Poem Analysis - The Tailor

An Impression of Playful Transgression

Robert Burns' "The Tailor" is a bawdy and humorous ballad that recounts the tale of a young woman's lost virginity and her subsequent attempt to seek justice. The poem employs a lighthearted and playful tone, punctuated by the repetitive, nonsensical refrain. While the subject matter is potentially serious, Burns treats it with a wink and a nudge, creating an atmosphere of comic absurdity. The poem's overall mood is one of mischievous amusement, tempered by an undercurrent of social commentary.

The Social Context of Rural Scotland

Robert Burns was a product of rural 18th-century Scotland, a society characterized by strong communal bonds, agricultural labor, and a relatively rigid social hierarchy. Burns often wrote about the lives and loves of ordinary people, and his work frequently challenged social conventions and poked fun at authority. "The Tailor" reflects this social context through its portrayal of a rural setting, its focus on the lives of common folk (a tailor and a "lassie"), and its implicit critique of patriarchal power structures. The poem's humor would likely have resonated with Burns' contemporary audience, who were accustomed to ballads that dealt with themes of sexuality and social transgression.

Love and Loss: A Comical Take

The poem explores the themes of love and loss, albeit in a highly unconventional and humorous manner. The "lassie's" "heart's desire" for the tailor and the subsequent loss of her "maidenhead" suggest a distorted version of a romantic encounter. However, the poem's lighthearted tone and the "lassie's" pragmatic pursuit of justice undermine any genuine sense of romantic sentiment. Instead, the poem presents a comical inversion of traditional love narratives, where the loss of virginity is treated as a financial transaction rather than a profound emotional experience. The poem is, therefore, not about romantic love but the pragmatic consequences of a physical encounter within the social norms of the time.

The Power of Symbols: The Bodkin and the Search

The tailor's "bodkin" acts as a potent symbol, representing both the instrument of sexual violation and the phallus itself. Its association with the tailor reinforces the notion of male agency and the potential for abuse of power. The "lassie's" frantic search for her "maidenhead" can be interpreted as a symbol of her attempt to regain control over her own body and reputation. The futile nature of her search, however, suggests the irreversible nature of her loss and the societal pressures she faces as a result. Locations of the search – under the “clocken-hen”, in the “owsen-staw” - emphasize her rural context and add a layer of absurd humor as she desperately seeks something intangible.

The Refrain's Significance: A Rhythmic Mask

The recurring refrain, "Daffin down, and daffin down, / Daffin down and dilly," is a crucial element of the poem's overall effect. While seemingly nonsensical, the refrain provides a rhythmic framework that underscores the poem's lighthearted tone. It acts as a kind of aural mask, distancing the reader from the potentially serious implications of the narrative. The repetitive nature of the refrain also serves to emphasize the cyclical nature of the "lassie's" predicament, as she is caught in a social system that punishes female sexuality while often condoning male transgression. This tonal inconsistency creates space for the reader to question the light-hearted tone in contrast to the implications of the story.

A Bawdy Ballad's Lasting Impact

"The Tailor" is a memorable example of Robert Burns' ability to blend humor, social commentary, and vivid imagery. While the poem's subject matter may be considered risqué, its playful tone and memorable characters ensure its enduring appeal. The poem's significance lies in its ability to challenge social norms and offer a glimpse into the lives and loves of ordinary people in 18th-century Scotland. By subverting traditional romantic narratives and treating potentially serious themes with humor, Burns creates a poem that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. The open-ended conclusion, where the "lassie" demands her "maidenhead" be returned in the same manner it was taken, leaves the reader to ponder the complexities of justice, sexuality, and social power dynamics.