Journal 8: Comparison of Elegies

The elegies “The Seafarer” and “The Wife’s Lament” were very similar in many ways. In both works, the narrator has been cast out of society for some untold reason. Neither are particularly content with their predicament. In “The Seafarer”, the narrator is resigned to his fate and simply waits for his life to end so that he can experience Heaven. In “The Wife’s Lament”, however, the narrator seems more bitter about her station. She has not reached a point where she can accept what has happened to her. The narrator in “The Seafarer” longs for Heaven, whereas the narrator in “The Wife’s Lament” longs only for her husband. The sailor seems to have more hope, whereas the wife seems to see only despair. In both cases, their loneliness is a major focal point of their lives.