Essay for The Wonderer

Monica
The Wonderer Essay
10/20/10


The Wonderer is a man who has lost absolutely everything; he has no friends, no family, and he lost his king, which is the person who gave him courage. He lives on an island, which is just like living in solitary confinement. Even though a master does not have control over him, the Wonderer just doesn’t have any other signs of human beings around him.
“Cut off from free kinsmen, so far away from my own dear country; for I left the land, ploughed the icy waves with winter in my heart.” This statement is saying that he was washed away from the country that he stood up for and loved. When he ended up on the land, which he has no clue where he is, he feels isolated because he is all alone and has no one around.
“For him are the ways of exile, in no wise twisted gold! For him is a frozen body, in no wise the fruits of the earth! He remembers hall-retainers and how his youth he had taken treasure from the hands of his gold-friend.” The Wonderer is realizing what bad things he had done while he still had friends. He stole gold from people, and now not knowing where he is, the Wonderer feels like god has turned on him, and that is why he is out on the island.
“When I brood on the fate of many brave warriors, how they have suddenly had to leave the mead-hall, the bold friends and followers. So it is this world day by day dwindles, and passes away.” When the Wonderer starts to think about all the fate every warrior had to put into the battle, the were not rewarded. They were sent off and had to leave their home.

In conclusion in think this story is showing that people who had been doing good, can suddenly have their life turned upside down. Meaning that they could have been doing good things their entire life, but someone who obviously does not see that, could just mess up the other person’s life completely.