The“ Nuns Fret Not at Their Convent’s Narrow Room,” by William Wordsworth, is a poem written during the Industrial Revolution. During this time, it restructured and reshaped the economic landscape of Great Britain. The people went from doing more outdoor physical labor jobs to indoor industrial factories and working with new types machines that helped them complete their jobs and produce more products. The working conditions were hard and more dangerous and children of all ages were having to work in these terrible conditions, while not being educated. At this time period, Wordsworth wanted to people to have the impression everyone had a valuable purpose in life no matter what class in society they had.  There were three types of workers that Wordsworth discussed in this poem to show this thought: Nun’s, Hermits, and Students. By looking at some the metaphors in the poem, “Nuns Fret Not at Their Convent’s Narrow Room,” he shows different types of  the workers from the Industrial Revolution to illustrate how one can make their lives positive through contentment no matter the situation or job that they are in.  

The first example Wordsworth uses is a nun. Nuns are women that live in convents that do God’s work, but usually live in small isolated building. Wordsworth begins the poem, “Nun’s fret not at their convent’s narrow room” (1).The author is making the point that a nun does not complain that their room is way too small or too bare. They have chosen the life in which they live because that is what they chose and they are happy a Wordsworth says they should not be upset where they are living. bout it. Many people during Industrial Revolution wanted more possessions because of all the new inventions being created. Therefore, the thought of choosing a life like a nun where they have nothing and want nothing seems odd. Wordsworth uses this to show that even those with nothing can be happy with what they have.

The second example Wordsworth used was a hermit. Hermits are people that stay inside and like to be by themselves. They are often called “anti-social” or isolated from other people. In the poem Wordsworth wrote, “and hermits contented with their cells”. Hermits are anti-social, but they are okay with that because that is the life that is most comfortable for them and wanted to choose. This type of behavior is unusual to a lot of people.  To be excluded from the community is not common because most people do not like being alone. This example also continues the theme of being satisfied with what you have. In the poem, the hermit is living in a very small living space, but that is where it goes to be safe from enemies. and in their comfort zone. 

 Finally, Wordsworth uses  students as an example in this poem. He says students are people who go to class and learn every day, staying at the school and not going home. This almost seems as though they are living in prison. This is the life that they have chosen and they need to be positive with their choices. Wordsworth uses a quote, “And students with their pensive citadels(3). 

Additionally, Wordsworth uses examples of  “Maids at the wheel, the weaver at his loom, sit blithe ad happy; bees that soar for bloom” (4-5), along with the previous examples discussed along the lines of people with the choices they made no matter what condition it is.. In each of these cases, the person in that position is satisfied with what they do. The students are happy with having to focus on studying all day. The maid and weaver seem proud of the work they must do.  Overall, they are content with the life and lifestyle they have chosen. None of the examples seem to want more than what they have. Also, they take pride in their role and seek nothing more.

In conclusion, the author showed examples of Nun’s, Hermits, and Students. They played in a big role in proving the point that Wordsworth was trying to show in the poem. In each of these examples, the workers were content with their role and all that was given to them. This is the life that they chose. Everyone has an option on what they want to do in their lives and they can choose to be happy with that or not. Wordsworth touched on this by saying, “Pleased if some Souls (for such their needs must be) Who have felt the weight of too much liberty.”  When you have the weight of too much freedom it can affect the outcomes of people’s life. Oftentimes, when someone has a lot of freedom, it can make the person forget their responsibility and that can result to consequences they may not want to deal with. When a person becomes satisfied with the things that they have and the jobs they do, then life is good. This is seen often when people are content with what they have. In today’s times, a working smartphone is not enough, they want the newest one out there. Wordsworth attempts to show the reader that they can be happy with what they have. In fact, it seems as though he is annoyed that they choose to be unhappy. Wordsworth discussed all of the workers because he was trying to explain that when a person has a certain job, then they are valuable with they have no matter how big or small it is. Wordsworth points out no matter where you work or the job that you have as long as you appreciate it, life will go by a lot easier.  
