Solitude by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Solitude
by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Laugh, and the world laughs with you;
Weep, and you weep alone;
For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth,
But has trouble enough of its own.
Sing, and the hills will answer;
Sigh, it is lost on the air;
The echoes bound to a joyful sound,
But shrink from voicing care.
Rejoice, and men will seek you;
Grieve, and they turn and go;
They want full measure of all your pleasure,
But they do not need your woe.
Be glad, and your friends are many;
Be sad, and you lose them all,—
There are none to decline your nectar’d wine,
But alone you must drink life’s gall.
Feast, and your halls are crowded;
Fast, and the world goes by.
Succeed and give, and it helps you live,
But no man can help you die.
There is room in the halls of pleasure
For a long and lordly train,
But one by one we must all file on
Through the narrow aisles of pain.
Bengali Translation:
একাকীত্ব (Solitude)
ইলা হুইলার উইলকক্স
হাসো, আর পৃথিবী তোমার সাথে হাসে;
কাঁদো, আর তুমি একাই কাঁদো;
এই দুঃখভারাক্রান্ত পৃথিবী আনন্দ ধার নেয়,
কিন্তু নিজের দুঃখই যথেষ্ট তার বোঝা।
গাও, পাহাড় প্রতিধ্বনি তোলে;
নিশ্বাস ফেলো, তা হারিয়ে যায় বাতাসে;
আনন্দের ধ্বনি প্রতিধ্বনিত হয়,
কিন্তু দুঃখের আওয়াজে ফিরে আসে না প্রতিধ্বনি।
আনন্দ করো, মানুষ তোমার কাছে ছুটে আসে;
দুঃখ করো, তারা ফিরে যায় দূরে;
তারা তোমার আনন্দের পূর্ণ অংশ চায়,
কিন্তু তোমার দুঃখের ভাগ নিতে চায় না কেউ।
খুশি থাকো, তোমার বন্ধুরা অনেক;
বিষণ্ণ থাকো, আর সবাই হারিয়ে যায়,—
তোমার অমৃতের পেয়ালা কেউ ফিরিয়ে দেয় না,
কিন্তু জীবনের তিক্ততা তোমাকেই একা পান করতে হয়।
ভোজ দাও, তোমার ঘর ভরে যায় জনসমাগমে;
উপবাস করো, পৃথিবী চলে যায় পাশ কাটিয়ে।
সফল হও এবং দান করো, মানুষ তোমায় টিকিয়ে রাখবে,
কিন্তু কেউ তোমার মৃত্যুর ভার নিতে পারবে না।
আনন্দের প্রাসাদে জায়গা আছে অনেক,
এক বিশাল, জাঁকজমকপূর্ণ মিছিলের জন্য,
কিন্তু একে একে সবাইকেই পেরোতে হয়
বেদনার সরু পথ দিয়ে।
Short Biography of poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850–1919) was a popular American poet and author known for her accessible, uplifting verse and optimistic philosophy. Born in Johnstown, Wisconsin, she showed a talent for writing at a young age and began publishing poems as a teenager.
Her most famous poem, “Solitude”, opens with the line “Laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone,” which reflects her recurring themes of positivity, self-help, and personal responsibility. This poem appeared in her bestselling collection Poems of Passion (1883), which brought her widespread fame.
Wilcox was a strong advocate of spiritualism and Theosophy, and her later works often explored themes of reincarnation and metaphysical beliefs. Though critics often dismissed her work as sentimental or simplistic, she remained immensely popular with general readers throughout her life.
She died in 1919, but her legacy endures through her widely quoted verses and inspirational writings.
Bengali Translation:
এলা হুইলার উইলকক্স (১৮৫০–১৯১৯) ছিলেন একজন জনপ্রিয় আমেরিকান কবি ও লেখিকা, যিনি সহজ ভাষায় রচিত অনুপ্রেরণামূলক ও আশাবাদী কবিতার জন্য বিখ্যাত।
তিনি উইসকনসিন অঙ্গরাজ্যের জনস্টাউনে জন্মগ্রহণ করেন এবং অল্প বয়সেই লেখার প্রতি আগ্রহ দেখান। কিশোর বয়স থেকেই তাঁর কবিতা বিভিন্ন পত্রিকায় প্রকাশিত হতে শুরু করে।
তাঁর সবচেয়ে বিখ্যাত কবিতা “Solitude” শুরু হয় এই লাইন দিয়ে:
“Laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone.”
