In the poem titled “Nuns Fret Not at Their Covent’s Narrow Room” by William Wordsworth, there is a double meaning to the word prison and is seen as a paradox. He uses a series of similar phrases containing a common theme of places of many kinds and inhabitants ranging from humans to insects to contradict what the reader might initially assume when reading the poem. William Wordsworth writes: “Who have felt the weight of too much liberty, / should find brief solace there, as I have found” (13-14). These two lines combined with the word prison can be simplified down to when people find themselves with too much freedom they may find comfort in restrictions but not view their lifestyle as being related to prison. With the use of these phrases, the author can argue the paradox of the word prison. 

The phrase “Nuns fret not at their convent’s narrow room” is describing how nuns do not mind their narrow rooms. One might view being stuck in a confined narrow room relatable to that of a narrow space in a prison, however the lifestyle of being a nun is not forced upon anyone. There is a choice made by a person to become a nun and they acknowledge what situation they will get themselves into. A nun specifically is a member of a religious community of women, especially a cloistered one, living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. They are at peace with their choice of life and made a vow to it therefore do not view their rooms given to them as being stuck in a prison like space. This contradicts what might first come to the reader’s mind until they read what was explained earlier about too much liberty. This helps proves the author’s argument by supporting the claim why one might not mind living in such a confined space.

In the second line, the phrase “hermits are contended with their cells” is describing how hermits are completely satisfied with the space they are in. The word cells might be seen as daunting and restrictive, but hermits are people who live in solitude. This is again a paradox of the word prison as one would expect someone not to be content with a cell. Those who choose to embrace the life style of becoming a hermit recognize that they will be stuck in solitude so they do not view their cell as being like a prison. Once again, this helps support the author’s argument that there really can be a paradox of the word prison if one looks at it closely.

The third phrase “students with their pensive citadels” is describing how students are engaged in a citadel which is similar to a fortress with confined spaces. Again one might view being stuck in these tight spaces inside of a fortress to be unethical in the sense that it is not enough for students. However, the truth being that students make the choice to go to citadels. These restricted spaces can serve their purpose to limit too much freedom of the student for military disciplinary reasons to others reasons. When someone else has less freedom, someone else has more. This is like being in a classroom where the teacher tells you things you can and cannot say or do. This sense of being watched over and someone looking out for you can often bring comfort. This can be connected back to the quote about feeling comfort when given less liberty.

 The line “maids at the wheel, the weave at his loom” refers to how maids and weavers are often found trapped in their work. One might look at a maid and feel bad for them that they are stuck cleaning and doing house work. Likewise, one might feel bad for weavers who seem to never leave their endless work cycle at a loom. This might be compared to prison in the sense that inmates are expected to serve duties such as serving food during meal times and working outside. The paradox of the word prison is that these people get to choose their line of work instead of being incentivized to do it. 

In the lines “sit blithe and happy; bees that soar…will murmur by the hour in foxglove bells,” one can see that the William Wordsworth not only uses humans and buildings, but also uses insects and flowers. People do not usually associate the word “prison” with insects like bees since they have free range in the open world. However, bees can often find themselves trapped in the bells of the flowers collecting pollen. Prisoners are generally trapped in a small cell, but bees are generally found in that of a small flower. The paradox of the word prison is that bees have an instinct and want to pollinate flowers instead of constantly free roaming the world. They are also described as happy and if they did not pollinate flowers, they would not be able survive and keep other flowers thriving in the world.

 Through a series of phrases with a common theme of places of many kinds and inhabitants ranging from humans to insects, one can see how there is a paradox of the word prison. The paradox lies between what one might initially expect an inhabitant to feel and how there is actually a choice and valid reason to why it is not imprisonment. William Wordsworth can support the argument by connecting how all these similar phrases work together to change the reader’s mind of the word prison. The author can also support this by explaining that some people find comfort and peace when they know they are restricted in some way. At the end of the poem and the beginning of the Essay, the lines “Who have felt the weight of too much liberty, / should find brief solace there, as I have found” (13-14), are used to finalize and tie the argument together of the poem. 
