A Character by William Wordsworth (Poem, Summary, Paraphrase & Analysis)

 

A Character

by William Wordsworth

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase & Analysis) 

A Character

I marvel how Nature could ever find space

For so many strange contrasts in one human face:

There’s thought and no thought, and there’s paleness and bloom,

And bustle and sluggishness, pleasure and gloom.

There’s weakness, and strength both redundant and vain;

Such strength as, if ever affliction and pain

Could pierce through a temper that’s soft to disease,

Would be rational peace—a philosopher’s ease.

 

There’s indifference, alike when he fails or succeeds,

And attention full ten times as much as there needs;

Pride where there’s no envy, there’s so much of joy;

And mildness, and spirit both forward and coy.

There’s freedom, and sometimes a diffident stare

Of shame scarcely seeming to know that she’s there,

There’s virtue, the title it surely may claim,

Yet wants heaven knows what to be worthy the name.

 

This picture from nature may seem to depart,

Yet the Man would at once run away with your heart;

And I for five centuries right gladly would be

Such an odd such a kind happy creature as he.

 

Summary

William Wordsworth’s poem “A Character” presents a vivid and curious portrayal of a man whose personality is full of contradictions. The speaker expresses wonder at how nature could combine so many contrasting traits into one individual. The poem does not describe any specific person by name, but instead paints a rich character sketch that is both puzzling and endearing.

 

Lines 1–2:

The speaker begins by marveling at nature’s ability to fit so many opposing qualities into a single human face. This opening sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which explores the coexistence of contradictions in one man.

 

Lines 3–4:

The speaker observes a mix of mental and emotional states: there is evidence of both deep thought and a lack of thought, paleness and bloom, energy and laziness, joy and sadness. These lines reflect the unpredictable and varied nature of the man's expressions and moods.

 

Lines 5–8:

Here, the man is described as being both weak and strong, but his strength is excessive and pointless. The speaker imagines that if this man were ever touched by real suffering, his temperament might allow him to reach a state of peaceful acceptance—like a philosopher who finds calm despite pain.

 

Lines 9–12:

More paradoxes follow: he seems indifferent to success or failure, yet he shows too much attention at times. He feels pride without envy, and though he seems filled with joy, he is also gentle and spirited, bold and shy at once. These qualities reveal a personality that is hard to define or place in a category.

 

Lines 13–14:

The man is described as both free and sometimes awkward or embarrassed, with a shyness that he hardly seems aware of. He possesses virtue, and the speaker believes he deserves to be called virtuous, though he lacks some unnamed quality to fully earn the title.

 

Lines 15–18:

In conclusion, the speaker admits that this strange and complex man may seem unrealistic, almost as if he belongs more to imagination than real life. Still, the man would instantly win your heart with his uniqueness and charm. The speaker even says that he would gladly trade five hundred years of life to be such a cheerful and odd person.

This poem is a celebration of the inexplicable charm of human complexity—a recognition that a person may not fit logical or moral expectations, yet still be lovable and admirable just as they are.

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

I marvel how Nature could ever find space

I’m amazed that Nature was able to make room—

 

For so many strange contrasts in one human face:

—for so many odd and opposite qualities in one person’s expression.

 

There’s thought and no thought, and there’s paleness and bloom,

He sometimes seems deep in thought, and other times not at all; sometimes pale, sometimes full of color.

 

And bustle and sluggishness, pleasure and gloom.

He can be very active and energetic, or very slow and lazy; joyful at one moment, gloomy the next.

 

There’s weakness, and strength both redundant and vain;

He appears weak, yet also shows too much strength—though the strength seems unnecessary or wasted.

 

Such strength as, if ever affliction and pain

He has the kind of strength that, if he were ever truly hurt or suffering,

 

Could pierce through a temper that’s soft to disease,

—it could break through a nature that is usually sensitive or easily affected.

 

Would be rational peace—a philosopher’s ease.

And that might lead him to find calm acceptance, like a wise philosopher who stays peaceful in hardship.

