The Wife's Lament

The poem "The Wife's Lament" takes the reader on a complex journey into the life of a woman living in the Old English world and struggling with both the frustration of being separated from her lover and the inability to rectify her situation. Throughout the poem the speaker reminisces on specific events from her past, and also periodically comments on her present situation with emotion, reflection and speculation. By doing this, she is able to …

…and accepts her fate. The reader, on the otherhand, is able to look at this aspect from the present day perspective and understand that her actions are completely justified. Actions taken by the wife in the poem were not tolerated by women in Old English society, and the people of that time feel her expatriation can be validated by the fact that she went against the wishes of her lord and sought out another lover.