Judge Meagre's speech

One of the characters in Warren's The Group is a Judge Meagre. His name suggests that he would be feeble, but his speech in Act II, scene III, is anything but meager, or "meagre", the British spelling. Meagre's fierce opinions are first expressed in lines 3 and 4 when he states, "It is not my temper ever to forgive, when once resentment's kindled to my breast." This personification of resentment makes his statement stronger and somewhat sadistic. Meagre continues on to say how he hates the colonists, specifically Brutus, for his "noble stand against the oppressors of his injured country". His character also describes their fight as "generous efforts to be free." I believe that Warren chose adjectives like "noble" and "generous" to describe the colonists' fight because that is what she herself believes their efforts to be, and putting these words into the Tories' mouths creates a comical, yet powerful statement. When I first read the poem, I did not see how this play was satire because I did not understand barely anything about the play! However, after today's discussion, I can more easily pick up on how Warren is poking fun at these British bigots. This speech in particular must have been especially enjoyable for Warren to write because, as Kelly wrote, Brutus is Warren's older brother.
Another way that Warren criticizes the Tories is by making Meagre's character praise "the noble Claudia of old", an immoral Roman noblewoman who poisoned her husband and was punished by Cicero. Meagre wishes to imitate Claudia by riding "over the people, if they don't give way". Also, Meagre tells of the Tories' failures by announcing their failed senate bribe attempts, as well as "the people...see through the schemes of our aspiring clan". He is recognizing his inability to persuade the people to give in to England. Meagre's speech reveals Warren's inner feelings and images of Meagre and the Tories like him. Through the clever use of this off-stage play, her propaganda must have had a strong effect on those involved with the birth of the Revolutionary War.