The Well at the World’s End · Chapter
VI: The Lady Tells Somewhat of Her Doings After She Left the Wilderness explained
The Lady recounts her journey after leaving the wilderness with her lord, describing their hardships, encounters with kind heathen folk who worshipped them as gods, and their eventual arrival at a rich kingdom where her lord's father, the k
What happens
The Lady recounts her journey after leaving the wilderness with her lord, describing their hardships, encounters with kind heathen folk who worshipped them as gods, and their eventual arrival at a rich kingdom where her lord's father, the king, welcomes them. She reflects on the loss of simple happiness and the onset of strife, and hints at her eventual quest to the Well at the World's End.
Themes in this chapter
Quest and Adventure
The Lady's journey through wilderness, deserts, and perilous lands, culminating in her quest to the Well at the World's End.
Sacrifice and Loss
The Lady reflects on the loss of simple happiness and the onset of strife as she enters the world of kings and barons.
Love and Desire
The Lady's deep love for her lord and Ralph's emotional response to her past, highlighting themes of devotion and jealousy.
Characters to notice
- The Lady of Abundance
Narrates her past journey, her love for her lord, and her experiences among various peoples after leaving the wilderness.
- Ralph of Upmeads
Interrupts the Lady's tale to express his feelings about her past loves, showing his devotion.
- King Peter
Mentioned as the father of the Lady's lord, who welcomes them at the king's chief city.
Key passages
“But so it must be that we should depart, and the kind folk showed us how sore their hearts were of our departure, but they gainsaid us in nowise, but rather furthered us all they might, and we went our ways from them riding on horned neat (for they knew not of horses), and driving one for a sumpter beast before us; and they had given us bows and arrows for our defence, and that we might get us venison.”
The kind people were sad to see us go but helped us prepare, giving us cattle to ride and drive, along with bows and arrows for hunting and protection.
Describes the departure from the heathen folk and their generous assistance.
“Then there came to me an inkling of the things that should befall, and I saw that the sweet and clean happiness of my new days was marred, and had grown into something else, and I began to know the pain of strife and the grief of confusion”
I began to sense that my pure happiness was fading, replaced by the troubles and confusion of the world.
The Lady foreshadows the loss of her simple joy as she enters the court.