The Speaker

The speaker of "Protest" is unnamed. While it is usually considered a fallacy to equate a poem's speaker with its poet, the intensely political nature of "Protest" suggests that Wilcox herself is articulating her frustrations with American society within its lines. The speaker of the poem is angry, disappointed, and critical of those who seem complacent with the way America operates. She unabashedly slights "idle millionaires" and the politicians who support them (15). However, she is also hopeful for what kind of change that protesting in the form of free speech may usher in for the future. She encourages her readers to work to achieve a more equitable society and empowers them by celebrating social progress from the past.

Children

The speaker of "Protest" makes frequent reference to children as one of the casualties of the American social system. For her, children represent the most innocent part of...