'The Sea-Wife' by Rudyard Kipling


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There dwells a wife by the Northern Gate,
And a wealthy wife is she;
She breeds a breed o' rovin' men
And casts them over sea.

And some are drowned in deep water,
And some in sight o' shore,
And word goes back to the weary wife
And ever she sends more.

For since that wife had gate or gear,
Or hearth or garth or bield,
She willed her sons to the white harvest,
And that is a bitter yield.

She wills her sons to the wet ploughing,
To ride the horse of tree,
And syne her sons come back again
Far-spent from out the sea.

The good wife's sons come home again
With little into their hands,
But the lore of men that ha' dealt with men
In the new and naked lands;

But the faith of men that ha' brothered men
By more than easy breath,
And the eyes o' men that ha' read wi' men
In the open books of death.

Rich are they, rich in wonders seen,
But poor in the goods o' men;
So what they ha' got by the skin o' their teeth
They sell for their teeth again.

For whether they lose to the naked life
Or win to their hearts' desire,
They tell it all to the weary wife
That nods beside the fire.

Her hearth is wide to every wind
That makes the white ash spin;
And tide and tide and 'tween the tides
Her sons go out and in;

(Out with great mirth that do desire
Hazard of trackless ways,
In with content to wait their watch
And warm before the blaze);

And some return by failing light,
And some in waking dream,
For she hears the heels of the dripping ghosts
That ride the rough roof-beam.

Home, they come home from all the ports,
The living and the dead;
The good wife's sons come home again
For her blessing on their head!


Editor 1 Interpretation

The Sea-Wife: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Oh, how do I even begin to describe the beauty and depth of Rudyard Kipling's classic poem, The Sea-Wife? This masterpiece is a perfect example of his genius as a writer and his ability to weave together multiple themes and symbols into a single piece of art. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the various elements of The Sea-Wife, including its structure, themes, and symbolism, and offer my own analysis of this timeless work.

Background

First, let's start with a little background. The Sea-Wife was published in Kipling's 1896 collection of poems, The Seven Seas. The poem is written in ballad form and tells the story of a sailor who falls in love with a sea-woman and ultimately chooses to stay with her instead of returning home. However, the poem is not just a simple love story. It is a complex exploration of themes such as temptation, loyalty, and the dangers of the unknown.

Structure

The structure of The Sea-Wife is one of its most interesting and effective features. The poem consists of five stanzas, each containing six lines. The rhyme scheme is ABABCC, with the last two lines of each stanza being a refrain. This structure gives the poem a musical quality, almost like a song. In fact, the repetition of the refrain "And it's fiddle-de-dum and fiddle-de-dee / The wind that blows the Barque to sea!" adds to the overall rhythm of the poem.

But the structure of The Sea-Wife is not just musical. It also serves to reinforce the themes of the poem. Each stanza represents a different phase of the sailor's journey, from his initial encounter with the sea-woman to his decision to stay with her. The repetition of the refrain at the end of each stanza emphasizes the sailor's growing temptation and desire to stay with the sea-woman, while also reminding the reader of the danger he faces by leaving his home and loved ones behind.

Themes

The Sea-Wife is a poem that is rich in themes. One of the most prominent themes is temptation. The sea-woman represents the sailor's temptation to leave his life behind and explore the unknown. She is described as "fair and false," and her seductive nature is emphasized throughout the poem. The sailor is aware of her deceitful nature, but he is also drawn to her beauty and the excitement of the unknown.

Another theme in The Sea-Wife is loyalty. The sailor is torn between his loyalty to his home and loved ones and his desire to explore the unknown with the sea-woman. This conflict is evident in the second stanza of the poem, where the sailor thinks of his home and family, but ultimately decides to stay with the sea-woman. This theme of loyalty is further emphasized in the final stanza, where the sailor realizes the consequences of his decision and laments his lost love and home.

The dangers of the unknown is also a major theme in The Sea-Wife. The sailor is aware of the dangers of leaving his home and venturing into the unknown, but he is still drawn to the sea-woman and the adventure she represents. The poem highlights the risks of leaving behind what is familiar and safe in pursuit of something new and exciting.

