She Dwelt Among The Untrodden Ways

The personal intention to write an argumentative text follows the need to provide a possible reason for William Wordsworth decision to write She Dwelt Among The Untrodden Ways.

Indeed I would like to explain why, in my opinion, the poet composed such lines and mainly why he was fascinated by Lucy: reason that is not explicitly made clear in the text.

It goes without saying that the mysterious reason that explains for the poem composition is only hint at the eleventh line, where the intelligent reader understands Lucy's death implies a relevant difference in William Wordsworth's life.

The very first name of the Maid conveys a positive illuminated visual image and it follows that the choice of such proper name may surely be significant in the economy of the text. The name adds an identity to the character and it is intelligently placed in the last quatrain. The choice is meant to leave the reader with the curiosity about the young lady up to the end of the poem and, as a result, the reader is offered a reason to go on reading.

If someone likes analysing literature texts he/she can't help remembering Romeo's words: “What's in a name?”. The name is the person since whenever you think of somebody you generally associate the character to a specific proper name or, in in-colloquial language, to a nick name.

Moreover, referring to the meaning of the name, the one chosen by the poet is Lucy. It follows that it is tightly connected to the comparison between the girl and the stars as the name Lucy may be seen as a synonym of light. Nevertheless, this glare can only be seen when there is no other, since it is so modest hiding from the eye.

Thus the simile between the only star in the sky and the lady is used to underline the uniqueness of the girl who, despite her shyness and modesty, is precious and bright for the poet.

In other words William Wordsworth highlights the aspects of Lucy's character by comparing her to a violet. Indeed, this particular flower is always referred to modesty, shyness, decency and depth of feeling. The Greeks and The Celts also thought it was the symbol for innocence and virginity, since its delicate appearance symbolizes humility and respect.

It is also said that violets are used to reveal being in love whenever someone is too shy to openly declare himself/herself. As a result, the intelligent reader may understands the poem is a silent declaration of love for the young lady who changed the poet's life.

Although the high importance of the girl for William Wordsworth, with the last two lines, he makes us aware that he only realized how meaningful she was when she was no longer alive. Accordingly to that, anyone would see the hidden purpose of the text: showing how fast life is and how complicated it is for us to understand the meaning of something before it is too late.

In conclusion, William Wordsworth wants to teach the reader to seize the day as it comes because everything is temporary and will not wait. Opportunities of life are fleeting and need to be catch as soon as somebody can: no one wants to live with the regret of wasting important chances and nobody wants to end up is life with the question “what if I had done something different?”