The Death of Regret by Thomas Hardy
The narrative unfolds through the reflections of a speaker who grapples with the memory of a deceased comrade. The speaker's daily ritual of opening a shutter at sunrise serves as a metaphor for confronting grief and loss. Initially, the speaker is deeply affected by the comrade's death, recalling the last moments spent together and the final ascent of the comrade up the hill, which culminated in his demise. As time progresses, the speaker's grief begins to fade, illustrating the human tendency to move on from sorrow. The act of opening the shutter becomes a routine, and the memory of the comrade gradually recedes into the background of the speaker's consciousness. The speaker reflects on the emotional distance that develops over time, noting how the once vivid memories of the comrade become infrequent and less impactful. The poem explores themes of memory, loss, and the passage of time. It highlights the struggle between the desire to hold onto memories of loved ones and the inevitable process of forgetting as life continues. The speaker's internal conflict reveals a tension between honoring the past and the need to engage with the present. Ultimately, the work captures the bittersweet nature of remembrance, illustrating how grief can transform into a distant echo as life moves forward.
By Thomas Hardy · First published 1910 · Genre: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Tragedy · 236 words
First lines
I OPENED my shutter at sunrise, And looked at the hill hard by, And I heartily grieved for the comrade Who wandered up there to die.
I let in the morn on the morrow, And failed not to think of him then, As he trod up that rise in the twilight, And never came down again.
I undid the shutter a week thence, But not until after I'd turned Did I call back his last departure By the upland there discerned.
Uncovering the casement long later, I bent to my toil till the gray, When I said to myself, "Ah-what ails me, To forget him all the day!"
What this Textopian page supports
The Death of Regret is listed on Textopian as a poem by Thomas Hardy, dated 1910 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Thomas Hardy
- Date: 1910 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Tragedy, Romanticism, Existentialism
- Length: 236 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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Similar titles
- After The Last Breath by Thomas Hardy
- The Reminder by Thomas Hardy
- One We Knew by Thomas Hardy
- A Sunday Morning Tragedy by Thomas Hardy
- The Dead Man Walking by Thomas Hardy
- Exeunt Omnes by Thomas Hardy
Genres
- Poetry — The work is a poem that explores themes of loss and memory through lyrical expression.
- Literary Fiction — The poem delves into deep emotional and philosophical themes, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Tragedy — The themes of death and regret suggest a tragic narrative arc.
- Romanticism — The focus on nature and personal emotion aligns with Romantic literary traditions.
Tags
regret · death · loss · grief · melancholy · existentialism · human condition · relationships · redemption · suffering · nostalgia · fate