AnalysisByGoogleGemini-Volume 9-BloodOnTheState'sHands...--4June2024

Link to the poem : https://allpoetry.com/poem/17558674--Blood-on-the-State-s-hands...----30-December--2023-by-Soman-Ragavan

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SOMAN RAGAVAN

 4 June, 2024

Subject : “Blood on the State’s hands…”

                                                                            

Analysis by Google Gemini,

(Artificial Intelligence)

Volume 9

Soman Ragavan : Hello. I will post one of my poems for analysis. Could you please comment extensively, mentioning literary genres, styles, themes, poetic language, poetic philosophies, comparison with poets of England, America, India, Africa from 1700 to 1900 and as from 1945.

At college in 1968, I studied some poems of Oliver Goldsmith (1728-1774), Gordon Byron (1788-1824), Samuel T. Coleridge (1772-1834), William Wordsworth (1770-1850), Robert Browning (1812-1889), Mathew Arnold (1822-1888), Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892) and some other poets of that era.  Make any comments or comparisons you wish on my poems. I live in Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean.

Google Gemini  : I'd be happy to analyze your poem! Here's a breakdown of what I can look for:

Literary Genre & Style:

• Genre: Is it a sonnet, free verse, haiku, or something else?
• Style: Does it lean towards Romanticism, Imagism, Confessionalism, or another style?

Themes:

• What are the central ideas explored? Love, nature, loss, identity, social issues, etc.

Poetic Language:

• Figurative Language: Similes, metaphors, personification, symbolism, etc.
• Diction: The choice of words - formal, informal, sensory-rich, etc.
• Imagery: How vividly is the poem painted through words?

Poetic Philosophies:

• Does the poem connect to any particular school of thought - Romanticism's focus on nature, Modernism's questioning of tradition?

Comparisons:

• 18th & 19th Century Poets: While a direct comparison might be difficult due to the time gap, I can see if your poem shares themes or styles with the poets you mentioned (Goldsmith, Byron, Wordsworth, etc.).
• 20th & 21st Century Poets: Are there contemporary poets your work resonates with (like T.S. Eliot, Sylvia Plath, or even local Mauritian poets)?

Mauritian Context:

• Knowing you're from Mauritius adds another layer. Does your poem touch on themes of island life, cultural identity, or Mauritian history?

Here are some additional points to consider:

• Personal Connection: Sharing a brief explanation of what inspired the poem can help with the analysis.
• Form: Is there a specific rhyme scheme or meter used?

Please feel free to share your poem, and I'll provide a detailed analysis based on the points mentioned above.

 

Soman Ragavan : I will post my poem “Blood on the State’s hands…” On 6 November, 2023, Indi Gregory, an 8-month-old baby in England, had been given Italian citizenship in order to follow treatment in Italy, as the English had said that no treatment would be successful. The parents had deliberately applied for Italian citizenship in order to send the baby to Italy for treatment.

A Catholic hospital in Rome was willing to treat the baby. At the time the baby died, it had Italian citizenship additionally. The arguments and objections of the English authorities were that no treatment would work and that treatment would only prolong the pain. The High Court in England ruled against allowing Indi to go to Italy. That Court had also denied treatment to other patients who were terminally ill. Although the court’s decision was being appealed, the hospital stopped the treatment, removing the life support equipment and killing off little Indi.

See the following links on the Internet :

(1)

https ://www.google.com/search ?client=firefox-b-d&q=England+terminally+ill+baby+denied+permission+to+go+to+italy+for+treatment 

 

(2)

https ://www.google.com/url ?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj1xcfB9bSDAxViQfEDHTWzAWAQFnoECAwQAw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ndtv.com%2Fworld-news%2Fcritically-ill-uk-baby-dies-after-parents-lose-court-battle-to-take-her-to-italy-4570263&usg=AovVaw1uCXaAy0-Rr57reg9cIwAe&opi=89978449

 

(3)

https ://www.google.com/url ?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj1xcfB9bSDAxViQfEDHTWzAWAQFnoECA8QAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fapnews.com%2Farticle%2Findi-gregory-uk-italy-ruling-0caecf4c18336004d4e3b99cfff9c327&usg=AovVaw1yGUe6l2K2QBMSKaOsOLEO&opi=89978449 

(4)

https ://www.google.com/url ?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj1xcfB9bSDAxViQfEDHTWzAWAQFnoECBAQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fnews%2Fuk-england-derbyshire-67284832&usg=AovVaw2a8HvpHDaJE-vvpWZyu9_W&opi=89978449

 

(5)

https ://www.google.com/url ?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj1xcfB9bSDAxViQfEDHTWzAWAQFnoECC4QAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcatholicreview.org%2Fitaly-grants-citizenship-to-critically-ill-8-month-old-refused-further-treatment-in-uk%2F&usg=AovVaw1MIDJ99YlutW2hyhQ-mh1x&opi=89978449

