We get plenty-o-God in the poem, and rarely is the Supreme Being very pleased with mankind. Though "The Quaker Graveyard in Nantucket" often features the Christian god of judgment, occasionally Lowell throws in some Greek deities to spice things up. No matter the religion, the message is the same: defy the higher powers, and you'll suffer their will, be that Old Testament sea monsters or a trip to Hades. But worry not dear Shmoopers, the poem isn't all suffering and punishment; Lowell also offers a vision of a peaceful God whose motives and methods aren't comprehensible by man, and are thus based on a will we can't begin to understand.
Questions About Religion
- In Greek myth, sometimes heroes can outwit the gods and be saved from death. Poseidon, god of the sea, appears in the poem, but do we see any such heroes? What is the poem saying about man's fate?
- The Quaker sailors believe that God is on their side, even as they drown. Does the poem think they are right? How do you know?
- How does God's judgment fit into the poem? Who is being judged, and why? How do we know?
Chew on This
In the end, the poem says that we live or die by the will of God. Yup—that pretty much sums things up.
The poem says that the will of God is impossible for humans to understand or read—but people sure do keep trying.