The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald – Ballad

The ballad, The Wreck of Edmund Fitzgerald, written by Gordon Lightfoot, explores the central themes of both loss and environment. This poem tells the story of the sailors that died in the tragic wreck, during an unexpected storm, on Lake Superior. Unfortunetly, 29 men lost their lives in the wreck, leaving their families behind. The author demonstrates the theme of loss through the misfortune of the sailors and the impact it had on their families. After the wreck, all that was left was their leagacy, “And all that remains is the faces and the names/ Of the wives and the sons and the daughters” (Lightfoot 39-40). Their faces and names will forever be remembered as the brave men who barred the great waves that caused the unexpected shipwreck. The sailors were not prepared for the weather that they were going to have to endure, and once they had realized the severity of the storm, it was to late: “The wind in the wires made a tattle-tale sound/And a wave broke over the railing/And every man knew, as the captain did too,/T’was the witch of November come stealin'” (Lightfoot 17-20). The storm that the sailors faced, is comparable to one of a hurricane. The ballad is warning us to prepared for any situation, as the unexpected is not as unlikely as we may believe. We have to remember that weather and the environement that we are in can be unpredictable and is constantly changing. We must learn from the mistakes of others, even when it may seem that all hope is lost. Their sacrifice will inspire others to be prepared for anything and to continue fighting until the end.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *