Preview

The Wife's Lament

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
207 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Wife's Lament
Anglo-Saxons believed that human life is shaped by fate. This is shown in the poem “The Wife’s Lament”. The author in “The Wife’s Lament” tells her sad story where she does not agree with fate’s decisions. For example: In lines 21-25, the wife of a sailor feels neglected after being pushed out of her home and feels like fate turned on her, as if the wife and her husband were never even friends. The wife has a feeling of being abandoned due to she basically has been. Her husband is gone, whether dead, or still at sea, and her step-family has forced her into exile. She is reminded of the time before her husband left, a time of cheer and where only death would be able to part the two lovers. Then he sailed away not to return for a long time, leaving
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Fate In Romeo And Juliet Essay
    • 928 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Fate In Romeo And Juliet Essay

    We were meant to be where we are right now, fate tells us one day that we will marry, but to who is our choice. Fate determines if we will be wealthy or not, but how we reach that is up to us. Was it fate that lead Romeo to Juliet? He didn’t chose to fall in love with her. In the beginning of the book, Romeo was in love with Rosaline, he believed that was the girl he was going to marry, but fate had other plans for him. Fate greatly affects Oedipus in “Oedipus the King”, from the moment he was born. He was abandoned as an infant,…

    • 928 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Sorrowful Women and a Story of an Hour
    • 842 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Sorrowful Women and a Story of an Hour

    The traditional outlook on life has dissipated in modern years. Men were usually the ones who worked to support the family and maintained a steady income to make the family financially stable. On the contrary, women were expected to raise the children, prepare meals and keep a tidy house. For most, this was the ideal life style that worked effectively. Throughout Gail Godwin's short story, "A Sorrowful Woman", the character is a component of a troubled family. Furthermore in the short story, "The Story of an Hour" written by Kate Chopin, the protagonist, Mrs. Mallard is notified with information that is life altering. A characters motivation drives a story towards the authors intended theme through the actions taken and emotions that are depicted.…

    • 842 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Secret Sorrow Sorrowful Woman
    • 754 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Secret Sorrow Sorrowful Woman

    There are many differences between "A Secret Sorrow" and "A Sorrowful Woman". One difference is the problems that the two women face. In "A Secret Sorrow" Faye deals with a physical problem, the inability to produce children. In "A Sorrowful Woman" on the other hand the unnamed wife deals with a psychological problem, making it more complex and difficult to fix. Another difference is the role the men play in the stories. Kai, from "A Secret Sorrow" has a forceful role, he plays the role of the average formula fiction man, he's masculine, strong and tries to save Faye from herself. For instance when Faye told him that he didn't have to be a gentlemen and that it was okay for him to leave her it was interesting when Kai responds with the line "Shut up and stop playing the martyr". He refused to allow herself to give into her insecurities and wallow in self pity. Instead readers constantly see Kai picking Faye up and trying to snap her out of this funk she has slipped into. He spends the entire story trying to force Faye to believe that she is worthy of being loved. The unnamed husband in "A Sorrowful Woman" is the exact opposite of Kai. The unnamed husband is an enabler, always understanding he does not do anything to help his wife get over her problems. Instead he in a way avoids the issue and allows the woman to succumb to her issue eventually resulting in her downfall. It's interesting that Godwin constantly repeats that the husband always understands. It shows that he realizes his wife is having trouble and he wants to help however the way he attempts to help just perpetuates the issue instead of resolving it. He complies with his obviously unhinged wife's demands and behaviors, just understanding not fixing. He allows her to get away with things such as hitting the child, firing the nanny and not doing her household responsibilities. The battle is lost when the husband allows his wife to isolate herself from her family and move into a separate…

    • 754 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Abby's Lament Summary
    • 266 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Abby's Lament Summary

    In the article, “Abby’s Lament: Does Literacy Matter?”, author Robert P. Yagelski makes a strong point to Abby that her voice is heard along with all the other young people in the world. Abby argues that her voice is not heard because society does not care about people her age. I would agree more with the author on this subject because I think that young people’s voices are heard. Most times the voices of youth are not heard as easily as older people because in most cases older people are more knowledgeable in what they are talking about, but if younger people try hard enough to make their voices heard, then their voice will always be heard.…

    • 266 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Theme Of Fate In Romeo And Juliet
    • 672 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Theme Of Fate In Romeo And Juliet

    Fate is said to be the mystical force that has already predetermined the events that will happen in our lives. Some people believe in this mystical force, while others would rather believe in top hat wearing turnips. The question if fate is real has been debated from centuries from the ancient Greek philosophers to middle school students. In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, fate is to blame for the demise of the play’s two main characters. The actions of other people and coincidences are two examples of fate, which have a critical impact on the death of Romeo and Juliet.…

    • 672 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Abby's Lament
    • 264 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Abby's Lament

    In this short article Yagelski goes in depth about the importance literacy plays in todays society. What Abby seems to fail to understand is that everyone has a say and to be illiterate is completely useless. In order to make a difference you must speak your mind (wisely) as she did when she was arguing about the issue, once you are heard people seem to either follow you or keep their distance, either way though you got their attention. In the high school setting knowing your facts and speaking your mind is key to prosperity. Abby could become part of the high school ASB which entitles a great deal of power; the author states that she, along with her fellow classmates, are very literate when it comes to electronics (as it seems that everyone in the upcoming generations are) which is key to improving her surroundings and showing peers that they want to make a difference.…

    • 264 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Fate In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet
    • 1132 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Fate In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

    Fate is the development of events beyond a person’s control. In the Shakespearean play, Romeo and Juliet, there are “two star-crossed lovers” who fall in love. Romeo and Juliet are from different families of the same status and their love is essentially forbidden. After all these misfortunate events trying to tear their love apart, they eventually take their lives as a result. Every character in the story made choices out of free will but these choices ultimately lead to fate. Fate was the most responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet because it is depicted by foreshadowing, the feud between the Montagues and Capulets and the power of the future.…

