The financial failure of Michaels nephew, a man of an industrious life and ample means, causes the man to default on a covenant of sorts: a contract of
guarantee. This default in its turn means that Michael must either, under the terms of the secured note that he has executed, or he must find some way of raising a large
amount of money quickly to prevent the forfeiture.
Michael’s hope to save the land is Luke. He then has an idea to pay the debt from Luke’s occupation.
Our Luke shall leave us, Isabel; the land Shall not go from us, and it shall be free,
He shall possess it free as is the wind That passes over it.
Stanza 11, lines 243-247. Michael’s struggle is that he is attempting to make Luke, his son, becomes a
successful person in London, and not only becomes a shepherd like him. He does everything and he sacrifices everything to make it. Sending Luke to London is the
same as sending Michael’s heart far from his body. Actually Michael cannot be separated with Luke. Later he dies because he
loses this hope because of his unrealized mistakes. Because of the mistake, his son, Luke, takes an evil way that leads them to the tragedy.
3. The Consequence of His Total Compulsion to Evaluate Himself Justly
“ His days had not been passed in singleness. His Helpmate was a comely matron, old—
Though younger than himself full twenty years” Stanza 3, lines 87-90.
Michael then marries, but actually, he is too old. This can become the
consequence because he cares with his land more than everything. This marriage then becomes a tragedy for the whole family. His wife then can be seen stronger than
Michael because she is much younger. Michael evaluates himself that he is not as strong as the nature. He confesses that his wife, Isabel, works more hard than he does.
He also confesses that he is a fool at last and not a good man. He realizes that it is because of his past. When he was a boy, he was lazy to study and he was not a clever
or smart boy. He only loves to live freely with the nature. As the result, he realizes that he makes a false choice.
He also confesses that in the past he had a debt to his nephew and he was now called upon to discharge the debt. This bad news stunned the family and damped
all the hopes they had cherished. “From day to day, to Michael’s ear there came
Distressful tidings. Long before the time Of which I speak, the Shepherd had been bound
In surety for his brother’s son, a man Of an industrious life, and ample means;
But unforeseen misfortunes suddenly Had press upon him; and old Michael now
Was summoned to discharge the forfeiture” Stanza 10, lines 208-215.
His responsibility to his brother then becomes a big burden for him and his family also becomes the victim of his contract with his brother. Michael and his
family now get the consequence to pay the debt. This is something ironic because Isabel and Luke actually keep in touch with the charge indirectly. Isabel and Luke as
the part of the family instantly get the responsibility. This is something that out side their minds. Michael as the main person in that debt case becomes stressed and panic.
It is actually not only about the future of his brother but also his future and his family.
“And I have lived to be a fool at last to my own family. An evil man
that was, and made an evil choice if he were false to us; and , if he were not false,
there were ten thousand to whom loss like this Had been sorrow, I forgive him;- but
‘Twere better to be dumb than to talk thus” Stanza 10, lines 235-241.
It seems that he can forgive his brother easily. Although the burden is very
big, he still has a gentle heart as a good brother. The harder consequence is that Michael has to “sacrifice” his only son to pay the debt by sending him to London.
This is the only instant way to solve his problem. Michael is not strong enough like when he was young. He also does not have any rich relatives who can give him a lot
of loan. He does not have any other capital or asset which can save him. Michael does not prepare Luke to face the industrial life in London. He only
thinks to get a lot of money in a short time from Luke job in the city. Luke himself does not have enough background and skill in the job in the city. The consequence is
that Luke then takes an evil way to get money but he is failed. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
“Meantime Luke began To slacken in his duty; and, at length,
He in the dissolute city gave himself To evil courses: ignominy and shame
Fell on him, so that he was driven at last To seek a hiding-place beyond the seas.”
Stanza 19, lines 442-447. Luke’s evil act then makes Luke seeking a hiding-place across the seas sailing
vessel to the New World in order to remain free by evading his creditors. Luke is taught to be a gentleman in front of the nature but his act is very embarrassing. He
runs away and it shows that all the education that he has got is useless. He shows his weakness and proves that he is not a gentle man. It is very different with Michael.
Luke does not show his responsibility as Michael’s dearest son. This makes him lost his family and his patrimonial land. Michael lost his son, his land, his life, and
everything. Those big consequences are very tragic. It is started by the loss of physical strength of Michael.
“Years after he had heard this heavy news. His bodily frame had been from youth to age
Of an unusual strength” Stanza 20, lines 453-455.
Michael has unusual strength as an old shepherd. He is very strong. This is
very ironic. The strength, which had once been his mainstay, now becomes a burden to him. By the news comes to him, he starts to lose his strength. His heart is broken.
The effect also comes to his physical body. He becomes weak and has no spirit to continue his life because he loses his hope. In here, the physical strength becomes
meaningless at the end. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
The soul is killed by Luke’s act. His body can breath but he has empty soul. He has no hope and he has no more goals in his life.
“There, by the Sheepfold, sometimes was he seen Sitting alone, or with his faithful Dog,
Then old, beside him, lying at his feet. The length of full seven years, from time to time,
He at the building of this Sheepfold wrought, And left the work unfinished when he died.
Three years, or little more, did Isabel Survive her Husband: at her death the estate
Was sold, and went into a stranger’s hand’’ Stanza 21, lines 467-475.
Loneliness comes and attacks him until his death. No one or nothing can
secure his dying heart. The unfinished sheepfold remains the tragedy of Michael. It reflects a great hope which is never perfectly finished. It becomes a symbol of the
ruin of a heroic life. Michael dies with his tragic heroic life and then Isabel dies in a short time
after him. The land, which is defended by his life, then goes to stranger hand. The story of Michael’s patrimonial land is end in his failure.
4. Having Fear for Being Displaced
Michael starts to feel afraid about his family future when he realizes that it happened in a lot of cases. He proves that he is a good man, a good father, but it
makes him afraid with his family future. Because of the debt, he has a plan to sell a portion of his patrimonial land but the land has a sentimental value for him. He is
afraid that if the land is passed into the hands of some stranger, he will be restless even in his grave.
