Poetry · Chapter
LIII explained
Isabel becomes completely absorbed in mourning over her basil plant, losing all awareness of the natural world and the passage of time as she devotes herself entirely to her grief.
What happens
Isabel becomes completely absorbed in mourning over her basil plant, losing all awareness of the natural world and the passage of time as she devotes herself entirely to her grief.
Themes in this chapter
Sorrow and Melancholy
Isabel's profound grief causes her to lose touch with the world around her, highlighting the all-consuming nature of sorrow.
Love and Loss
Her devotion to the basil plant symbolizes her enduring love for Lorenzo and the depth of her loss.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“And she forgot the stars, the moon, and sun, And she forgot the blue above the trees, And she forgot the dells where waters run, And she forgot the chilly autumn breeze;”
She became oblivious to the celestial bodies, the sky, the valleys, and the seasonal wind.
This illustrates Isabel's complete detachment from the external world due to her grief.
“She had no knowledge when the day was done, And the new morn she saw not:”
She lost track of time, unaware of nightfall or sunrise.
Her mourning has disrupted her perception of daily cycles.
“but in peace Hung over her sweet Basil evermore, And moisten’d it with tears unto the core.”
Instead, she found solace in constantly tending to her basil plant, watering it deeply with her tears.
Her tears become a ritualistic offering, merging her sorrow with the care of the plant.