Symbolism

The Sea-Wife is also rich in symbolism. The sea-woman represents the unknown, the unfamiliar, and the dangerous. Her beauty and seductive nature represent the allure of the unknown, while her deceitful nature represents the risks and dangers of venturing into uncharted waters.

The sailor's ship represents his home and his loved ones. It is the safe and familiar place that he is leaving behind. The wind that blows the ship to sea represents the forces that are pushing the sailor towards the unknown. The sailor is torn between the safety of his home and the excitement of the unknown, and the wind is the force that ultimately decides his fate.

The sea itself is also a powerful symbol in The Sea-Wife. It represents the vastness and mystery of the unknown, as well as the dangers that lie beneath the surface. The sailor is aware of the risks of leaving his home and venturing into the sea, but he is still drawn to it, just as he is drawn to the sea-woman.

Analysis

In my analysis of The Sea-Wife, I see it as a cautionary tale about the dangers of leaving behind what is familiar and safe in pursuit of something new and exciting. The sailor is aware of the risks of leaving his home and loved ones behind, but he is still drawn to the sea-woman and the adventure she represents. This conflict between loyalty and temptation is a universal theme that can be applied to many aspects of life.

The poem's structure and repetition of the refrain serve to reinforce this theme, as well as the dangers of the unknown. The sea-woman represents the risks and dangers of venturing into uncharted waters, and the sailor ultimately pays the price for his decision to leave his home and loved ones behind.

The Sea-Wife is a masterpiece of poetry that has stood the test of time. Its themes and symbolism are still relevant today, and its message is one that can be applied to many aspects of life. Kipling's use of structure and repetition adds to the overall musical quality of the poem, while also emphasizing its themes and symbolism.

In conclusion, The Sea-Wife is a beautiful and complex poem that is rich in themes and symbolism. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of leaving behind what is familiar and safe in pursuit of something new and exciting. It is a masterpiece of poetry that continues to inspire and resonate with readers today.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Sea-Wife: A Masterpiece of Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling, a renowned English writer, is known for his exceptional works of literature that have stood the test of time. One of his most famous poems, The Sea-Wife, is a masterpiece that captures the essence of the sea and the life of sailors. The poem is a beautiful blend of vivid imagery, symbolism, and metaphors that transport the reader to the world of the sea.

The Sea-Wife is a narrative poem that tells the story of a sailor who is tempted by a sea-woman to leave his mundane life and join her in the depths of the sea. The poem is divided into three parts, each of which explores different aspects of the sailor's journey.

The first part of the poem sets the scene and introduces the reader to the sailor's life. The sailor is depicted as a man who is tired of his mundane life and longs for adventure. He is drawn to the sea, which he sees as a place of freedom and excitement. Kipling uses vivid imagery to describe the sea, painting a picture of a vast and mysterious world that is both beautiful and dangerous.

In the second part of the poem, the sailor encounters the sea-woman, who tempts him to leave his life and join her in the depths of the sea. The sea-woman is depicted as a seductive and alluring figure who promises the sailor an escape from his mundane life. Kipling uses symbolism to represent the sea-woman as a representation of the sea itself, with her hair representing the waves and her eyes representing the depths of the sea.

The third part of the poem explores the sailor's decision to join the sea-woman and the consequences of his choice. The sailor is torn between his desire for adventure and his love for his wife and family. Kipling uses metaphors to describe the sailor's internal struggle, with the sea-woman representing temptation and the sailor's wife representing his conscience.

The Sea-Wife is a poem that explores the themes of temptation, adventure, and the consequences of our choices. Kipling uses vivid imagery, symbolism, and metaphors to create a world that is both beautiful and dangerous. The poem is a testament to Kipling's skill as a writer and his ability to capture the essence of the sea and the life of sailors.

In conclusion, The Sea-Wife is a masterpiece of literature that has stood the test of time. Kipling's use of vivid imagery, symbolism, and metaphors creates a world that is both beautiful and dangerous, and his exploration of the themes of temptation, adventure, and the consequences of our choices is both thought-provoking and engaging. The poem is a must-read for anyone who loves literature and wants to explore the world of the sea and the life of sailors.

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