“Resolution and Independence” by William Wordsworth: A Critical Analysis

There was a roaring in the wind all night;

The rain came heavily and fell in floods;

But now the sun is rising calm and bright;

The birds are singing in the distant woods;

Over his own sweet voice the Stock-dove broods;

The Jay makes answer as the Magpie chatters;

And all the air is filled with pleasant noise of waters.

All things that love the sun are out of doors;

The sky rejoices in the morning’s birth;

The grass is bright with rain-drops;—on the moors

The hare is running races in her mirth;

And with her feet she from the plashy earth

Raises a mist, that, glittering in the sun,

Runs with her all the way, wherever she doth run.

I was a Traveller then upon the moor;

I saw the hare that raced about with joy;

I heard the woods and distant waters roar;

Or heard them not, as happy as a boy:

The pleasant season did my heart employ:

My old remembrances went from me wholly;

And all the ways of men, so vain and melancholy.

But, as it sometimes chanceth, from the might

Of joys in minds that can no further go,

As high as we have mounted in delight

In our dejection do we sink as low;

To me that morning did it happen so;

And fears and fancies thick upon me came;

Dim sadness—and blind thoughts, I knew not, nor could name.

I heard the sky-lark warbling in the sky;

And I bethought me of the playful hare:

Even such a happy Child of earth am I;

Even as these blissful creatures do I fare;

Far from the world I walk, and from all care;

But there may come another day to me—

Solitude, pain of heart, distress, and poverty.

My whole life I have lived in pleasant thought,

As if life’s business were a summer mood;

As if all needful things would come unsought

To genial faith, still rich in genial good;

But how can He expect that others should

Build for him, sow for him, and at his call

Love him, who for himself will take no heed at all?

I thought of Chatterton, the marvellous Boy,

The sleepless Soul that perished in his pride;

Of Him who walked in glory and in joy

Following his plough, along the mountain-side:

By our own spirits are we deified:

We Poets in our youth begin in gladness;

But thereof come in the end despondency and madness.

Now, whether it were by peculiar grace,

A leading from above, a something given,

Yet it befell that, in this lonely place,

When I with these untoward thoughts had striven,

Beside a pool bare to the eye of heaven

I saw a Man before me unawares:

The oldest man he seemed that ever wore grey hairs.

As a huge stone is sometimes seen to lie

Couched on the bald top of an eminence;

Wonder to all who do the same espy,

By what means it could thither come, and whence;

So that it seems a thing endued with sense:

Like a sea-beast crawled forth, that on a shelf

Of rock or sand reposeth, there to sun itself;

Such seemed this Man, not all alive nor dead,

Nor all asleep—in his extreme old age:

His body was bent double, feet and head

Coming together in life’s pilgrimage;

As if some dire constraint of pain, or rage

Of sickness felt by him in times long past,

A more than human weight upon his frame had cast.

Himself he propped, limbs, body, and pale face,

Upon a long grey staff of shaven wood:

And, still as I drew near with gentle pace,

Upon the margin of that moorish flood

Motionless as a cloud the old Man stood,

That heareth not the loud winds when they call,

And moveth all together, if it move at all.

At length, himself unsettling, he the pond

Stirred with his staff, and fixedly did look

Upon the muddy water, which he conned,

As if he had been reading in a book:

And now a stranger’s privilege I took;

And, drawing to his side, to him did say,

“This morning gives us promise of a glorious day.”

A gentle answer did the old Man make,

In courteous speech which forth he slowly drew:

And him with further words I thus bespake,

“What occupation do you there pursue?

This is a lonesome place for one like you.”

Ere he replied, a flash of mild surprise

Broke from the sable orbs of his yet-vivid eyes.

His words came feebly, from a feeble chest,

But each in solemn order followed each,

With something of a lofty utterance drest—

Choice word and measured phrase, above the reach

Of ordinary men; a stately speech;

Such as grave Livers do in Scotland use,

Religious men, who give to God and man their dues.

He told, that to these waters he had come

To gather leeches, being old and poor:

Employment hazardous and wearisome!

And he had many hardships to endure:

From pond to pond he roamed, from moor to moor;

Housing, with God’s good help, by choice or chance;

And in this way he gained an honest maintenance.

The old Man still stood talking by my side;

But now his voice to me was like a stream

Scarce heard; nor word from word could I divide;

And the whole body of the Man did seem

Like one whom I had met with in a dream;

Or like a man from some far region sent,

To give me human strength, by apt admonishment.

My former thoughts returned: the fear that kills;

And hope that is unwilling to be fed;

Cold, pain, and labour, and all fleshly ills;

And mighty Poets in their misery dead.

—Perplexed, and longing to be comforted,

My question eagerly did I renew,

“How is it that you live, and what is it you do?”

He with a smile did then his words repeat;

And said that, gathering leeches, far and wide

He travelled; stirring thus about his feet

The waters of the pools where they abide.

“Once I could meet with them on every side;

But they have dwindled long by slow decay;

Yet still I persevere, and find them where I may.”

While he was talking thus, the lonely place,

The old Man’s shape, and speech—all troubled me:

In my mind’s eye I seemed to see him pace

About the weary moors continually,

Wandering about alone and silently.

While I these thoughts within myself pursued,

He, having made a pause, the same discourse renewed.

And soon with this he other matter blended,

Cheerfully uttered, with demeanour kind,

But stately in the main; and, when he ended,

I could have laughed myself to scorn to find

In that decrepit Man so firm a mind.

“God,” said I, “be my help and stay secure;

I’ll think of the Leech-gatherer on the lonely moor!”

