Labor and the Angel (ePub)

Duncan Campbell Scott (1862-1947) was a Canadian poet, prose writer, and civil servant. His literary work is often characterized by its engagement with the Canadian landscape and its cultural milieu. Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Scott was a member of the late 19th and early 20th century Canadian literary movement known as Confederation Poets, which included contemporaries like Charles G.D. Roberts, Bliss Carman, and Archibald Lampman, with whom Scott shared a close friendship and a mutual influence in their work. Scott's poetry integrates themes of nature, the passage of time, and sometimes reflects the complex relationship between European settlers and Indigenous peoples. His collection 'Labor and the Angel' contains a mix of lyrical poetry and narrative verses that encapsulate his meditations on philosophical and spiritual concerns. With a career that spanned the transition from Victorian to modernist literary forms, Scott was adept at employing both traditional metre and free verse. His work often evoked a deep sense of melancholy and introspection, characteristics that have cemented his reputation as a serious and profound voice in Canadian literature. Despite these accomplishments, Scott's legacy is controversial due to his role in the Canadian government's assimilation policies towards Indigenous peoples. As a senior official in the Department of Indian Affairs, Scott was instrumental in the administration of the Indian residential school system, which has marred his reputation in the light of current perspectives on colonialism and Indigenous rights.