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  • Essay / The Wanderer: Analyzing Weather as a Symbol

    The weather in “The Wanderer” reflects the author's view of the world after his exile. Throughout the poem, the weather is used in an attempt to paint a picture as miserable and sad as the character's outlook on life. As I read the elegy, my first thought was that man was in conflict with nature; however, I now believe that weather is a means by which the poet expresses his thoughts in response to his misfortunes. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay At the beginning of the poem, it is revealed that "the one" must "stir up with his hands the icy sea" as punishment for past transgressions (1.4). This sensory language immediately creates an unpleasant scene that appeals to the senses: exiled, the Wanderer is forced to row through the winter waves using only his bare hands. In search of a new lord, the "frozen waves" are problematic for the banished Wanderer as he has no way to protect himself from winter's merciless bite, just as he has no Lord to protect from evil (24). Mother Nature shows no mercy to the scorned warrior, unleashing the full force of her icy arsenal. Initially, I called this harsh climate the Wanderer's main problem, but I concluded that the source of his conflicts was rather his exile. The frigid, prison-like sea and merciless hailstorms are just consequences that help the reader imagine and visualize the Wanderer's "winter" mental state (24). As the poem progresses, the poet explores the heavy heart of the Wanderer, who is deeply scarred and wounded. The character often dreams of belonging to a lord again, but is always deeply disappointed to awaken only to the vast and barren sea before him. These daydreams offer only a temporary source of comfort. As the waves roll, the Wanderer sees seabirds spreading their wings, taking flight and escaping the icy grip of the whale path, a stark contrast to the character's imprisoned state. The floating birds are easily able to shake off the frost, snow, and hail that once again afflict the Exiled Wanderer, creating a deep fissure that differentiates those who are able to escape the sea and those who do not. are imprisoned. Trapped by a winter blanket, the Wanderer inhabits “Middle-earth,” which “sags and decays every day” (64-65). This part of the poem ends, offering the reader a semblance of hope. Perhaps the exiles' daunting journey is not in vain. The poet states that before a man can become wise, he must pass through "his share of winters in this world" (65). In the poem, wisdom is measured by the number of winters a person has lived through, and the Wanderer has certainly endured. its share of gloomy weather. On the surface, this can be interpreted as age acquiring wisdom; The longer we live, the more careful we become. However, diving deeper and pushing through the winters might be an understatement for overcoming trials and tribulations. The Wanderer endured harsh suffering, including burying almost everyone he ever loved and living the rest of his days in exile. Even if these tribulations are not ideal, they are his teachers, not just his torment. Simply put, the poem highlights the importance of the adage that "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." A change occurs regarding the weather as the poem progresses. Instead of simply describing situations, weather begins to directly shape the world. Buildings that have been “frost-stricken” will collapse and walls will be “destroyed.