1. The Power of Nature to Heal and Inspire

Wordsworth explores nature’s ability to restore emotional balance and provide inspiration. The poem begins with vivid imagery of a stormy night transitioning into a tranquil morning: “But now the sun is rising calm and bright; / The birds are singing in the distant woods.” This shift mirrors the speaker’s internal movement from despair to hope, reflecting how nature’s cycles influence human emotions. The hare’s joyous movements, “The hare is running races in her mirth,” symbolize vitality and freedom, offering a stark contrast to the speaker’s introspective melancholy. Nature’s serene beauty and harmony help the speaker reconnect with his surroundings and find solace, as emphasized in lines like “And all the air is filled with pleasant noise of waters.” Throughout the poem, Wordsworth illustrates nature as a source of spiritual renewal and emotional equilibrium.

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2. Human Resilience and Perseverance

The central theme of resilience is embodied in the leech-gatherer, whose life of hardship is marked by unwavering perseverance. Despite his age and frailty, described as “His body was bent double, feet and head / Coming together in life’s pilgrimage,” the old man continues his difficult work to survive. His stoicism contrasts sharply with the speaker’s initial despair, offering a model of endurance. The leech-gatherer’s acceptance of his struggles—“And in this way he gained an honest maintenance”—reflects the power of steadfastness in the face of adversity. The speaker draws strength from this example, resolving to remember the old man whenever he faces difficulties, as in the closing vow: “I’ll think of the Leech-gatherer on the lonely moor!” This theme underscores the importance of persistence as a moral and spiritual ideal.

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3. The Fragility of Artistic and Human Ambition

Wordsworth delves into the vulnerability of creative and human aspirations, contrasting the joy of poetic inspiration with the eventual despair it can bring. The speaker reflects on the tragic fates of poets like Thomas Chatterton and Robert Burns: “We Poets in our youth begin in gladness; / But thereof come in the end despondency and madness.” This poignant observation reveals the emotional toll of artistic ambition, suggesting that the intense highs of creativity often lead to equally profound lows. The theme extends to human ambition in general, as the speaker muses on the transient nature of success and happiness: “As high as we have mounted in delight, / In our dejection do we sink as low.” Wordsworth emphasizes the need to temper ambition with resilience and acceptance, as exemplified by the leech-gatherer’s humble but steadfast life.

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4. The Interplay of Solitude and Connection

The poem explores the duality of solitude as both a source of introspection and a potential cause of despair. The speaker begins in isolation, wandering the moors and reflecting on human suffering: “Far from the world I walk, and from all care; / But there may come another day to me— / Solitude, pain of heart, distress, and poverty.” While solitude allows for deep reflection, it also brings fears of loneliness and vulnerability. The encounter with the leech-gatherer shifts the speaker’s perspective, highlighting the value of human connection in overcoming despair. The old man’s resilience and wisdom provide comfort and guidance, as reflected in “To give me human strength, by apt admonishment.” This interplay between solitude and connection reveals Wordsworth’s belief in the importance of balancing self-reflection with communal inspiration.

1. How does Wordsworth portray the connection between nature and human emotion in the poem?

Wordsworth masterfully links the natural world with the speaker’s emotional journey, portraying nature as both a reflection of and a remedy for human emotions. The stormy night and heavy rain, described as “The rain came heavily and fell in floods,” mirror the speaker’s initial turmoil, while the bright, calm morning represents emotional renewal: “But now the sun is rising calm and bright.” Nature’s harmony, exemplified by the playful hare “running races in her mirth,” and the “pleasant noise of waters” alleviates the speaker’s despair. This interplay suggests that immersing oneself in nature can offer solace and inspire resilience during times of inner struggle.

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2. What role does the leech-gatherer play in the speaker’s transformation?

The leech-gatherer serves as a pivotal figure, embodying resilience and wisdom, which ultimately inspire the speaker’s transformation. Initially, the speaker is overwhelmed by fears of “Solitude, pain of heart, distress, and poverty,” but his encounter with the old man offers a counterpoint to his despair. The leech-gatherer, despite his physical frailty—“His body was bent double, feet and head / Coming together in life’s pilgrimage”—perseveres in his humble work. His unyielding spirit prompts the speaker to reframe his perspective, culminating in the vow: “I’ll think of the Leech-gatherer on the lonely moor!” Through this encounter, the speaker learns to embrace resilience as a moral and spiritual ideal.

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3. How does the poem reflect Wordsworth’s Romantic ideals?

The poem reflects Wordsworth’s Romantic ideals through its emphasis on nature’s restorative power, the value of individual experience, and the dignity of the common man. Nature, vividly described as “The sky rejoices in the morning’s birth,” is portrayed as a source of inspiration and emotional healing. The speaker’s introspective journey—“My whole life I have lived in pleasant thought”—aligns with Romanticism’s focus on personal reflection and emotional intensity. Additionally, the leech-gatherer, a humble figure performing arduous work, symbolizes the Romantic celebration of the common man’s resilience: “Housing, with God’s good help, by choice or chance; / And in this way he gained an honest maintenance.” Wordsworth elevates the mundane to convey profound moral and spiritual truths.

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4. What is the significance of the references to other poets in the poem?

The references to poets like Thomas Chatterton and Robert Burns highlight the fragile nature of artistic ambition and serve as a warning about the emotional toll of creative pursuits. Wordsworth reflects on their tragic fates—“I thought of Chatterton, the marvellous Boy… / We Poets in our youth begin in gladness; / But thereof come in the end despondency and madness”—to explore the dichotomy between the joy of artistic creation and the despair that often follows. These reflections deepen the speaker’s existential concerns, connecting his personal fears with broader themes of human ambition and vulnerability. The poem suggests that resilience, exemplified by the leech-gatherer, is essential to navigating such emotional turbulence.