# Report explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper.

## What happens

A narrator advises a young friend on choosing a wife, emphasizing truth, frugality, modesty, and discretion over beauty, wealth, or talent.

## Themes in this chapter

### Motherhood and Family

The advice centers on selecting a wife who will be a faithful, industrious partner, reflecting the importance of family stability.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown Narrator

The speaker offering marital advice to a young friend.

## Key lines

> Seek a woman of truth.

Look for a woman who is honest and trustworthy.

_The core virtue recommended for a wife._

> Oh! wed not for beauty, Though fair is the prize; It may pall when you grasp it, And fade in your eyes.

Do not marry solely for physical beauty, as it can become tiresome and diminish over time.

_Warning against superficial attractions._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_7_se/chapters/report
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_7_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_7_se/chapters