Poem Analysis - Scotish Ballad

Robert Burns' "Scotish Ballad" is a playful and ironic narrative poem told from the perspective of a young woman navigating the complexities of love and marriage. The poem blends humor with shrewd observation, creating a lighthearted yet insightful commentary on courtship and social expectations. While seemingly simple, it reveals a canny protagonist who uses wit and feigned indifference to get what she wants. The tone is primarily sarcastic and teasing, punctuated with moments of genuine, though quickly dismissed, vexation, culminating in a resolution that is both amusing and subtly subversive.

A Lass's Calculated Indifference

One of the central themes of the poem is the woman's calculated indifference towards her suitor. Initially, she claims to hate men ("I said, there was naething I hated like men"), and even wishes the "deuce" on him for believing her. This is immediately suspect, establishing her as an unreliable narrator. The line "The Lord forgie me for lying" further underscores this playful deception. She maintains this facade of disinterest even when presented with the attractive offer of "A weel-stocked mailen, himself for the laird, / And marriage aff-hand." She pretends not to care, thinking she "might hae waur offers." This theme is developed through her tone: a mixture of disdain and a shrewd awareness of her own value in the marriage market.

Jealousy and Pride

The poem delves into the themes of jealousy and pride when the wooer transfers his affections to her "black cousin, Bess." Her immediate reaction is one of wounded pride and barely concealed jealousy ("Guess ye how, the jad! I could bear her"). The term "jad" reveals her true feelings masked by the prior supposed hate of men. Her pride is further wounded because the suitor went to her "black cousin". This incident serves as a turning point, revealing the vulnerability beneath her carefully constructed facade. The tryst scene shows the speaker using a glance, "owre my left shouther," to reignite his interest, suggesting a deliberate manipulation born from a hurt ego and a desire to regain control. The speaker's manipulation of the situation for her own ends shows the pride, even vanity, of the speaker.

The Social Game of Courtship

The poem explores the social dynamics of courtship in rural Scotland. Marriage is presented as a practical arrangement, driven by economic considerations ("A weel-stocked mailen") as much as romantic love. The speaker's awareness of her potential worth as a wife is evident throughout, highlighting the transactional nature of relationships in this context. Her inquiries about her cousin ("I spier'd for my cousin fu' couthy and sweet, / Gin she had recover'd her hearin") are sarcastic jabs, revealing the competitive and often superficial aspects of courtship. This theme of social games is further explored with the social interactions between the speaker and the people around her, shown when "Least neebors might say I was saucy".

Symbolism of the Glance and The Swearing

Several symbols are used to convey deeper meaning. The glance "owre my left shouther" isn't merely a casual look; it's a carefully calculated move intended to recapture the wooer's attention. It symbolizes feminine wiles and the power of subtle gestures in the game of courtship. Further, the wooer's sudden "swearin" in the seventh stanza, when questioned about Bess, symbolizes his own guilt and awareness that his actions are socially unacceptable. The swearing also shows his true emotions, being flustered and worried about losing the speaker.

A Witty Acceptance

In conclusion, "Scotish Ballad" is a deceptively simple poem that offers a witty and insightful commentary on love, marriage, and social expectations. Through the voice of a cunning and self-aware young woman, Burns explores the complexities of courtship with humor and a touch of irony. The poem’s final lines, where she agrees to marry him "to preserve the poor body in life," are dripping with sarcasm. Is this a genuine act of compassion, or is she simply securing a desirable match while maintaining her facade of indifference? The poem leaves us pondering the true motivations behind her actions and the subtle power dynamics at play in the world of courtship, suggesting that even in matters of the heart, practicality and social maneuvering often take center stage.