Nature and setting Flashcards
overview
In “A Wife in London,” Thomas Hardy uses nature and setting to reflect the emotional turmoil of the wife as she processes the devastating news of her husband’s death in war. The fog that envelops London symbolizes confusion and isolation, mirroring the wife’s disoriented state. The cold streetlamp and thickening fog create a sense of emotional and physical barrenness, emphasizing her loneliness and the harshness of her situation. The contrast between the warmth of the firelight and the cold, indifferent world outside highlights the fragility of hope, while the natural process of decay, symbolized by the worm, underscores the inevitability of death and the crushing reality of her loss. Through these natural elements, Hardy deepens the emotional impact of the wife’s grief and the oppressive weight of war.
“tawny vapour”
In the opening lines, Hardy introduces “tawny vapour” as a form of nature that envelops the wife. The word “tawny” conjures an image of brownish or yellowish fog, which suggests a sense of stagnation or decay. This “vapour” is not only a physical setting but serves as a metaphor for the wife’s emotional state—her grief is as suffocating and disorienting as the fog. The use of the term “uproled” suggests a violent upheaval of the mist, creating a sense of confusion and chaos. The fog that “has uprolled” represents the way her world has been violently altered by the news, making her feel trapped and disoriented in a world now clouded by sorrow. The natural setting, thus, mirrors her inner state, where clarity and comfort have been obscured.
“street-lamp glimmers cold”
Moreover, Hardy’s description of the “street-lamp glimmers cold” reinforces the loneliness and emotional barrenness of the wife’s condition. The word “glimmer” implies a faint, unstable light, symbolizing a flicker of hope that is overshadowed by the coldness of the situation. The coldness of the lamp’s glow mirrors the emotional coldness the wife feels after receiving the devastating news of her husband’s death. There is no warmth, no comfort—just an unfeeling, indifferent world surrounding her. In this sense, the street-lamp also emphasizes the separation between the wife and the rest of society, intensifying her isolation. Even the lamp, a symbol of guidance, fails to provide her with any solace, contributing to the theme of emotional desolation.
“’Tis the morrow; the fog hangs thicker”
The repetition of the fog imagery in “’Tis the morrow; the fog hangs thicker” deepens the sense of entrapment. The fog “hanging thicker” serves as a metaphor for the wife’s growing emotional confusion and grief. This second mention of fog implies that time has passed since the first letter (the one containing the news of her husband’s death), but it also emphasizes how the passage of time has not cleared her confusion or eased her sorrow. The thickening fog mirrors her mental and emotional state as she is consumed by sorrow and cannot escape the overwhelming feelings of loss. In addition, it emphasizes the bleakness of the setting, portraying the world as a place devoid of clarity or comfort. The fog is all-encompassing, like her grief, showing how she is trapped within a world that no longer seems familiar or bearable.
“messenger’s knock cracks smartly”
The “messenger’s knock cracks smartly” is a sharply physical moment that disrupts the silence. The verb “cracks” is harsh, almost violent, echoing the sudden and jarring nature of the news that the wife is about to receive. The sharpness of the sound contrasts with the muffled quietness of the fog, suggesting that the impact of the messenger’s news is even more intense because it cuts through the passive atmosphere of her home and the muted world outside. The knock symbolizes the intrusion of war into domestic life, breaking the fragile peace and leaving the wife to grapple with the harshness of reality. The word “smartly” also suggests the messenger’s businesslike attitude, emphasising the lack of empathy or warmth in the delivery of such devastating news.
“firelight flicker”
In the second stanza, Hardy introduces the firelight as a contrast to the cold, foggy world outside. The image of “firelight flicker” could represent a momentary flicker of warmth or hope. However, the instability of the flickering light mirrors the fragility of the wife’s hope for her husband’s return. The word “flicker” also connotes something that is not stable or lasting, suggesting that the wife’s sense of security is fleeting and soon to be extinguished by the devastating news of her husband’s death. This dynamic between the warm, flickering firelight and the cold, impersonal fog outside highlights the emotional duality the wife experiences—between the warmth of anticipation and the coldness of reality.
“the worm now knows,”
The final mention of nature, “the worm now knows,” serves as a stark and sobering image of death. The “worm,” representing decomposition, is the final indicator of her husband’s demise. The cold, biological process of decay contrasts sharply with the personal loss the wife feels. Nature is indifferent to human suffering, as symbolized by the “worm,” which consumes her husband’s body without any regard for the life that once was. This reminder of death’s inevitability underscores the inevitability of the wife’s sorrow. The worm is a reminder that, while the wife remains in a state of emotional shock, nature has already moved on, and death is irreversible. This moment reflects the theme of war’s indifference to human lives, showing that, while humans experience the pain of loss, nature continues its processes without sympathy.
structure
The structure of “A Wife in London” enhances the theme of nature and setting by dividing the poem into two distinct parts. The first part introduces the wife’s emotional response to her husband’s death, with the setting reflecting her confusion and grief through imagery of fog and coldness. The second part shifts to a more personal setting, where the wife’s hope is reignited momentarily by a letter from her husband, only for this hope to be dashed. The contrast between the external, oppressive natural world and the warmth of her home emphasizes the disconnection between her internal state and the world around her. This division in the structure highlights the emotional impact of nature and setting, reinforcing the themes of isolation, grief, and the indifference of the natural world to human suffering.
context
In “A Wife in London,” Thomas Hardy uses the setting of London and its natural elements, particularly fog, to reflect the emotional isolation and despair experienced by the wife. The fog, which is pervasive throughout the poem, symbolizes confusion and grief, enveloping the wife in a disorienting and cold atmosphere. The city’s impersonal, harsh environment contrasts with the warmth and hope the wife once had for her husband’s return. The setting of London, with its foggy lanes and cold street-lamps, mirrors the wife’s sense of being trapped in a world devoid of clarity and comfort, amplifying the theme of emotional desolation caused by war.
conclusion
Throughout the poem, Hardy’s use of nature and setting is instrumental in conveying the themes of isolation, grief, and the impact of war. The natural world, from the oppressive fog to the cold street-lamp to the consuming worm, mirrors the wife’s emotional trajectory—from confusion and disorientation to the painful realization of loss. The contrast between the warmth of the firelight and the coldness of the world outside also reflects the fragile nature of human hope, as well as the harsh, impersonal reality that war imposes on personal lives. Through nature, Hardy evokes a powerful sense of the wife’s internal experience, making the emotional impact of the poem all the more poignant.