বাংলায় যার অর্থ:
“হাসলে দুনিয়া তোমার সঙ্গে হাসে; কাঁদলে তুমি একাই কাঁদো।”
এই কবিতাটি তাঁর জনপ্রিয় কবিতার সংকলন Poems of Passion (১৮৮৩)–এ প্রকাশিত হয়, যা তাঁকে ব্যাপক খ্যাতি এনে দেয়।
উইলকক্স আত্মিক চিন্তাধারা, থিওসোফি (Theosophy), ও পুনর্জন্মে বিশ্বাস করতেন এবং তাঁর পরবর্তী রচনাগুলোতে এসব বিষয় ঘন ঘন উঠে এসেছে। যদিও সাহিত্য সমালোচকরা প্রায়ই তাঁর কবিতাকে অতিরিক্ত আবেগপ্রবণ ও সরল বলে খাটো করতেন, সাধারণ পাঠকদের মধ্যে তিনি ব্যাপক জনপ্রিয় ছিলেন।
তিনি ১৯১৯ সালে মৃত্যুবরণ করেন, কিন্তু তাঁর অনুপ্রেরণাদায়ক কবিতা ও উদ্ধৃতির মাধ্যমে তাঁর নাম আজও স্মরণীয়।
Summary:
The poem “Solitude” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox explores the idea that human companionship and sympathy are often tied to happiness rather than sorrow. The poet says that when you are joyful and laugh, the world happily joins you, but when you are sad and cry, you must suffer alone. People are attracted to success, joy, and celebration, but they avoid sadness, failure, and pain.
The poem reminds us that happiness draws people closer, while sorrow isolates us. It also shows the reality of life — everyone must face pain and death alone, no matter how many friends or companions they have. In short, the poem teaches that life is full of both joy and suffering, but we must learn to be strong and face our sorrows by ourselves.
Bengali Translation:
ইলা হুইলার উইলকক্সের কবিতা “Solitude” (একাকীত্ব) মানুষে মানুষে সম্পর্কের এক বাস্তব সত্য প্রকাশ করে। কবি বলেছেন, যখন আমরা হাসি বা আনন্দ করি, পৃথিবী আমাদের সঙ্গে হাসে; কিন্তু যখন আমরা কাঁদি, তখন আমাদের একাই কাঁদতে হয়। মানুষ সুখ, সাফল্য, ও আনন্দে আকৃষ্ট হয়, কিন্তু দুঃখ ও ব্যর্থতার সময় সবাই দূরে সরে যায়।
কবিতাটি আমাদের শেখায় যে আনন্দ ভাগ করা সহজ, কিন্তু দুঃখের বোঝা একাই বহন করতে হয়। জীবনের সত্য হলো — সুখে পাশে অনেক মানুষ থাকলেও, বেদনা ও মৃত্যুর সময় প্রত্যেককেই একা সেই পথ পাড়ি দিতে হয়।
🌿 Main Ideas and Lessons of “Solitude”
-
Happiness attracts others:
যখন তুমি হাসো বা আনন্দে থাকো, মানুষ তোমার দিকে আকৃষ্ট হয় এবং তোমার সঙ্গে আনন্দ ভাগ করে নেয়। -
Sorrow leads to loneliness:
যখন তুমি কাঁদো বা দুঃখ পাও, তখন তোমাকে একাই সেই কষ্ট সহ্য করতে হয় — কারণ মানুষ দুঃখ ভাগ করতে চায় না। -
Human nature prefers joy:
মানুষের স্বভাব এমন যে তারা সুখী ও সফল ব্যক্তির সঙ্গ পছন্দ করে, কিন্তু ব্যর্থ বা বিষণ্ণ মানুষকে এড়িয়ে চলে। -
Life’s pleasures are shared, but pain is personal:
ভোজ, সাফল্য, ও আনন্দে সবাই অংশ নেয়, কিন্তু বেদনা ও মৃত্যুর সময় প্রত্যেককেই একা হতে হয়। -
Reality of life:
জীবন এক বাস্তব সত্য শেখায় — সুখ অস্থায়ী, আর দুঃখে মানুষের আসল একাকীত্ব প্রকাশ পায়। -
Moral lesson – Be strong and self-reliant:
এই কবিতা আমাদের শেখায় যে জীবনে দুঃখ ও কষ্ট আসবেই, তাই আমাদের উচিত শক্ত থাকা, আত্মনির্ভর হওয়া, এবং নিজের সাহসেই পথ চলা।
🌸 Theme (in English):
The main theme of the poem “Solitude” is the contrast between joy and sorrow in human relationships. Ella Wheeler Wilcox shows that the world readily shares our happiness but turns away from our sadness. When we are cheerful and successful, people gather around us, but when we are sad or in trouble, we must face it alone.
