Journal 13

Journal #13 – Edgar Lee Masters Epitaphs (p. 502)

Read “George Gray” and “Lucinda Matlock” and answer the following questions.


1. What object symbolizes George Gray’s life? How is this object representative of him?


George Gray’s life is represented by the boat with the furled sail. The sail is sort of a metaphor for Gray’s missed opportunities as well. If he didn’t have the furled sail, his life would have been more full becase he would have had more life experiences and taken more adventures and opportunites. His ship never “set sail”, causing him to miss out on many of his life ambitions. If he would have opened his sail or opened his mind and heart he would have had much more meaning to his life.




2. How was Lucinda Matlock’s life different than George Gray’s? How do you interepret the last line of the poem?
Lucinda seemed to have lived a more happy and joyous life. She took advantage of opportunites and acted upon her wishes whereas George Gray has more regrets of things he didn’t do. Lucinda experienced many of live’s great processes and acted on spontaneous feelings leaving her feeling fulfilled and content. George seemed to let life pass him by leaving him wanting more. The last line of the poem seems to say that no one will appreciate the greatness of life if you don’t live it to the fullest.






3. How are “George Gray” and “Lucinda Matlock” examples of realism?
George Gray and Lucinda Matlock are both examples of two very different and very real types of people. They are instances of two ordinary people living ordinary and normal lives, one being happy and one being unhappy. They are examples typical people with different outlooks on life.