Poems and Fancies is a work by Margaret Cavendish, where she explores natural, science, and mathematical philosophy. Cavendish released these poems when politics and war were ravaging most parts of Britain. The poetry reveals a fidgety and troubled mind. Cavendish wrote several poems from this collection while in exile. During the release of these poems, Cavendish had separated from her husband and was experiencing financial constraints due to wartime losses and consequent exile. Besides, during the time, female writers faced prejudice and criticism from a patriarchal society. However, she legitimizes women’s writing in an epistle to the readers, where she cautions against being condemned due to her sex gender. Therefore, she lays bare her struggles and experiences in these poems.
Part one of the collection addresses natural philosophy. Cavendish imagines that the world may be made up of small particles or atoms. The poems reveal a charming mind full of intelligence. Cavendish's examination of natural philosophy signifies her reflection of the natural world around her. Indeed, she details how nature gave the man an extensive range of activities over other creatures. Cavendish argues that the body will die, but the mind will live forever. The argument symbolizes the continual living of literary works even after the death of authors.
In “Poems and Fancies,” Cavendish also deliberates the thoughts and opinions of natural and supernatural entities. Cavendish uses her work to give her thoughts regarding virtues and vices as well as logical illusions of animals and plants. The last part of the book contains a section called “The Animal Parliament.” In this section, Cavendish discusses how various body parts debate how to rule and control the body. Cavendish uses her wits to allegorically discuss politics in the form of the human body.