    • 1132 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Role Of Fate In Romeo And Juliet
    • 470 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Role Of Fate In Romeo And Juliet

    Fate is the development of events beyond a person's control, usually regarded as controlled by a supernatural power. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is the story of two young lovers from opposing families. Fate is a dominating and inescapable force throughout the play.…

    • 470 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Essay On Fate In Romeo And Juliet
    • 1141 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Essay On Fate In Romeo And Juliet

    Modern day society promotes individualism and self-responsibility. Yet somehow, fate exists as an intrinsic part of many people’s lives. This paradox in mindset shows how logical reasoning, common sense, and science bow down for the supernatural force that guides one through life, fate, for better or worse. Such is seen clearly in the dialogue and actions of the characters in Romeo and Juliet, a play written by William Shakespeare. Taking place in 14th century Verona, Romeo and Juliet describes the tragedy that ensues when two feuding families’ children fall in love, but fate ensures both of their suicides. The villainous acts of fate prove that fate makes one helpless against decisions in life, belief in fate becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, and…

    • 1141 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    A Secret Sorrow
    • 717 Words
    • 3 Pages

    A Secret Sorrow

    Karen Van Der Zee “A Secret Sorrow uses, Characterization, Tone and Irony to show that love is powerful and will heal any hurt. Anyone can say that what you hope for always doesn’t come to past, and then you may lose hope of it ever happening. It is possible to give up and live in despair or even defeat. This is very similar to Karen Van Der Zee, the writer of “A Secret Sorrow portrays in her story. Karen uses the characterization, tone, and irony to show how love is more than a feeling.…

    • 717 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Reevaluating the Role of Women in Beowulf
    • 545 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Reevaluating the Role of Women in Beowulf

    Some people believe that life has a purpose, that god put them on earth to do something specific, and that if you live life unguided, fate will take action. "Often, for undaunted courage, fate spares the man it has not already marked." (572-573) In this quote, Beowulf says otherwise, he means by this quote that sometimes you must ignore fate and make decisions with your gut by being courageous. In other words, if you live your life day to day doing the same routine things without taking chances, nothing will become more than routine, more than average. It is this quote that sets up the basis for the rest of the story; because throughout the story Beowulf’s sheer nerves accept many various challenges.…

    • 545 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    A Sorrowful Woman
    • 381 Words
    • 2 Pages

    A Sorrowful Woman

    In Gail Godwin's short story, "A Sorrowful Woman", we are introduced to a woman who just as said in the title, is a sorrowful woman. She is described this way because she has some sort of problem mentally and quite often emotionally. She has a three year old son who, just like any other three year old, wants and needs the attention of its mother. She also has a husband, who is loving and very much devoted to her, her needs, and of course, the needs of their child. His undying loyalty towards her says a lot about marriage. When a married couple takes those vowels "Till death do us part", they should really mean it. Those are the words that people in today's society say too often without enough thought. In the story the husband makes a number of efforts to please his wife. He understands that she is sick and needs help. One evening while she was looking at her husband and child she got sick, sad and for some reason after that she didn't want to see them anymore. She told the husband that she didn't want to see them ever again and he, being the understanding spouse that he was, just asked what she wanted him to do. The author, Gail Godwin, is trying to give examples of how a good marriage should work. The wife was usually grumpy and always wanted something and the husband was always willing to help her and make her feel better. Marriage in a real life situation should be the same way. Just as a couple takes those vowels "Till death do us part", they should be willing to do anything to fulfill those words. The husband in this story probably wouldn't have married the sorrowful woman, had he known that she was going to be like that. But he did, and he kept those words because he did whatever he could to please her. The author just wants the readers to see that marriage is a big step and that no one knows what the future holds. If the marriage doesn't go as expected, you must still keep your words and do right by your spouse, even if it is a sorrowful…

    • 381 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Moby Dick, Sophie's World, East of Eden
    • 2310 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Moby Dick, Sophie's World, East of Eden

    In today’s society, the issues of fate and free will are hotly debated, drawing in heated discussions of religion, chance, and the extent of free will. While some believe we have a significant amount of control over our lives exercised through free will in our choices, others believe an entirely different power is at hand in controlling our lives. These issues often find themselves associated in literature, with examples such as John Steinbeck’s East of Eden, Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, and Jostein Gaarder’s Sophie’s World. Among these books, there are different interpretations on the role of fate and free will in human life. In particular, these three different works of literature express varying shows of balance between fate and free will, and how easily that balance can be changed. Ultimately, it is the decisions made by the different characters, the reasons behind their choices, and the respective consequences that ensue that lead understanding of the different demonstrations of the authors’ interpretations of free will and fate.…

    • 2310 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Fate In Macbeth, And The Pardoners Tale
    • 631 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Fate In Macbeth, And The Pardoners Tale

    Fate has led many lives of heroes for them to gain courage and honor. They believe in this so they can have something to believe and look upon for the decisions of their lives. In Macbeth he was told his fate and he lived up to it taking his throne as king and then coming to an end by whom fate told. Also in the poem The Pardoners Tale the three drunk men were chasing after death and got caught up in greed which took their lives. Finally in Sir Gawain, Sir Gawain was driven by fate for his life going on a quest to find something to save him from the Green Knight. Fate still has a huge impact on many people…

    • 631 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Drovers Wife Analysis
    • 272 Words
    • 1 Page

    The Drovers Wife Analysis

    which she inhabits. In addition the repetition of the elongated vowel sounds in the blunt…

    • 272 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More