Poem Analysis - Gipsies

Introduction: A Moment of Observation and Judgment

Wordsworth's "Gipsies" presents a snapshot of a Romani group observed over a twelve-hour period. The poem begins with a sense of wonder and perhaps a touch of romanticism as the speaker notes their unchanging presence. However, a critical tone gradually emerges, reflecting on their perceived stagnation and contrasting it with the dynamism of the speaker's own life and the natural world. The poem explores themes of societal exclusion, the nature of freedom, and the speaker's complex, ultimately judgmental, perspective.

The Enduring Outsiders: A Theme of Exclusion

One of the main themes is the isolation and exclusion of the Romani people from mainstream society. The poem emphasizes their unchanging state, a "same unbroken knot," suggesting that they exist outside the conventional flow of time and progress. The phrase "wild outcasts of society!" explicitly labels them as marginalized. Wordsworth highlights the disparity between their "torpid life" and the active, changing world around them. The "birth / And breeding" mentioned suggests a deterministic view, implying that their circumstances are largely predetermined and contribute to their outcast status.

The Shifting Light: Symbolism of Perspective and Change

The poem employs vivid imagery related to light and darkness, which symbolizes shifting perspectives and the passage of time. The "fire seems bolder, yielding light" initially evokes a sense of warmth and perhaps a romantic fascination with their unconventional lifestyle. However, the contrast between the "fulgent west" of the setting sun and the "one dark hour" leading to the moonrise highlights the speaker's awareness of a broader, more dynamic world. The moon "looks as if at them--but they / Regard not her," indicating a fundamental disconnect between the Romani group and the natural cycles that the speaker values. The light imagery shifts from representing a romantic allure to representing a judgment on their perceived lack of engagement with the world.

Freedom and Stagnation: A Critical Reflection

Wordsworth explores the idea of freedom through the contrast between the speaker's active life and the perceived stagnation of the Romani group. The speaker, "a traveller under open sky," celebrates "change and cheer," implying a life of exploration and growth. This is juxtaposed with the Romani people's "torpid life," which is viewed as almost lifeless and is even "reprove[d]" by the moving stars. The speaker acknowledges the potential for "wrong and strife" in a more conventional life, yet finds this preferable to the perceived lack of activity and ambition among the Romani. The poem subtly questions whether the Romani people's existence is a form of freedom or a kind of imprisonment.

Ambiguity and Judgment: A Concluding Look

In conclusion, "Gipsies" offers a complex and somewhat ambivalent portrait of a marginalized group. While the poem begins with a sense of observation, it ultimately delivers a judgment, contrasting the Romani people's lifestyle with the speaker's own values of progress and engagement. The poem's enduring significance lies in its exploration of societal exclusion, the contrasting ideals of freedom, and the speaker's personal struggle to reconcile observation with judgment. The poem leaves the reader pondering the nature of societal inclusion, and the tension between respecting cultural differences and expecting conformity to dominant societal values.