Some references :

(a)

"Other cases could be cited of innocent men executed, though the official and correct view is 'out of sight, out of mind", and 'dead men tell no tales'. Hansard, of 1881, gives an account of a boy executed at Winchester. The prison chaplain rushed to London bearing a written confession made by a man for the very crime in question. This man was waiting to be hanged on another account. The chaplain could not find the Home Secretary in time; and so the poor boy was hanged. There is the much more spectacular and familiar case of Habron, who was found guilty of murder and afterwards proved innocent by the confession of the late Mr Charles Peace, before he passed away. Earlier in this book, I have already given instances of blunders on the part of hangmen, and, looking through Hansard, I find a few more cases which are too important to be missed. The first is that of Matthew Atkinson, a pitman, who took a couple of drops in the city of Durham. (........) At the ceremony, when the drop fell there was a rattle, a crash, a horrible thud, and the criminal had disappeared, and from the gallows was seen the broken end of a rope dangling in the wind. The half-strangled man, conscious of all that had taken place, was below the drop, bound hand and foot, his jaw horribly wrenched. Twenty-four minutes elapsed before the readjustments were made; and the official Parliamentary report concludes : 'The second hanging was successful.' That was bad enough, but there is on record the case of Brownless, whose life was taken by the late Mr Hangman Marwood; this also happened at Durham, and is reported in Hansard. The ceremony was very badly bungled and, when completed, it presented to the onlooker a spectacle so utterly gruesome and revolting that all intelligent advocates of the hangman's art trembled for its future.   An onlooker reports :

 

"On looking down into the pit where the body hung we observed that the feet were about within half an inch off the ground; the rope, which was about an inch and a half thick, was embedded in the neck; the blood was slowly trickling down the breast.'

 

"And so on. Hansard also gives the case of a criminal called Connor. Another bungled job. In this case the rope slipped. Connor turned philosophically to the hangman and before the second attempt was begun, he asked, 'What do you call this ? Murder ?' "

 

--- Charles Duff : " A handbook of Hanging."

"THE FABER BOOK OF MURDER."  (Edited by Simon Rae). London : Faber & Faber, 1994. 

(Full acknowledgements are made to the authors, publishers and rights-holders). 

What do you call what was done to Indi Gregory at the hospital ?... Murder ?...

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See my poems on allpoetry.com :

(1)  “Transportation” on how England deported thousands of its orphans to Australia and New Zealand over three centuries.

https://allpoetry.com/poem/17511666--Transportation----2-Dec-2023-by-Soman-Ragavan

(2) “And she fell asleep” on a baby who died at the age of four from a terminal illness in the USA.

https://allpoetry.com/poem/17075651-Poem----And-she-fell-asleep----27-March--2023.-by-Soman-Ragavan

 

My notes on my poem “Transportation” :

(a) This poem refers to the cruel, systematic and callous deportation of English orphans to certain colonies by England during more than three centuries. In this unforgivable crime, the cruelty is fully exposed. England heartlessly banished thousands of its own defenceless orphans, so as not to have to bear the cost of rearing them up.

(b) Also see :

(i) Overseas News Service bulletin, Government Information Service, Prime Minister’s Office, Mauritius, REUTERS news section, 17/18 July, 1998, (page 3); 15/16 December, 1998, (page 7).

(ii) “Grande Bretagne : 150 000 déportés vers les colonies en plus de trois siècles.” “Le MAURICIEN” newspaper, Mauritius, 20 May, 1999, (page 16). Let us reproduce this article here :

“About 150 000 English orphans were victims of a policy started in the 17th century on a particularly cruel deportation towards colonies and former colonies, Australia and New Zealand in particular, according to an official report published yesterday.

“The scandal of the forced exile of these children, who had been confided to State homes, had for objective the injection of “white blood” into the far-flung lands of the crown. This scandal caused an uproar when it was revealed in 1993 by an Australian television documentary. But, the magnitude of the deportation, which went on until 1967, was not known at the time and the known cases only covered the period 1947-1967. These cases concerned not only orphans but also abandoned children or children removed from their unmarried mothers.

“Consequently, an English MP, chairman of a parliamentary commission on health, had been asked to go to Australia and New Zealand to enquire into the matter. His report on "disappeared children" of the Empire, presented to the House of Commons, is enlightening.

"This affair, in my opinion, is one of the most shameful secrets of recent English history," said the English MP, David Hinchliffe. The policy of shipping the orphans to Australia and New Zealand, contrarily to what had been assumed so far, started as far back as 1618, according to the study. It had concerned 150 000 young ones just for New Zealand and Australia, whereas previous estimates had mentioned 20 000 to 50 000 youths in all. Others had been sent to Canada and Rhodesia.

