Classic of Poetry: Boat of Cypress

The mood of this poem begins as it reflects sadness, depression and someone in peril. The character within this poem appears to be forced into doing something against her wishes perhaps. She travels by boat to a place she dreads the whole entire duration of the boat ride. Apparently she suffers from this as she is in anguish, resulting in insufficient rest. Also, along this river stream she traverses much wine is being consumed. She is not with a healthy mind as she drinks to down her depression. She feels her brothers are not at her defense as mentioned “I went and told them of my grief and met only with their rage.” (11-12) I can only surmise that she has violated a traditional custom of her family and for this reason her brothers are abhorrent. In further reading she expresses, “my heart is uneasy and restless, I am reproached by little men. Many are the woes I’ve met…I think on it in the quiet, and waking pound my breast.” (19-24) It seems that she has been forced by her family to wed a man that they have chosen for her, as it is customary in many cultures. She may have been more willing had it been someone much more desirable but it pains her to marry, because she is not fond of this chosen person. This character does not seem to have conveyed her true feelings of this decision because she chooses not to speak much on it. As much as she would like to she chooses not to raise clamor.