The Silent Tragedy by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
The poem explores the theme of a woman's unrequited love and her subsequent silence about it. The speaker describes how she has been suffering in silence for years, hiding her true emotions behind a mask of happiness. She compares her heart to a "silent tragedy" that is never expressed or revealed to anyone.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1909 · Genre: Poetry, Tragedy, Social Commentary · 728 words
First lines
THE deepest tragedies of life are not / Put into books, or acted on the stage. / Nay, they are lived in silence, by tense hearts / In homes, among dull unperceiving kin, / And thoughtless friends, who make a whip of words / Wherewith to lash these hearts, and call it wit.
What this Textopian page supports
The Silent Tragedy is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1909 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Date: 1909 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Tragedy, Social Commentary, Feminist Literature, Philosophical Literature
- Length: 728 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Silent Tragedy by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Similar titles
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- Veils by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Burdened by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Sisters Of Mine by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Mrs Meyers by Edgar Lee Masters
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing poetic devices and structure.
- Tragedy — The themes revolve around deep personal and societal suffering, particularly focusing on unfulfilled motherhood.
- Social Commentary — The text critiques social norms and laws that restrict women's roles and desires.
- Feminist Literature — The work addresses women's issues, particularly the societal constraints on women's natural roles and desires.
Tags
Poetry · Tragedy · Silence · Suffering · Emotional Pain · Loss · Grief · Mourning · Death · Feminist Literature · Women's Rights · Social Commentary