Ship
The speaker observes, “Shall a man who has been free to chase his fancy over the wide world, without let or hindrance, shut himself up to marriage-ship, within four walls called Home, that are to claim him, his time trouble, and his tears, thenceforward for evermore, without doubts thick, and thick-coming as smoke.” The allegorical ship depicts the constraints and setbacks which are inherent in marriage. Once one joins matrimony, one's being must incorporate the household’s. Smokes relates to the qualms which may arise after marriage which occasions remorse.
Plaguey
The bachelor reflects, “ Then, again, there are a plaguey wife’s relations. Who know how many third, fourth, or fifth cousins will appear at careless complimentary intervals, long after you had settled into the placid belief that all congratulatory visits were at an end?” The allegorical plague characterizes the upsetting nature of extended families. Some kinsfolks exasperate married couples through meddling, inconveniencing tendencies.
“Monitors, Comforters, True-heart talkers”
The bachelor declares, “Blessed be letters!-they are the monitors, they are also the comforters, they are the only true- heart talkers.” Letters replicate the sentiments of the writers. Reading through letters authored using reassuring words is uplifting.
