Nuns Fret Not by William Wordsworth

Frank Pittman, a famous American author and psychiatrist once said, “ You can only achieve happiness if you are too busy living your life to notice whether you are happy or not”. The question presents itself. Do those who actively pursue a busy life attain happiness? William Wordsworth’s poem, “Nuns Fret Not” explores the life of several individuals working hard through their jobs. Wordsworth states, “Nuns fret not at their convent’s narrow room” and “students with their pensive citadels…sit blithe and happy, bees that soar for bloom” (1-5). He goes on to further describe hermits are contented with their cells, and maids and weavers are busy and cheerful. While each individual has an obligation to fill in their careers, people still seem happy. Each person described in the poem is restricted as to what they can achieve with their job, however they are content with this restriction. Without direction or any restriction, nuns, students, and maids might not know how to perform their jobs with passion and top ability. Wordsworth is saying that while structure usually limits individuals, in this case it satisfies the workers and allows them to perform their job at a peak performance.

The Volta occurs in lines 8-9, changing the overall tone of the poem. The first 7 lines describe people actively perusing their jobs in a busy, complaint free environment. However the Volta states, “In truth the prison, unto which we doom ourselves, no prison is” (8-9). Wordsworth believes that although we may be scared and timid about the restrictions of work, we still have careers because it keeps us occupied and happy. Wordsworth goes on further in writing about how he feels restricted by the sonnet he has written. At first it seems as though he is disgusted by the structure of the sonnet, but after comparing it to the worker’s restriction’s it shows that Wordsworth is displaying a positive view of his “restriction”. The sonnet helps Wordsworth organize his ideas and write to his ability. Wordsworth explains that while restriction is supposed to limit abilities, it actually grants individuals freedom and “peace of mind” to do their best daily.