Bonnie George Campbell is a very good child ballade that you actually do not understand when at childhood so deeply and thoroughly as you do when being a grown-up. Partially, because there are those words you do not understand and partially because adults apply more personal life experience. Overall, it is a very sad story.
The first thing the ballade makes me think of is Armageddon with its extremely sad plot when the father sacrifices himself. Here, Campbell does the same for the sake of war and loyalty to country/warfare/duty or anything else. There is another thing I think of after reading this poem, though it is not about my personal experience – rather it is about our country overall. It is about the soldiers, US army and their soldiers in particular. They are leaving everything to serve their country – this is noble.
Sir Patrick Spens and Bonnie George Campbell did think that loyalty was a thing to give their lives for. The both poems have the same kind of characters described: both talented in what they do, they leave something dear at home, and they die for the highest goal. Both heroes undergo the same treatment of the destiny and experience the ironic outcome of their loyalty. Both poems integrate unwillingness of Sir Patrick Spens and Bonnie George Campbell to leave their beloved ones but the country that needs them happens to be more important.
I wonder what a family would do if horses did not have this habit to return to their homes? That would be a real disaster as the fiancée and Campbell’s mother would never know what happened. However, on the other hand seeing a bloody saddle is harsh. It perplexes me that Campbell actually agreed to the warfare trip. Most likely, he knew what was waiting there for him, then why would anyone go to his doom? This is insane.
So, taking into consideration that we know the outcome in advance, reading the first lines by the author is significantly pleasant. I agree with het author that presenting a warrior who leaves to die in the best colors and shapes was a very good idea. One has to understand how good looking was Campbell to meet his last day in order to understand his courage and dignity. However, I do not think the ending is quite full. Why not make it a little more extended by saying that he died a hero’s death. It would be much more serious and appealing than just saying his saddle was bloody and he will never return again. Besides, giving description that he is buried in a bad of honor, for example, would also make the poem sound more touching.
“Riving her hair” (Keel 1) this is a very powerful phrase, I must say. Talking about the bride who sees a horse coming back with no master in the saddle, the author expresses the grief she experiences.
The meadow lies green the corn is unshorn (Keel 1) This is a very powerful line, as well. It denotes the flourishing nature that is full of life, whereas Campbell is lying dead somewhere unknown and will never fell the freshness of nature again.
The author is very sympathetic with the main hero. It is clearly seen in the adjectives the author uses to describe Campbell. Therefore, the reader sympathizes with the hero who is defined to give his life for loyalty before duties.
Works Cited
Keel, Frederick. Bonnie George Campbell. Song, etc. New York: J. B. Cramer & Co, 1924. Print.