Dearest Margaret By Eleanor Byers Analysis

In “Dearest Margaret” by Eleanor Byers, the speaker’s lifestyle focuses on isolation and simplicity. First, the speaker expects to isolate herself from the busy cities. She proposes to “live side by side on [Margaret’s] farm in Vermont” (2) and reside at the countryside where the population density remains low. She also agrees to travel “as long as [they're] home by noon” (20), implying that they will stay away from the cities and other humans and thus, live in their lives peacefully and avoid other’s criticism. At the same time, the speaker wants to attain simplicity. She envisions her and Margaret “drinking mint tea or watered white wine” (16) and “[unraveling] the prose of James Joyce” (33), revealing her desire for an nonmaterialistic