Narrator, “An Elegy for Five Old Ladies”
The narrator of this rather morbid poem shares with the reader—you—a brief story of how five old ladies—all friends—died in a tragic and unexpected car crash. The narrator appears to be a rather omniscient being, one who wants to honor the memories of the women who lost their lives by sharing the story of their last moments.
The Five Old Ladies, “An Elegy for Five Old Ladies”
The five old ladies are the subject of this poem. Though it is never explicitly stated who these five women were, what is clear is that they were old companions who enjoyed life and were faced with an unfortunate driving accident. The women are described as enjoying both life and their companionship with each other. Though we never learn their names, we do learn that died when their car—a sedan—crashed into icy waters and killed all the women.
Mrs. Watson, “An Elegy for Five Old Ladies”
Mrs. Watson plays a relatively small role in this poem. Though she is nothing more than an eyewitness to the old ladies’ fateful crash, she is the only character who is identified by name. Mrs. Watson puts the old ladies at a specific place at a specific time (3:45) and helps to offer the reader some more information about the accident. Mrs. Watson claims that the “bell rung too loud and too late.” This bell could refer the car’s horn, indicating that perhaps the ladies’ crash was caused by someone or something. Mrs. Watson’s sole purpose in this poem is as an eyewitness who offers contextual information for this accident.
Narrator, “Landscape”
In this poem, the narrator appears to be a somewhat humble and yearning individual; someone who longs to be joyous and successful in the eyes of God. The narrator cares deeply for God, whom he refers to as “unconquerable,” and wishes to share this adoration with the readers. The narrator is a deeply devoted follower of God and truly believes that God is both all-knowing and all-powerful—and we should therefore obey and follow him.
God, “Landscape”
Though God does not interact with the narrator in this poem, he is the subject of the poem and the poet’s adoration. God is described by the poet as being “unconquerable” and is portrayed as an all-powerful being—one who cares for each and every person on Earth. God has clearly played an influential role in the narrator’s life—so much so that the narrator has devoted an entire poem to his wonder and power.
