The speaker of T.S. Eliot’s poem “Rhapsody on a Windy Night” is a confused and lonely figure who is struggling to make sense of their world. The speaker is walking alone on a moonlit night and is overwhelmed by the memories and emotions the moon stirs up. This feeling of confusion and emptiness is a recurring theme throughout the poem.
The speaker is a wanderer who is struggling to find a sense of direction in their life. They are lost in a world filled with uncertainty and confusion, and the lack of a definite destination leads the speaker to a state of despair. This feeling of insecurity and restlessness is further highlighted when the speaker talks of “Streets that follow like a tedious argument/ Of insidious intent”. The phrase conveys the feeling of an argument without a resolution, and it reflects the speaker’s inability to find meaning in life.
The speaker is also a dreamer, and the poem describes the moon as a symbol of hope. The sentiment of hope is further strengthened by the inclusion of the words “la lune” which can be translated to mean “the moon”. The moon offers the speaker a glimmer of hope, and it serves to remind them that there is still a light at the end of the tunnel.
In conclusion, the speaker of T.S. Eliot’s poem “Rhapsody on a Windy Night” is a confused and lonely figure who is struggling to make sense of their world. They are a wanderer and a dreamer in an uncertain and confusing world, and the moon offers them a glimmer of hope.