
The novel revolves around the life of a young woman who returns to her hometown after being away for several years. She finds herself struggling to adjust to the monotony and narrow-mindedness of small-town life, particularly in regards to the limited opportunities available to women. As she navigates her new reality, she must confront her own desires, ambitions, and sense of identity, all while facing opposition from those around her who wish to constrain her to traditional gender roles.
By Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward · First published 1915 · Genre: Poetry, Philosophical, Literary Fiction · 207 words
O busy ships! that smile in sailing / In a glory / Like a dream, / From the colors of the harbor to the colors of the sea. / In singing words or in bewailing, / Tell the story / As you gleam, / Tell the story, guess the language of my idle hours for me.
O busy waves! so blest in bruising / Your white faces / On the shore. / So happy to be wasted with the purpose of the sea, / Content to leave with it the choosing / Of your places / Evermore, / Whisper but the far sea-meaning of my stranded life for me.
Stranded is listed on Textopian as a poem by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward, dated 1915 CE.
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Feminism · Social Commentary · Marriage · Women's Rights · Domesticity · Patriarchy · Gender Roles · 19th Century · American Literature · Novel of Manners · Satire · Humor