The Seafarer Essay

“Why do we love the sea? It is because it has some potent power to make us think things we like to think.” Robert Henri statement not only applies to himself but it also explains many other human’s feelings towards the ocean. This passion is significant in “The Seafarer” by an anonymous Anglo-Saxon scop. “The Seafarer” intertwines the positives and negatives of a life at sea. The story goes through the sacrificial day to day life of a sailor. The voyages cause many controversial scenarios in the sailor’s life. Although sailing a life at sea is very interfering to a normal life, the Seafarer still loves the life he lives and also finds himself on a much deeper spiritual level than any ocean depth he has ever came across. The first section addresses the seafarer’s feelings of misery and “hardship” (10). This is much like being in a position of exile in the Anglo-Saxon Era. These peoples worst fear was of being alone in the world with no one around them. The sailor chose this
He seems to be thankful for his accomplishments he has gained over his lifetime as a sailor. Although he missed out on a life with others, his life “flourished” (83) by being alone. He also ponders on the reasons why he chose to do the things in life that he did rather than just living a simple life like most people. He came in search of “Gold” (85) and riches as well as a new foreign land but instead found nothing but himself, a broken self but still found the man he is. The sea-man tries to regret the life he chose. He realizes instead of looking for a home he should have been focused on getting home or “heaven” (101). Even if he would have become very wealthy it still would not have helped him in the real life goal which would have been to make it to the “rises of heaven” (104). This means he must first be unhidden with “God” (102) to make it