 

There’s indifference, alike when he fails or succeeds,

He seems equally unconcerned whether he wins or loses.

 

And attention full ten times as much as there needs;

Yet at times, he pays far more attention than necessary.

 

Pride where there’s no envy, there’s so much of joy;

He has pride in himself, but no jealousy of others—he seems naturally joyful.

 

And mildness, and spirit both forward and coy.

He is both gentle and lively—sometimes bold, sometimes shy.

 

There’s freedom, and sometimes a diffident stare

He’s usually carefree, but occasionally gives a shy or hesitant look

 

Of shame scarcely seeming to know that she’s there,

—as if he barely realizes he’s feeling shy or embarrassed.

 

There’s virtue, the title it surely may claim,

He definitely has enough goodness to be called virtuous,

 

Yet wants heaven knows what to be worthy the name.

But still lacks some mysterious quality to truly deserve the title.

 

This picture from nature may seem to depart,

This description might seem too strange to be natural,

 

Yet the Man would at once run away with your heart;

But this man would immediately win your affection.

 

And I for five centuries right gladly would be

And I would happily choose to be, for 500 years,

 

Such an odd such a kind happy creature as he.

Someone as unusual, kind, and joyful as this man.

 

Analysis in Detail

1. Overview and Tone:

In “A Character,” Wordsworth offers a vivid and paradoxical portrait of a man who is full of contradictions. The poem has a tone of amused wonder and affectionate observation. Rather than criticizing or mocking the subject, Wordsworth seems genuinely fascinated by the complexity and inconsistency of human nature. The speaker is both puzzled and charmed by this person, and the poem ends with admiration and even envy for such a joyful and unique character.

 

2. Theme of Contradiction in Human Nature:

The central theme of the poem is the contradictory nature of personality. Wordsworth paints a character who embodies opposites: thoughtful and thoughtless, active and lazy, joyful and gloomy, confident and shy. These juxtapositions suggest that people cannot always be understood through simple labels or fixed traits. The character is not consistent, but he is deeply human. This aligns with the Romantic ideal that emotional depth and individuality are more important than logic or uniformity.

 

3. Metaphors and Language:

Though the poem does not rely heavily on elaborate metaphors, it does use carefully chosen language to highlight oppositions. For example, “paleness and bloom” contrasts lifelessness with vitality. The phrase “redundant and vain” used to describe strength suggests that even positive traits can be excessive or pointless without balance. The line “a philosopher’s ease” introduces a subtle metaphor: the idea that peace might arise not from strength alone, but from emotional resilience and wise acceptance of life’s trials.

 

4. Rhythm and Structure:

The poem is written in rhymed couplets, which gives it a smooth and musical flow, enhancing its reflective and observational tone. The consistent rhyme scheme also contrasts with the inconsistent personality being described, perhaps subtly reinforcing the idea that people are unpredictable even in structured surroundings.

 

5. Portrait of an Unusual but Lovable Person:

Wordsworth is not trying to present a heroic or morally perfect figure. Instead, the character is someone ordinary yet endearing—a person whose mix of contradictions makes him strangely lovable. His virtue is described as sincere but incomplete (“wants heaven knows what”), indicating a realistic, rather than idealized, depiction of moral character. The speaker ultimately says he would be happy to live for five centuries as such a person, showing not just approval but admiration.

 

6. Romantic Ideals:

This poem reflects Romantic ideals in several ways. It values individual emotion and character over rational order, celebrates uniqueness over perfection, and presents human inconsistency not as a flaw but as something beautiful. Wordsworth suggests that to be truly human is to be full of contradiction—and that joy, gentleness, pride, and awkwardness can coexist in a single soul without reducing its worth.

 

7. Conclusion:

In “A Character,” Wordsworth captures the essence of a deeply human personality—one that doesn’t fit neatly into any box. With affectionate curiosity, he explores the contradictions that make this person unpredictable yet delightful. The poem reminds us that even when people don’t meet our expectations of consistency or perfection, they can still move our hearts and enrich our lives.