The River-Merchant's Wife: A Letter Isolation Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Line)

Quote #4

Lowering my head, I looked at the wall. (9)

This is a strange detail about the speaker's strategy of self-isolation, but it speaks to a history of separating herself, even before her husband left.

Quote #5

Called to, a thousand times, I never looked back. (10)

If she's shy and ignoring her husband, it may be because she got married to him at the age of fourteen and wasn't ready for it. She could also be asserting her independence within the marriage. In this case, isolation may be a conscious choice.

Quote #6

You went into far Ku-to-en, (16)

Wherever the merchant went, it must have been very far away. This loneliness seems to be a constant theme for the wife, but the husband's departure has created a different kind of loneliness. This is a new form of loneliness for her, since she finally let someone in, then he went away.