Topic: The most important bond in Anglo-Saxon society was that between a lord and his retainers. How do “The Seafarer” and “The Wife’s Lament” reveal the Anglo-Saxon ideal of loyalty and the tragedy of separation or exile from one’s lord?
“The Seafarer” is an Anglo-Saxon poem about a man who is drifting form human companionship out to the sea. He continues to go back to the sea repeatedly, even though he says he is “drowning in desolation.” He also says that he is “Wretched and anxious, in the paths of exile // Lacking dear friends…” From his speaking, we get that he thinks life is exile no matter where it is spent, and that heaven is the only home. He seems to think that if exiled, the only thing left would be nature. “The Wife’s Lament” is a piece of Anglo-Saxon literature told from the view of a woman who has been exiled by a lord. It can be seen that she misses him very much, and that she is angry about being friendless, lonely, unhappy life that she must proceed to live through. She says “For my lord departed from his people // Over the sea, each dawn I had care // Wondering where my lord may be on land. // When I set off to join and serve my lord, // A friendless exile in my sorry plight. . .”
Both of these pieces embody the ideals of loyalty to a lord, and the horrid experience of being exiled from a lord. Although these poems may not seem as if they are speaking of exile from a lord, it can be perceived that they do. It should be known that Anglo-Saxons were not very patriotic of their country, but they were very patriotic to their lord. To be exiled from their lord was a great fear of theirs.