America

Since England is the “mother country” of the American colonies, the speaker transforms England into a mother within the poem, introducing the country as “A certain lady [who] had an only son” (Line 8). The speaker uses the symbol to compare England to a mother who has wronged her child, who “By many Scourges [. . .] his [America’s] goodness try'd” (Line 15) and then “turn'd a senseless ear” (Line 17) to her son’s weeping. In depicting England as an abusive mother, the speaker suggests that there is something exceptionally unnatural in England’s conduct, as though in defiance of how things ought to be.

The speaker continues with the mother symbol until the end of the poem, transforming the symbol from something abusive and threatening into something that could be loving, nurturing, and kind, like a good mother. The speaker urges England to “claim thy child again” (Line 32) and to treat the son/colonies with justice and care, so that they can both prosper. In thus equating England to a mother, the speaker suggests that England has a duty to “raise” her colonies in a kindly and just way.