Themes

The poem “After a Journey” by Thomas Hardy is mainly characterised by the theme of the haunting/death. However, there are several other themes that emerge from the poem and mix together:

Haunting/death

The poem begins with the author’s statement that he follows a ghost. It is clear that his wife Emma has died and that he feels the need to reconnect to her, even if she is to take the form of a ghost. The theme of death and haunting is reinforced throughout the poem through the use of several words connected to haunting: “voiceless ghost” (l. 1), “olden haunts” (l. 9), “thin ghost” (l. 24).

Regret

Most of the times, the death of a dear one is associated with regret and pain. In “After a Journey”, the poet expresses his regret that there were times when he was not close to his wife. According to the biography of Thomas Hardy, -his marriage with Emma was shadowed by his ambition and fame. This poem, together with others, present his regret and his admittance that he was not a good husband:

“What have you now found to say of our past -
Scanned across the dark space wherein I have lacked you?
Summer gave us sweets, but autumn wrought division?
Things were not lastly as firstly well
With us twain, you tell?” (ll. 11-15)

The poet seems to invite the gh...