Hardships, experiences, and relationships begin to form a person’s different backgrounds and desires. The nature of the human mind is to pursue these wants and to be in one’s comfort zone. However, sometimes one is placed in an undesirable situation, one that tests their mental strength and fortitude. These tests show how important it is to have mental strength and a positive attitude in the tribulations that we may have faced. William Wordsworth’s Petrarchan sonnet  “Nuns Fret Not at Their Narrow Convents Room” shows a perfect example of this aspect of the human experience, as he uses the first six lines of his poem to explain how some people can be content with their situation because of their particular backgrounds or desires, like how they were raised or influenced, but with the last seven he explains how they can get spiritual freedom in restrictions (or seemingly predicaments). 

The first aspect of the poem is that even though some people might hate and be uncomfortable in one situation, like an extrovert being restricted socially, others might feel secure in the same environment due to a difference in upbringing, like and introvert who is alone. Woodrow uses the example of a nun and a hermit when he states, “Nuns fret not at their convent’s narrow room; / And hermits are contented with their cells” (line(s) 1-2). Someone who chooses to pursue becoming a nun most likely came from a very religious environment as a child. They love religion, and it is a very large aspect in their life. They feel extremely comfortable in a church because of their background. A strong religious background is very important in being comfortable surrounded by a religious lifestyle. Someone who has never been around religion could be uncomfortable because of the lack of familiarity. Similarly, a hermit’s background would be a very strong introvert. The tendency to be introverted and shy would mean they would be comfortable alone, and a hermit is the extreme of being introverted. Like a non-religious person could be extremely uncomfortable in a church, an extrovert would feel uncomfortable being alone for long periods of time. One’s background strongly influences the comfort zones of an individual. 

The next aspect of the poem is the reality that people can be happy in a situation because of their desires and motivation. Wordsworth is comfortable with writing because he can convey messages to an audience well. He describes how he feels a “brief solace” in writing, as it is his comfort (14). He desires to write and make literature, and because of this desire he loves his work. Someone who has a want to complete a task will have the motivation to do so.  Similar to this argument, Wordsworth presents how students can be comfortable “with their pensive citadels” (3). Students are comfortable in a learning environment because of their desire to learn and their motivation to expand their knowledge. The poem was written during the 1800s, when an emphasis on school was greatly administered. This explains why the example of school was used within the poem as one of the main points of argument. School has an academic purpose, and therefore those who attend a school should have an inner motivation to better their understandings in the subjects they are learning about. These inner wants can make someone who is in an uncomfortable situation be comfortable, as their motivations allow them to look at the big picture and realize why they are there in the first place. 

The final component to the piece of work is that a positive attitude can make an unbearable situation bearable. Wordsworth’s argument is based on the lines, “In truth the prison, into which we doom / Ourselves, no prison is” (8-9). When someone is in an awful situation, looking at every little positive throughout the day can make a significant difference in the way they feel. These “small wins” allow the individual to appreciate the little positives, and even the most insignificant benefit can make the most difference mentally. A prison is turned into a prison when one adopts a negative outlook. When one allows negative thoughts to poison and infect their mind, it can overtake their whole outlook. Even the simplest and mundane tasks can become daunting, and the person will begin to think about quitting. With a positive outlook, one can take one task at a time, one step at a time, and can have great outcomes.

Wordsworth argues throughout the poem by giving the example of different situations and differing mindsets, that the human mind is so complex and powerful by showing how important unique backgrounds, different desires, and positive outlooks play on a situation one might not be comfortable in. Backgrounds can affect the outlook because it can make someone comfortable in the situation due to familiarity, desires can allow someone to stay motivated and keep progressing, and having a positive outlook can allow someone to be successful by appreciating the small things and accomplishing their goals one step at a time. This triad of outlooks is key to being successful with a task, and helps tremendously with being comfortable when faced with a stressful and uncomfortable situation. This is extremely important because people can grow mentally in situations with discomfort and uncertainty, and Wordsworth brilliantly presents that fact through his poem.
