Poem Analysis - Written Afterwards

Henry Lawson's "Written Afterwards" is a poignant and somewhat humorous reflection on the compromises and adjustments a man makes upon entering married life. The poem, cast as a letter to a former companion, reveals a speaker caught between the allure of his past and the responsibilities of his present. The tone is conversational and confessional, laced with a wry self-awareness and a hint of melancholy. While the poem begins with a seeming acceptance of his domesticated state, subtle shifts in mood reveal a lingering sense of loss and a recognition of the changes he has undergone.

Nostalgia vs. Domesticity: A Shifting Identity

One of the central themes of the poem is the tension between the speaker's former life of freedom and adventure and his current domestic existence. The opening stanzas establish this conflict, with the speaker acknowledging that his "tramping" and "riding" days are over. He claims to be content, but the qualification – "as a rover/Will ever be under the sun" – betrays a lingering longing for his previous lifestyle. The insistence that his friend "never admit a suggestion/That old things are good to recall" underscores the effort it takes to suppress these nostalgic feelings. The poem highlights how embracing domesticity requires a conscious suppression of past experiences and desires, and he is fearful that memories of those experiences will be misconstrued by his wife.

The Price of Respectability: Adapting to Societal Norms

The poem also explores the theme of respectability and the sacrifices it entails. The speaker notes that he is now "respected and trusted," addressed as "Mister" and "Sir." This newfound status, however, comes at the cost of authenticity. The anecdote about "entertaining/An old lady friend of the wife" suggests a forced and unnatural performance of social decorum. The poem seems to critique the superficiality of societal expectations and the pressure to conform to a particular image. The speaker seems to be indicating that he is now having to put on an act, not being fully himself, in order to maintain the expectations of his new status.

Truth and Deception: Navigating Marital Boundaries

A third important theme is the necessity of deception, or at least selective omission, in maintaining marital harmony. The repeated instructions to his friend to "forget" certain events and avoid certain topics – drinking, past relationships, "the old language of strife" – reveal a calculated effort to protect his wife from potentially upsetting truths. This suggests that complete honesty within a marriage may be impractical or even detrimental. The speaker recognizes that certain aspects of his past are incompatible with his present identity and that preserving his marriage requires a degree of self-censorship. The line "your past is To-day and To-morrow/If you want to be true to the wife" encapsulates the idea that marriage requires a complete re-evaluation of the self and a rewriting of one's personal narrative.

Symbols of Transformation: From Rover to 'Mister'

The poem uses several key symbols to illustrate the speaker's transformation. The image of "tramping" and "riding" represents his former freedom and mobility, while the titles "Mister" and "Sir" symbolize his newfound respectability and societal integration. The "pipe with old memories rife" is a recurring symbol of nostalgia and the past, a comfort that must be indulged in secret. The "eyes of the wife" become a powerful symbol of judgment and constraint, representing the social norms and expectations that the speaker must now navigate. The "Place" mentioned at the end symbolizes the narrowing of his world and the confines of domestic life.

Final Thoughts: A Compromised Contentment

In conclusion, "Written Afterwards" is a complex and nuanced portrayal of the compromises inherent in marriage and the tension between personal freedom and societal expectations. While the speaker claims to be "content," the poem's underlying tone of melancholy and the repeated emphasis on the need for secrecy suggest a more ambivalent reality. The poem invites readers to consider the extent to which individuals must adapt and even suppress aspects of themselves in order to maintain social harmony and marital stability. Ultimately, Lawson's poem leaves us with a sense of the bittersweet nature of maturity and the recognition that contentment often comes at a price. Is the speaker truly happy, or has he merely convinced himself that he is, "for the sake of a true little wife?"