Poem Analysis - Harp Song Of The Dane Women

Introduction: Lament for the Sea-Bound

Rudyard Kipling's "Harp Song of the Dane Women" is a melancholic lament spoken from the perspective of women left behind by their Viking men. The poem explores the conflicting pulls of domesticity and adventure, love and the allure of the sea. The tone is initially questioning and accusatory, shifting to a resigned sadness as the poem progresses. The mood is permeated with a sense of loss and the women's powerlessness against the sea's seductive call. The poem is full of a deep longing for connection and a deep sense of abandonment.

The Irresistible Call of the Sea: A Theme of Abandonment

One of the primary themes is the abandonment felt by the women. The poem repeatedly asks, "What is a woman that you forsake her...To go with the old grey Widow-maker?" This refrain highlights the women’s bewilderment and pain at being left behind for the dangerous, unpredictable sea. The sea, personified as the "old grey Widow-maker," is presented as a rival for the men's affections. This theme is reinforced by the contrast between the warmth and safety of "the hearth-fire and the home-acre" and the cold, deadly embrace of the sea.

Mortality and the Sea: A Constant Companion

The theme of mortality is intrinsically linked to the sea. The "Widow-maker" title clearly indicates the sea's destructive power and its role in creating widows. The poem emphasizes the sea's barrenness and finality. "She has no house to lay a guest in--But one chill bed for all to rest in." This imagery directly connects the sea with death, a permanent and cold resting place. The "stray bergs" evoke the dangers of the sea and the risk of death faced by the Viking men, therefore influencing the state of abandonment that the women face. The acceptance of mortality becomes the central tension to overcome.

The Seductive Nature of Adventure: A Bitter Contrast

The poem explores the theme of the allure of adventure as it contrasts with the mundanity of domestic life. The men "sicken--Sicken again for the shouts and the slaughters." This implies a dependence on and attraction to the violence and excitement that the sea offers. The detailed description of the ship – "To pitch her sides and go over her cables" – showcases the men's eagerness to return to their vessel. The women’s lives, filled with "mirth, and talk at the tables, The kine in the shed and the horse in the stables," are presented as less stimulating, almost boring, in comparison to the perilous yet compelling adventure the sea promises.

Recurring Images: Sea as Death and Home as Life

The poem uses vivid imagery to contrast the sea and the home. The "old grey Widow-maker" is a powerful symbol of the sea's deadly nature. The image of "the ten-times-fingering weed to hold you--Out on the rocks where the tide has rolled you" evokes a sense of being trapped and consumed by the sea. On the other hand, the "hearth-fire and the home-acre" symbolize warmth, safety, and domesticity. These contrasting images reinforce the poem's central conflict between the dangers of the sea and the comforts of home. The "lapping waters" represent both the seductive call of the sea and the potential for disaster.

Final Thoughts: A Cycle of Loss and Longing

In conclusion, "Harp Song of the Dane Women" is a poignant exploration of the themes of abandonment, mortality, and the allure of adventure. The poem uses vivid imagery and a lamenting tone to convey the women's feelings of loss and powerlessness against the sea's irresistible call. The refrain emphasizes the cyclical nature of this loss, as the men yearly return to the sea, leaving the women behind to mourn their absence. The poem leaves the reader with a lingering sense of sadness and an understanding of the sacrifices made by those left behind in a world defined by maritime adventure and the constant threat of the "Widow-maker."