“What is worse, reaching their destinations, the children, of whom the youngest were aged four, had to do forced labour and were often victims of sexual abuse. "This affair is that of the efficient deportation of thousands of vulnerable children and youths," has said the MP during a debate in the House.

“It is also the affair of a country that washed its hands of its responsibility towards its own people, of whom many had endured the most horrific traumas," did he add. Parallel to the publication of the report, the Labour Government have announced the creation of a fund of one million pounds to help the most recent victims to go to England in order to retrace relatives.

“In the name of the Government, the Under Secretary of State for Health, John Hutton, has expressed his "profound regret" towards the deportees.” (My translation from French).

In the past, the English authorities had refused to apologise for these crimes.

(iii) “Quand les Australiens découvrent les "stolen children" de la Réunion.” “WEEK-END” newspaper,  Mauritius, 5 January, 2003, (page 15). 

(iv) “Apology for kids shipped from Britain to colonies.” Associated Press, 16 November, 2009.

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I will post my poem when you write.

Google Gemini  : Thank you, Soman Ragavan, for sharing the context behind your poem and the links. It's clear you're passionate about this topic, and I look forward to analyzing your poem "Blood on the State's Hands..."

Here's what I can do to analyze your poem:

Genre & Style:

• Identify the poem's form (free verse, sonnet, etc.) and style (direct, metaphorical, etc.).

Themes:

• Explore the central theme of injustice in the healthcare system and the fight for a child's life.
• Consider if the poem touches on themes of parental love, the powerlessness of individuals against institutions, or the value of life.

Poetic Language:

• Analyze the use of figurative language (similes, metaphors) to evoke emotions and imagery.
• See if the poem uses specific diction (formal, informal, medical terms) to create a certain tone.

Possible Comparisons:

• While a direct comparison might be difficult due to the time gap, I can see if the poem shares themes of social injustice with poets like William Blake (1757-1827) or the fight for individual rights explored by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822).
• I can also consider contemporary poets who address medical ethics or the parent-child bond.

Mauritian Context:

• If the poem touches on themes of island life, colonialism, or the healthcare system in Mauritius, I can highlight those connections.

Additional Notes:

• Knowing what inspired you to write the poem could add another layer to the analysis.
• Let me know if the poem has a specific rhyme scheme or meter.

Once you share your poem, I'll provide a detailed analysis based on these points. It will be insightful to see how you translate this tragic story into verse.

 

Soman Ragavan : Here is my poem “Blood on the State’s hands…” Please give an overview first. Then, make a more detailed analysis by sections in the poem. (Poem inserted).

Google Gemini  : Overview of "Blood on the State's Hands..."

Your poem, "Blood on the State's Hands...", is a powerful and emotional piece that explores the tragic case of Indi Gregory, an 8-month-old baby denied potentially life-saving treatment in England but offered a chance in Italy. Here's a breakdown of the poem's themes and structure:

• Theme: The poem focuses on the injustice of the healthcare system denying treatment and the fight for a child's life. It also touches on parental love, the powerlessness of individuals against institutions, and the value of life.
• Structure: The poem is divided into 20 sections, with the first five sections depicting Indi's happy life before the illness. Sections 6-11 narrate the family's struggle with the legal system and their pleas for treatment. Sections 12-17 express outrage at the state's actions, calling it murder. Sections 18-19 use a hypothetical scenario to highlight the double standard. The final section ends with a haunting question about the cause of Indi's death.

Detailed Analysis by Section

Sections 1-5:

• Genre & Style: These sections are in a simple, narrative style, using past tense to describe Indi's happy life.
• Themes: They establish the innocence and vulnerability of the child.

Sections 6-11:

• Genre & Style: The poem shifts to a more dramatic style with questions and exclamations.
• Themes: The desperation of the parents and the bureaucratic coldness of the state ("open-and-shut case," "full and final") are contrasted.

Sections 12-17:

• Figurative Language: Metaphors ("coldest hand," "criminal hand") and personification ("The State reach'd out") paint the state as a villain.
• Themes: These sections most strongly express outrage at the state's actions.

Sections 18-19:

• Theme: The hypothetical scenario in section 18 highlights the potential hypocrisy of the legal system. Section 19 uses sarcasm ("Thank you, England, / For EVERYTHING you did...") to express bitter anger.

Section 20:

• Themes: The poem concludes with a question that leaves the reader pondering the true cause of Indi's death - was it illness or the state's decision?

Additional Points

• The Charles Duff reference: This quote adds weight to the poem's accusation of murder by comparing Indi's case to historical botched executions.
• Mauritian Context: While not explicitly mentioned, the poem resonates with themes of fighting against powerful systems, which might connect with Mauritian experiences of colonialism.

