Maud Muller Poem Analysis
"Maud Muller" is a narrative poem written by American poet John Greenleaf Whittier in 1856. It tells the story of a chance encounter between Maud Muller, a beautiful young haymaker, and a wealthy judge. The poem explores themes of love, regret, and the impact of choices on one's life, illustrating the human tendency to dwell on what might have been.
The poem begins with a detailed description of Maud Muller, a young woman working in the fields on a summer day:
"Maud Muller on a summer's day
Raked the meadow sweet with hay."
As Maud works, she encounters a judge riding by on his horse. The two engage in a brief conversation, during which Maud offers the judge a drink of water. Their interaction is marked by a mutual attraction, and as the judge rides away, both Maud and the judge find themselves daydreaming about what life might have been like had they pursued a relationship with one another.
Maud imagines a life of luxury and comfort as the judge's wife, while the judge envisions a simpler, happier existence with Maud by his side:
"And the proud man sighed, with a secret pain,
'Ah, that I were free again!
Free as when I rode that day,
Where the barefoot maiden raked her hay.'"
However, both characters eventually marry other people and lead separate lives. Maud marries a farmer and has a large family, while the judge marries a woman of high social standing. Despite their respective marriages, both Maud and the judge continue to reflect on their chance encounter and the alternative lives they might have led.
The poem ends on a note of melancholy, emphasizing the theme of regret:
"Of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these: 'It might have been!'"
"Maud Muller" is a poignant exploration of the human tendency to dwell on the road not taken and the impact of choices on one's life. The poem's vivid imagery and narrative structure draw the reader into the story, while its exploration of love, regret, and the consequences of decisions make it a timeless and relatable work. Whittier's poem serves as a reminder that life is full of choices, and that dwelling on what might have been can lead to a lifetime of regret.