Enoch Arden: Analysis of Major Characters
"Enoch Arden" is a narrative poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson that explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the complexities of human relationships through its major characters. The central figure, Enoch Arden, is a devoted fisherman who experiences a dramatic turn in fortune after being injured, leading to his prolonged absence from his family. His wife, Annie, grapples with grief and hardship during his absence but eventually faces the possibility of a new marriage with Philip Ray, a childhood friend of both Enoch and Annie, who harbors secret feelings for her. Philip’s well-being contrasts sharply with Enoch’s struggles, underscoring the theme of unrequited love and loyalty. Miriam Lane, a tavernkeeper, provides a supportive role, offering Enoch a place to stay upon his return to England and serving as the confidante who reveals Annie's new life to him. The story culminates in a poignant resolution that reflects on the enduring bonds of love and the inevitable changes in life circumstances. This character-driven analysis invites readers to contemplate the emotional landscapes of love, loss, and the moral dilemmas faced by individuals when confronted with the realities of their choices.
Enoch Arden: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Lord Alfred Tennyson
First published: 1864
Genre: Poetry
Locale: England
Plot: Sentimental
Time: Late eighteenth century
Enoch Arden, a fisherman. He marries his childhood playmate Annie and has seven happy years of marriage with her. He is then injured, and their prosperity vanishes in his months of recuperation. He sells his fishing boat to set up Annie as a trader to support their three children in his absence, then sails on a merchantman. Shipwrecked on a desert island, he worries constantly about his family. Years later, he gets back to England. There, learning that Annie is happily married and the mother of a new baby, he does not reveal his identity until he is on his deathbed.
Annie Lee, his wife. A poor businesswoman and burdened by grief, her difficulties continue until, more than ten years after Enoch's disappearance, another former childhood playmate asks her to marry him. She insists that they wait another year and a half, and even then she is not thoroughly happy and at peace until their child is born.
Philip Ray, Enoch's friend, secretly in love with Annie since childhood. Only well after Enoch's presumed death does he disclose his love. A miller's son, he is well-to-do.
Miriam Lane, a widowed tavernkeeper. Enoch takes lodgings with her on his return. It is she who tells him about Annie and Philip and to whom he relates his story on his deathbed.