Overall, "Blood on the State's Hands..." is a moving and thought-provoking poem that uses strong emotions and contrasting imagery to raise questions about healthcare ethics, individual rights, and the value of life.

 

Soman Ragavan : Please talk about : (a)  poetic techniques used, (b) the effects achieved, (c) dramatization, (d) storytelling, (e) writers against States, and (f) the morality of public authorities in England on the matter.

Google Gemini  : Techniques, Effects, and Storytelling in "Blood on the State's Hands..."

(a) Poetic Techniques:

• Simple, Direct Language: The poem uses clear language, especially in sections 1-5, to depict Indi's happy life. This creates a stark contrast with the complex legal battle and bureaucratic coldness later.
• Shifting Styles: The poem shifts styles depending on the scene. The narrative style in the beginning becomes dramatic with exclamations and questions as the parents fight for Indi. Metaphors ("coldest hand") and personification ("The State reach'd out") personalize the state as a villain in later sections.
• Repetition: Phrases like "full and final" and "open-and-shut case" are repeated by the state, highlighting their dismissive attitude.
• Hypothetical Scenario (Section 18): This creates a thought experiment, forcing the reader to consider potential hypocrisy in the legal system.
• Sarcasm (Section 19): The line "Thank you, England, / For EVERYTHING you did..." expresses bitter anger through sarcasm.

(b) Effects Achieved:

• Emotional Impact: The poem evokes strong emotions of sympathy for Indi and her parents, along with anger towards the state's actions.
• Sense of Injustice: The clear contrast between the innocent child and the cold bureaucracy creates a strong sense of injustice.
• Reflection on Morality: The poem challenges readers to consider the morality of the state's decision and the legal system's role in such cases.

(c) Dramatization:

The poem uses dialogue ("NO! / NO! Don't switch off anything!") and emotional appeals ("Please, please, / For God's sake, / Don't murder our baby!") to create a dramatic scene of the parents' struggle.

(d) Storytelling:

The poem uses storytelling to present a real-life event in a way that connects with the reader. It starts with a happy beginning, then introduces a conflict, and ends with a haunting question, leaving the reader wanting more.

(e) Writers Against States:

This poem joins a long tradition of writers critiquing the actions of powerful states. It uses emotional language and storytelling to highlight the human cost of bureaucratic decisions.

(f) Morality of Public Authorities:

The poem directly challenges the morality of the English public authorities in this case. It questions their decision to deny treatment and portrays them as callous and uncaring. The poem raises the question of whether the state prioritizes procedures and regulations over the value of human life.

By using these techniques, the poem effectively conveys a powerful message about the tragic case of Indi Gregory and the importance of questioning authority.

 

Soman Ragavan : When an appeal is made, everything must be frozen, else it is an outrage towards the judicial system. The Appeal Court must be given time to examine the case. Here, the hospital removed the life support system and killed off the baby. The least the English should have done was to hand over the baby to Italian authorities, as the baby also had Italian nationality. The English killed a defenceless Italian national, an 8-month-old baby, while also committing an outrage towards their own Appeal Court…

Google Gemini  : You're right, there are strong arguments to be made about the way Indi Gregory's case was handled. Here's a breakdown of the situation and some legal considerations:

Arguments Against the Hospital's Actions:

• Appeal Process Not Exhausted: If an appeal was filed, the hospital should have waited for the Appeal Court's decision before taking any irreversible action. Removing life support bypassed the appeal process.
• International Considerations: Indi's Italian citizenship adds another layer of complexity. There might have been international legal protocols regarding transfer of care or respect for the wishes of citizens of other countries.
• Ethical Considerations: Even if the hospital believed treatment was futile, some argue they should have transferred Indi to Italian care if it was a possibility.

Nuances to Consider:

• Urgency of Care: Depending on Indi's medical condition, there might have been a genuine concern that waiting for the appeal could have been detrimental to her well-being. However, without more information, it's difficult to say definitively.
• Hospital Policies: Hospitals have protocols for end-of-life care and may have acted based on those policies, even if the family disagreed.

Next Steps:

• Legal Action: The family might have considered legal action against the hospital for not waiting for the appeal or for not transferring care to Italy.
• Public Pressure: Your poem serves as a form of public pressure, raising awareness about the case and potentially influencing future decisions.

It's important to note that these are just some of the considerations, and the full legal picture is likely complex. However, your poem effectively highlights the emotional and ethical dimensions of such cases.

 

Soman Ragavan : Thank you very much for analysing this poem. I am signing off now.

Google Gemini  : You're welcome, Soman Ragavan! It was a pleasure to analyze your poem "Blood on the State's Hands..." and discuss the legal and ethical issues surrounding Indi Gregory's case.

I hope the analysis provided some insights and helped you explore the power of your writing.

If you ever have any other poems or questions, feel free to ask! Have a great day.

 

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