Everyone eventually finds a purpose in life, and without the direction of their jobs they might not be able to find that purpose. To some jobs might be something that can feel like a “prison” holding them down and restricting their freedom. However, in the poem “Nuns Fret Not at Their Convents Narrow Room” the author, Williams Wordsworth, shows how that is untrue for many.  Throughout the sonnet there is a multitude of repetition. One example is the repeating of these different “prisons” or enclosures for different people and things. Words having to do with enclosure is a common theme. Examples of these words include; convent, cell, citadel, wheel, loom, sonnet, and fox glove bells. Although these words are all different they represent the same thing. Nuns, hermits, students, maids, weavers, and bees are all content with living in their respective “prison” and living bland, repetitive lifestyles. If one puts them self in a prison, is it not a prison. By using a sonnet as the writing style and the multiple examples of prisons William Wordsworth proves that limitation can also create a sense of relief for those who put these limitations upon themselves. 

The first line of the poem states, “Nuns fret not at their convent’s narrow room” (Wordsworth 1).  The word fret is defined as being constantly worried or anxious. However, the nuns do not fret because they chose that lifestyle. Becoming a nun comes with strict rules and to many outsiders those rules are looked at similar to a “prison”. Nevertheless, the rules that they have to live by are in fact the same rules that give them peace of mind and direction.  This line is also the title of the poem. It is an accurate representation of what the rest of the poem is about. It speaks to the reader’s expectations of the nun’s emotional state in their convents room. There is a perception that a nun should feel gloomy and unhappy with their lives but that is false and opposite of the truth. 

To human’s flowers are something that represents beauty and bliss, but to bees it is what their entire existence revolves around. Bee’s will do anything to get their work done. That is evident in the lines, “bees that soar for bloom, High as the highest Peak of Furness-fells” (Wordsworth 5-6).   Bees find happiness within collecting pollen. They are willing to fly to the highest peak and go the furthest distance in order to do their job.  A foxglove bell, the flower that is mentioned in the poem, is unlike a stereotypical flower. The stamen, or the part of the flower where the pollen is contained, is not exposed. The bee has to crawl into the flower in order to reach the pollen. This furthers the argument that the flower is a bee’s “prison”.  The bee has to enter the flower to retrieve the pollen which closes itself off from the outside world. They are putting themselves in the position to be isolated and closed off, but this is what makes them the happiest. 

A foxglove bell is a gorgeous flower, but it is poisonous to cats, dogs and also humans. Bees, on the other hand, are not impacted by the poisonous chemicals. So while to everyone else it can be looked at as deadly, it is not to them. This relates back to the entire theme of the poem. To outsiders the repetition of their everyday lives can look “deadly” or as if they are in a prison but to the people and things in these “prisons” it is where they find comfort. Everything is not for everyone, and what works for one person may not work for another. 

Williams Wordsworth wrote the poem in sonnet form, which is not a coincidence. It helps prove that limitation can also be a good thing. Writing in sonnet form means the author has to follow a strict set of rules. The requirements of a sonnet include; 14 lines, 10 syllables per line, a rhyme scheme and a volta around lines 8 or 9.  It may appear as though it would be difficult to follow such strict rules while writing but this form is what makes him escape writer’s block. 

The poem ends with Wordsworth talking about himself. Between lines 8 and 9, or the volta, the poem shifts from the many examples of people and things and their enclosures to his own personal life. His enclosure is the sonnet in which he is writing. While he has to stick to the strict writing style of a sonnet he actually enjoys it. In the last line of the poem he says that he has found solace in writing in sonnet form (Wordsworth 14). He uses this writing style because it is less stressful than having too much freedom in writing. Although working with strict restrictions seems intimidating it helps Wordsworth more than it hurts him. This relates to the rest of the poem because many times one’s job puts restrictions on people or things, such as bees and nuns, but these restrictions give them peace of mind and help them live their lives to the fullest. 

Throughout the poem Wordsworth uses a multitude of examples of those occupying “prisons” to show that restrictions are not always something that is bad. Others examples used include; hermits in their cell, students with their citadels, maids at the wheel, and a weaver at his loom (Wordsworth 2-4).  To much surprise, these people and things are content with their set obligations. Although their lives may seem to be boring and limiting doing what they do brings them the most comfort. From the beginning the poem had an ironic tone. The expected actions of the subjects mentioned versus the actual actions is much different. While to the reader it seems like their prison is something that is limiting them it is in fact something that gives them purpose in life. The poem proves that everyone has what makes them the happiest and most relieved even when outsiders may not see it the same. The prisons in which one puts them self in is not a prison at all.
