Lord Ullin’s Daughter	August 17 2015
A well renowned poem by Thomas Campbell.		A true story of the modern world.

LORD UllIN’S DAUGHTER

By Thomas Campbell

Summary

“Lord Ullin’s Daughter” is a ballad which tells the tragic story of the daughter of Lord Ullin and her lover who die a very sorrowful death when chased by her father and his men. The poem begins with the daughter and her lover, the Scottish chieftain arriving at the banks of Lochgyle with the intention of eloping to a safer place. The lover offers the boatman a silver pound to cross them to safety. The weather is stormy and it is very dangerous to cross the Lochgyle in such a state. The lover introduces himself as the chief of Ulva and that he is running from Lord Ullin’s men. He tells the boatman that if the Lord’s men catch him eloping with her daughter, they would immediately slay him. The boatman hesitates because agreeing can cost him all of the three lives. Then the beautiful daughter of Lord Ullin pleads to the boatman; she says that she is ready to face the raging storm but not her angry father. Finally, the boatman agrees to take them across Lochgyle.

The boat has left the shore when Lord Ullin and his men reach. Lord Ullin’s anger evaporates at the moment when he sees his darling daughter fighting with Nature’s fury on the sea. His heart melts and he cries out to her to return and that he would accept her lover. But it is too late and before the Lord could do anything, the little boat capsizes and the three of them are drowned in the turbulent waters of Lochgyle.

 

 

Well, now the question arises that what is depicted in the poem?  The answer is honor killing.

I have shared my thoughts on it. You may find it interesting.

Honor Killing

 

Honor killing is the murder of an individual by a family member because she was believed to have brought “shame” to the family. The victim is most often female and the murderer is most often a father, brother, uncle, or other male relative. However, female family members often take part in the decision to murder the victim and sometimes even participate in the killing as well. Some of the reasons a girl or woman may be killed can include wearing clothing that may be considered too “revealing”, being in a romantic relationship with someone of a different religious or cultural background, or even being the victim of a terrible crime. She may be murdered in a gruesome and horrific way, such as by decapitation, being burned alive, or being stoned to death.

 

Why I liked the poem?

(MORAL)

Lord Ullin’s Daughter is one of the most popular romantic poems of all time. Composed by Thomas Campbell, it describes how a Scottish Chieftain and his beloved flee her wrathful father, but their defiance leads to their deaths, in a stormy sea.

The poem shows that revenge, enmity and anger never bring happiness, peace and calmness. They lead to disruption, separations.  Peace and harmony fear to stay where they reside. I really learned a lot from it.

About the Author

               

Thomas Campbell (27 July 1777 – 15 June 1844) was a Scottish poet chiefly remembered for his sentimental poetry dealing especially with human affairs. A co-founder of the Literary Association of the Friends of Poland, he was also one of the initiators of a plan to found what became the “University of London”. In 1799, he wrote "The Pleasures of Hope", a traditional 18th century didactic poem in heroic couplets. He also produced several stirring patriotic war songs—"Ye Mariners of England", "The Soldier's Dream", "Hohenlinden" and in 1801, "The Battle of Mad and Strange Turkish Princes".

CONCLUSION

The poem tells us a different aspect of love. The one which does good to no one. How useless!!! The couple went blind in love. But was that correct? From my childhood my mother read me out the “Panchtantra” stories. I have learnt that one should never fear away from the path of truth, no matter how tough the situation is. The couple eloped & ditched their parents. They were in search of peace and harmony. How funny?

Love binds people, it doesn’t separate them.

THANK YOU