First published: 1864

Type of work: Poem

Type of plot: Sentimental romance

Time of work: Late eighteenth century

Locale: England

Principal Characters:

Enoch Arden, a shipwrecked sailor

Annie Lee, his wife

Philip Ray, his friend

Miriam Lane, a tavern keeper

Critique:

Some contemporary readers might find the language in ENOCH ARDEN somewhat archaic, and the narrative of selfless love overly sentimental. However, it is important to view the poem in the context of its era, a time when themes of unrequited love and devotion to family resonated deeply with readers in both England and America. Tennyson, distinguished from many of his peers, crafted poems that were accessible and easily understood, capturing the quintessential spirit of the nineteenth-century English populace.

The Story:

As children, Annie Lee, Philip Ray, and Enoch Arden were inseparable playmates. Alternating roles of husband between Philip and Enoch, Annie was always the cherished wife in their games. If the boys bickered over her, Annie's tears would prompt them to reconcile, professing her willingness to be a wife to both.

As time passed and childhood games were left behind, both Enoch and Philip developed deep affections for Annie. Enoch courageously expressed his feelings, while Philip chose silence. Though Philip was the well-off miller's son, Enoch, a poor orphan, ambitiously bought a small boat to earn a living as a fisherman. After a year at sea aboard a merchant ship, he saved enough to propose to Annie upon turning twenty-one. Watching from afar, Philip quietly accepted his unspoken love for Annie as she and Enoch made plans for their future.

For seven blissful years, Enoch and Annie thrived, raising a son and a daughter. But adversity struck when Enoch suffered a debilitating fall, followed by the birth of their frail third child. Struggling financially, Enoch’s heart ached to see his family in need.

Seizing an opportunity for a voyage to China, Enoch sold his fishing boat to stock Annie's small trading business, hoping to secure their future during his absence. Despite Annie's pleas to avoid the risky journey, Enoch reassured her, entrusting their fate to divine providence. Before his departure, Annie gifted him a lock of their ailing child’s hair.

Awaiting word from Enoch, Annie faced faltering business prospects and the devastating loss of their sickly child in the third year of his absence. Overwhelmed by sorrow, she found solace when Philip, breaking his long-held silence, offered to support her children as a gesture of friendship.

Enoch’s absence stretched to a decade before Philip finally proposed marriage to Annie, who continued to hold onto hope for Enoch’s return. Agreeing to wait another year, she eventually wed Philip, though lingering fears of encountering Enoch haunted her until she found peace after bearing Philip’s child.

Unbeknownst to Annie, Enoch had been marooned on a desolate island. While he had enough to survive, solitude weighed heavily on him. Rescued by a passing ship, Enoch returned to England, unrecognizable and weary. Discovering his home abandoned, he sought refuge at Miriam Lane’s tavern. Unaware of his identity, she recounted Annie and Philip’s happy life, leaving Enoch to silently bear his loss. From a distance, he observed their joy, deciding not to disrupt their newfound happiness.

Living in seclusion, Enoch took on menial work and safeguarded his identity. On his deathbed, he confided in Mrs. Lane, imparting his tragic tale and requesting she tell his family of his continued love. Enoch's enduring selflessness was epitomized in his final act: sending the lock of hair to Annie, affirming the authenticity of his story.

Further Critical Evaluation of the Work:

Tennyson's ENOCH ARDEN