Autowired property is null, certain I'm not creating objects properly but why?

The XML config:

Code:

---

<util:map id="simpleConfiguration">
    <entry key="item1" value="value1" />
</util:map>

---

The class and instantiation

Code:

---

@Component
class Foobar {
    @Resource(name='simpleConfiguration')
    private configuration
}

Foobar fb = new Foobar();

---

This is pretty much what I am doing. I know that the component scan is working, other classes in the same namespace are fine.

the configuration property of Foobar is null, and I don't know why, but I suspect it's because what I'm doing to create an instance of Foobar is too easy ;)

I am sorry if this has been asked before, I'm not clear what to search for. Instantiating @components didn't really reveal much

thanks in advance