Lot's Wife
by Wisława Szymborska
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At a glance:
- Author: Wisława Szymborska
- First Published: 1976
- Type of Poem: Dramatic monologue
- Genres: Poetry, Dramatic monologue
- Subjects: God, Women, Death or dying, Bible, biblical imagery, or biblical symbolism, Biblical times
The Poem
The story of the death of Lot’s wife in the biblical book of Genesis has both intrigued and disturbed many readers. Angels command Lot to take his family and flee the evil cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, telling them not to look back. For disobeying this warning, Lot’s wife is turned into a pillar of salt.
“Lot’s Wife” features forty-three unrhymed lines of varied lengths. Its unnamed title character apparently is speaking to the reader after her death. The paradox implied by having her do this is compounded by other unusual circumstances as the poem...
(The entire page is 1539 words.)
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