Poem Analysis - The Sergeants Wedding

A Celebration Tinged with Cynicism

Rudyard Kipling's "The Sergeant's Wedding" is a sardonic take on matrimony, specifically focusing on a wedding viewed with suspicion and disapproval by the Sergeant's comrades. The poem pulses with a bitter, cynical tone, initially disguised by the forced cheerfulness of the wedding celebration. As the poem progresses, the facade crumbles, revealing resentment and a sense of impending karmic justice. The mood shifts from superficial celebration to thinly veiled animosity and a dark anticipation of retribution.

The Shadow of Disapproval: "Doing it Blind"

One central theme of the poem is the destructive nature of willful ignorance. The opening stanza sets the stage, stating that the couple was warned against each other, yet proceeded regardless. The line "Wouldn't 'ear no reason, / 'Went an' done it blind," highlights their stubborn refusal to acknowledge potential problems. This theme carries through the poem, suggesting that their ignorance will lead to inevitable consequences, a fate the speaker and his comrades seem eager to witness. The phrase "They've got all to find!" underscores the speaker's belief that the couple will eventually face the harsh realities they've ignored.

Justice Served Cold: Retribution

Another prominent theme is retribution, presented as a form of karmic justice. The speaker and his fellow soldiers harbor resentment toward the Sergeant, likely stemming from his corrupt practices ("'E's a bloomin' robber, / An' 'e keeps canteen"). The wife-to-be is viewed as equally culpable, potentially due to her past ("What's the use o' tellin' / 'Arf the lot she's been?"). The line "We 'ave scores to settle -- / Scores for more than beer; / She's the girl to pay 'em -- / That is why we're 'ere!" reveals the soldiers' intention to use the wife as an instrument of revenge. The poem suggests that their marriage, built on questionable foundations, will ultimately lead to their downfall, satisfying the soldiers' thirst for vengeance.

Appearance Versus Reality: False Smiles and Hidden Agendas

The poem uses several images to emphasize the discrepancy between outward appearances and underlying realities. The "Grey gun-'orses in the lando" symbolize the military context and hint at the grim reality behind the seemingly celebratory occasion. The description of the chaplain "thinkin'" and the women "smil[ing]" while the married "winkin'" suggests hidden knowledge and cynical amusement. Even the wedding itself, with its "White an' laylock ribbons," is presented as a superficial facade masking the couple's questionable characters and the soldiers' vengeful intentions. The final image of the couple "Bowin' like a lady, / Blushin' like a lad" contrasts sharply with the speaker's assessment that "Both is rotten bad?", questioning the authenticity of their joy.

A Toast to Tumult

In conclusion, "The Sergeant's Wedding" is a darkly humorous and cynical poem that explores themes of willful ignorance, retribution, and the deceptive nature of appearances. The poem's strength lies in its ability to convey a sense of impending doom beneath the surface of a celebratory event. By the end, we’re left with the distinct impression that this wedding is not a beginning, but the start of a long and turbulent reckoning for the Sergeant and his bride. The ambiguity of the "scores to settle" and the specific "lot she's been" invites us to consider the multifaceted nature of judgment and revenge, and raises the question of whether the soldiers' anticipation of karmic retribution is justified or simply fueled by their own bitterness.