The World is too Much With Us by William Wordsworth

 The World is too Much With Us by William Wordsworth

The World is too much with us; 

late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers: 

Little we see in Nature that is ours; 

We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon! 

The Sea that bares her bosom to the moon; 

The Winds that will be howling at all hours, 

And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers, 

For this, for everything, we are out of tune; 

It moves us not.—Great God! I’d rather be 

A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn; 

So might I, standing on this pleasant lea, 

Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn; 

Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea; 

Or hear old Triton blow his wreathèd horn.

Summary

In this poem, William Wordsworth expresses his sadness about how people have become disconnected from nature. He feels that modern society is too focused on "getting and spending"—in other words, people are too obsessed with money and material things. This obsession, he believes, has made them lose their appreciation for the natural world, like the beauty of the sea, the wind, and the land.

Wordsworth even wishes he could be a "primitive Pagan," someone who believed in ancient gods connected to nature. He thinks that even these old beliefs would make him feel closer to nature and less lonely. To him, being able to see mythical sea gods, like Proteus or Triton, would give him a sense of wonder and peace that modern society lacks. Overall, the poem is a criticism of how people have become "out of tune" with nature and how this disconnection makes them feel empty and unfulfilled.

Pagan: a person whose religious beliefs do not belong to any of the main religions of the world. 

Proteus: a character in Greek mythology who had the gift of prophecy but who, when questioned, would assume different shapes to elude their grasp. 

Triton: a sea-deity in Greek mythology, who is generally represented as blowing a shell, his body above the waist being that of a man, below it of a dolphin. 

1. Why does the poet prefer to be a primitive Pagan rather than a member of civilized society?

The poet, William Wordsworth, feels that people in modern society are too focused on materialism—"getting and spending"—and have lost their connection to nature. He would rather be a "primitive Pagan" because, in his view, even old pagan beliefs had a deep reverence for nature, which modern people lack. By choosing a life connected to ancient beliefs, he feels he could experience awe and wonder, like seeing mythical figures such as Proteus or Triton. This connection with nature would make him feel less lonely and more spiritually fulfilled.

2. What, according to the poet, are human beings out of tune with?

According to the poet, human beings are out of tune with nature. He believes that society's focus on wealth and material possessions has caused people to lose their appreciation for the beauty and power of natural elements like the sea, the wind, and the land. This disconnection from nature is what makes people feel empty and unfulfilled, as they no longer feel a sense of unity with the world around them.

Additional Questions

• What does Wordsworth mean by saying, “The world is too much with us”?
  Wordsworth means that people are too focused on the material world and daily concerns, which has led them to lose their connection with nature. They spend so much time on worldly matters that they miss out on the beauty and peace nature offers.

• How does Wordsworth describe humanity’s relationship with “getting and spending”?
  Wordsworth uses “getting and spending” to show how people are obsessed with material possessions and wealth. He suggests that this focus on materialism wastes human potential and has drawn people away from nature and spiritual fulfillment.

• What does the phrase “we lay waste our powers” suggest about the poet's view on human potential?
  This phrase suggests that Wordsworth believes humans have great potential to appreciate and connect with nature, but they waste this power on trivial pursuits like accumulating wealth and possessions, which do not truly satisfy the soul.

• Why does Wordsworth describe the connection to nature as “a sordid boon”?
  “A sordid boon” is an ironic phrase. While “boon” means blessing, “sordid” implies something dirty or corrupt. Wordsworth feels that although the natural world is a gift, modern people view it in a selfish and degrading way, only for exploitation, not for its beauty and wonder.

• How does Wordsworth personify nature in the lines about the sea and the winds?
  Wordsworth personifies the sea as “bares her bosom to the moon,” making it seem alive and open, as if it has a relationship with the moon. He also describes the winds as “howling at all hours” and compares them to “sleeping flowers,” showing nature as having emotions and a kind of beauty that people ignore.

• What does Wordsworth mean by “For this, for everything, we are out of tune”?
  Wordsworth means that humans are disconnected from nature and are no longer in harmony with it. This lack of connection to nature has led to a loss of appreciation for its beauty and peace, leaving people out of touch with their natural surroundings.

• How does Wordsworth feel about the moon, the sea, and the winds? Explain using lines from the poem.
  Wordsworth feels a deep admiration for natural elements like the moon, sea, and winds. He describes the sea as “bares her bosom to the moon” and the winds as “howling” and like “sleeping flowers,” showing his awe at their beauty and mystery, something that modern people fail to appreciate.

• Why does Wordsworth use the words “Great God!” in the poem? What does it reveal about his emotions?
  The exclamation “Great God!” shows Wordsworth’s strong emotion and frustration with society’s indifference toward nature. It reveals his longing for people to reconnect with nature and his sense of sorrow at the loss of that connection.

• How do Proteus and Triton serve as symbols in the poem, and what do they represent for Wordsworth?
  Proteus and Triton are ancient Greek sea gods. Proteus could change shape, symbolizing the ever-changing, mysterious nature of the sea, while Triton blew a conch shell, symbolizing harmony with nature. Wordsworth wishes he could see such mythological figures, which represent a lost connection and respect for nature.

• In what way does Wordsworth contrast ancient beliefs with modern society’s attitudes toward nature?
  Wordsworth contrasts ancient beliefs, like those of the Pagans, with modern materialistic society by showing how ancient people respected nature and saw it as divine. He feels that modern people have lost this respect, treating nature as something to use rather than something to appreciate, leaving them spiritually unfulfilled.