📝The Farmer’s Bride – Charlotte Mew
đź“Ś Poet Bio:
Charlotte Mew (1869–1928) was a British poet whose deeply personal works often reflect loneliness, mental illness, and repression. She wrote in a modern style while maintaining Victorian emotional intensity.
đź“Ś Summary:
This dramatic monologue explores the psychological distance between a farmer and his young bride, who recoils from his affection. Though married, she remains terrified of men, preferring the company of animals and nature. The farmer is frustrated yet tender, ending with a quiet desperation for closeness.
Mew delves into themes of sexual repression, gender roles, and emotional isolation. The bride’s silence contrasts with the farmer’s voice, highlighting his control and her fear. The poem critiques the expectations placed on women and marriage in rural society.
đź“Ś Themes: Isolation, gender roles, longing, repression, marriage
đź“Ś Style: Dramatic monologue, rural imagery, irregular rhyme, contrast