The World (poem) Essay Questions

How does the first stanza of this poem characterize the speaker?

The first stanza of the poem shows the speaker's attempt to provide comfort to his wife. He seeks to "reassure" her, but seems unable to do so. He feels that there is a gap between the person she first saw him as and the man he thinks he is. In his desire to ease his wife's pain, the speaker shows that he is a loving, supportive partner. However, in feeling that he cannot provide this comfort, he sees himself as failing to fulfill his role as a good husband. Being unable to show his love for his wife in this way causes the speaker significant pain.

Who is the "grey" figure and what is its significance in the poem?

The figure that appears in the speaker's bedroom is his wife's deceased brother. The speaker identifies him after he leans over their bed and his face comes into view. In the context of the poem, he signifies looming grief and its clouding presence in daily life. In the way that he comes between the speaker and his wife, the figure is a clear materialization of the aftershocks of loss. The figure appears because the speaker's wife is unable to let go of her pain, and the speaker is similarly unable to ease her burden. She is literally "haunted" by the memory of her brother. His disappearance at the poem's end signifies the speaker finally being able to comfort his wife and ward off some of the pain caused by the figure.