and place of this poem have great significance to the overall meaning and tone of the poem.

Firstly, this woman is pleading to God in a cemetary in England. However, she has quite an arrogant tone while speaking to Him. She wishes to save only those like her, woman and whites. She asks the Lord to "bomb the Germans. Spare their women for Thy Sake." She seems to be telling God that in saving and killing certain people, he will be doing it for his own good. Ironically, she is surrounded by the most substantial people in England's history. Some of these people have died for their country while others ruled over England. Either way, this woman is speaking as if she were not only higher than them, but higher than God. She says that she will "pardon" his mistake if he does what she is asking. Her arrogance is oddly placed among the highest officials in England, and the highest official of all, God.

Also, the placement of this poem during World War II is significant to the overall meaning. Amidst the chaos and murder occuring in the world at this time, the woman is merely worried about her "luncheon date." She acts as if she is doing the country and God a favor in volunteering to be apart of the "Women's Army Corps" and to "was the Steps around Thy Throne." It seems that the lady does not understand the severity of the war at this moment. Instead, she is telling God that she will do him small favors if he will keep her alive. She says that she has committed "no major crime" and therefore believes she shouldn't be punished when there are innocent people all around who are being slaughtered for no reason. This woman does not understand what she is asking of God and the severity of the position her country is in.