Nightingales and cuckoos, fields and farm labor—the natural world is alive and well in "The Solitary Reaper" (heck it's alive and well in pretty much all of Wordsworth's poems). The solitary reaper is the definition of a "natural" woman. She works out in the fields, and seems to be very close to nature. Sometimes, it almost seems like she's more a part of nature than humanity. In contrast, the speaker seems just a bit out of place, almost like an intruder in the harmonious, natural equilibrium of the woman, the vale, and the fields.
Questions About Man and the Natural World
- What would be the modern day equivalent of the solitary reaper? A hermit who insists on living off the land?
- What do you think Wordsworth includes all the birds in this poem anyway?
- Does the fact that the woman is cutting and binding the grain make it seem as though her relationship to nature is a little too violent for comfort? Why do you think so?
Chew on This
Those closest to nature have the potential to make the most powerful music. The solitary reaper, who works the land, absolutely stuns the speaker.
The speaker's no nature boy. His fascination with the solitary reaper, a woman who is very close to nature, suggests that he comes from a more urban world where these kinds of people are rare.