Lord Ullin's Daughter

by Thomas Campbell

Start Free Trial

Student Question

What was the chief afraid of in "Lord Ullin's Daughter"?

Quick answer:

In "Lord Ullin's Daughter," the chief, Lord Ullin, is primarily afraid of losing his daughter, who has eloped with her lover. He disapproves of the relationship, fearing she will marry beneath her status. Additionally, he is concerned about the stormy weather conditions as his daughter and her lover flee by sea. His fears are justified when the storm wrecks their boat, leading to their tragic drowning.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

Lord Ullin is afraid that he will lose his daughter. She's just run off with her lover, and Lord Ullin and some of his men are in hot pursuit. Clearly, His Lordship doesn't think that his daughter's lover would make a particularly good son-in-law, and so he wants to put a stop to their budding relationship.

That's easier said than done, however, as Lord Ullin's errant daughter and her lover have headed out to sea in the midst of a raging storm. As well as being worried that his daughter will marry beneath her, Lord Ullin is concerned at the danger presented by the rapidly deteriorating weather conditions.

Sadly, Lord Ullin's worries in this regard prove to be well-founded. The boat carrying his daughter and her lover is wrecked by the storm, and the two young lovers are drowned.

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial