In William Wordsworth’s poem, “Nuns Fret Not at Their Convent’s Narrow Room”, the narrator convinces the reader that although work may seem like a “prison” (Wordsworth ln 8), satisfaction may always be found in limitation and lack of liberty. The narrator acknowledges the burden of working, yet writes that it is the worker who creates the so-called “prison” (Wordsworth ln 8).  He demonstrates this point of view by writing the poem in sonnet form, which restricts his poem to only fourteen lines.  Despite this limitation, he is still able to effectively illustrate how people and animals are able to find happiness in contribution.  His use of metaphors show how people who establish self-imposed restrictions benefit from discipline and structure and flourish in enclosed space.  

The narrator begins the sonnet with an exact repetition of the title, “Nuns fret not at their convent’s narrow room” (Wordsworth ln 1).  While nuns are women who live under vows of poverty, abstinence, obedience and dedicate themselves to the holy church, the narrator tells us that these women are not anxious with their confined way of life or their small amount of workplace. Even with constraints and strict religious order, these women are still able to commit to work with peace and find joy in their sacrifices. These women are much like a parent who may sacrifice their needs and aspirations for a higher level of contentment and joy that comes with nurturing their family financially and emotionally. In the second line, hermits who live in solitude are reported to be “contented with their cells” (Wordsworth ln 2). “A hermit must live in a state of being, that transcends the physical into the mystical and eventually transforms into a oneness with the Lord God” (Who is a Hermit?).  The narrator used the word “cell” which is synonymous to a small cage and reminds the reader of a prison. However, hermits, like many introverted people, are content with this way of life. Many introverted people isolate themselves to fully concentrate on areas of interest and that give them a sense of purpose. Consider Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates, both highly introverted individuals, yet very successful people who have leveraged their solitude and self-imposed boundaries to focus deeply and think outside of the box to deliver amazing results and success.

The following line of the sonnet speaks of maids, weavers, and students, noting that they are “blithe and happy” (Wordsworth ln 4). The origin of the word “maid” portrays an unmarried woman who is probably past the age to marry or considered unlikely to ever marry and dedicated their lives to domestic service (The History of Maids). Though maids were considered to be at the bottom of the social ladder, they were also critical to running a household efficiently (The History of Maids). Many people still today seek this type of employment and gain great satisfaction as a care-giver and contributor of strong and positive family environments. The narrator continues using metaphors that depict a negative existence, equating students as prisoners, saying they could be found in “pensive citadels” (Wordsworth ln 3). This imagery tells the reader that the students are restricted to some fortified place and forced into deep thought.  While students often feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of higher education, many view the associated discipline and boundaries needed to succeed in school as a means to an end.  Students choose studies that will allow them the opportunity to gain personal self-fulfillment, as well as provide them with the ability to support the lifestyle they desire.  

After using several examples of humans who work, the narrator uses the honeybee an example of a creature that must do work. Without the help of bees, the human race would eventually cease to exist. “We may lose all the plants that bees pollinate, all of the animals that eat those plants and so on up the food chain. Which means a world without bees could struggle to sustain the global human population of 7 billion” (What Would Happen If Bees Went Extinct). The narrator used the specific example of a bee to prove that although they have a very strenuous, important job, they are able to find happiness. This happiness is demonstrated in the narrator’s use of the phrases “soar for bloom” (Wordsworth ln 5) and “High as the highest peak of Furness-fells” (Wordsworth ln 6). The reader can easily associate the feeling of gratification upon accomplishing a challenging task. Take into consideration a nurse who works an eighteen-hour shift to take care of patients in critical condition.  While exhausted, the satisfaction derived from their self-discipline and intense focus is immense. 

After many examples, the narrator gives us insight to the reality of work: “In truth the prison, unto which we doom ourselves, no prison is” (Wordsworth ln 8). Work is crucial to society to maintain production and order, but it is not mandatory. Humans and animals could choose to stop working or to die off, and there would be others to continue this work. We, humans, create our own prison. Work gives us a sense of purpose, helps define our identity and expands our self-worth, thereby providing satisfaction despite limits. This satisfaction can only be enhanced when one follow one’s passion.

Throughout the poem, the narrator gathered strong metaphors and illustrated how people and animals gain satisfaction within their own confines.  Similar to these self-imposed confines, he ties them together and uses himself as an example: “And hence for me, in sundry moods, ‘twas pastime to be bound within the sonnet’s scanty plot of ground” (Wordsworth ln 10). Wordsworth shows the reader his ability to get his point across in a restrictive fourteen line sonnet. He ends the sonnet by notifying the reader that his restrictions have brought him a “brief solace” (Wordsworth ln 14). The burden of work is common to most people, but the narrator reminds the reader that sometimes, structure and boundaries are key.

  