The Silent Tragedy
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)
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- Work identity for The Silent Tragedy by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- Widows by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Veils by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Burdened by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Sisters Of Mine by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Mrs Meyers by Edgar Lee Masters
- Eurydice by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
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