"O I have killed my father dear,/ Mother, Mother,"
I found this poem to be very interesting, but also confusing. For this poem, I'm going to do something different and re-write the poem using modern English and using my interpretation, which could be wrong.
Mother: "Edward, why do you have blood on your sword? And why are you so sad?"
Edward: "Oh, I killed my hawk, mom. It was my only one.
Mother: "Your hawk wouldn't bleed that much. Tell me what happened."
Edward: "I actually killed my horse, mom. It was such a good horse."
Mother: "That horse was old, and you have more horses anyways. There is something else that is bothering you."
Edward: "I killed dad!"
Mother: "What are you going to do to make up for that?"
Edward: "I'm getting on a ship and leaving for forever."
Mother: "What are you going to do with your house and possessions?"
Edward: "I'll just leave them. I just can't stay here."
Mother: "What are you going to do with your children and wife? What will you leave them?"
Edward: "They will manage. They can beg and take care of themselves. I can't see them ever again."
Mother: "What are you going to leave for me?"
Edward: "I'm going to damn you to hell, because this is all your fault. You told me to kill him."
Edward and his family are clearly upper class people. I assume, based on, "Such counsels you gave to me, O." that his mother told him to kill his dad. It is still unclear though, because she acts like she has no idea, and says he needs to do penance.
Your paraphrasing is correct. And you're right that in the end, he claims that his mother told him to do it.
ReplyDeleteIn your email, you asked that if that was the case, why was she asking all those questions...but really, she continues to ask the questions, because she knows he's lying (because she knows the true source of the blood). And isn't it strange that she's not upset, surprised, or horrified when Edward reveals what he's done? Her reaction (or nonreaction) and the questions she asks Edward afterward reveal her true motive in manipulating Edward.