The poem reflects the truth of human nature — people are drawn to pleasure and avoid pain. It also highlights the idea of emotional isolation, showing that every person must face their deepest struggles, suffering, and even death alone. Ultimately, the poem teaches the importance of inner strength, self-reliance, and acceptance of life’s reality.
🌼 কবিতার মূল ভাব (Theme in Bengali):
Ella Wheeler Wilcox-এর “Solitude” কবিতার মূল ভাব হলো আনন্দে সঙ্গী পাওয়া যায়, কিন্তু দুঃখে মানুষ একা হয়ে যায়। পৃথিবীর মানুষ আমাদের সুখে পাশে থাকে, কিন্তু দুঃখে সবাই দূরে সরে যায়।
কবিতাটি মানুষের স্বভাবের এক বাস্তব চিত্র তুলে ধরে—মানুষ সুখ ও সাফল্যের দিকে আকৃষ্ট হয়, কিন্তু দুঃখ ও ব্যর্থতাকে এড়িয়ে চলে। এতে কবি বোঝাতে চেয়েছেন যে জীবনের গভীর কষ্ট, দুঃখ, ও মৃত্যুর মুহূর্তগুলো প্রত্যেককেই একা মোকাবিলা করতে হয়। তাই আমাদের উচিত মানসিকভাবে শক্ত থাকা এবং নিজের ওপর নির্ভর করতে শেখা।
🌸 Broad Questions on “Solitude” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
1. Discuss the central theme of the poem “Solitude.”
👉 Answer hint: The poem explores the contrast between joy and sorrow in human life. It shows that people willingly share our happiness but not our grief. The poet emphasizes the loneliness that accompanies pain and suffering, teaching us the importance of self-reliance and emotional strength.
2. Explain the meaning of the lines “Laugh, and the world laughs with you; Weep, and you weep alone.”
👉 Answer hint: These famous opening lines express the core idea of the poem — when you are joyful, everyone enjoys your company; but when you are sad, you must face your pain alone. The poet uses this contrast to show the selfish and realistic nature of human relationships.
3. How does Ella Wheeler Wilcox portray human nature in “Solitude”?
👉 Answer hint: The poet presents a truthful picture of human nature — people are attracted to happiness, success, and joy but turn away from sadness and failure. Through simple but powerful images, she highlights that the world values pleasure over pain.
4. What message does the poem “Solitude” give to its readers?
👉 Answer hint: The poem teaches that happiness attracts companionship, but sorrow must be borne alone. Therefore, one should develop inner strength and accept the realities of life. The poet’s message is about emotional independence and resilience.
5. Analyze the imagery used in the poem “Solitude.”
👉 Answer hint: The poem uses vivid imagery such as “Laugh, and the world laughs with you,” “Feast, and your halls are crowded,” and “Through the narrow aisles of pain.” These images bring out the contrast between joy and grief, celebration and loneliness, pleasure and pain.
6. Describe the tone and mood of the poem.
👉 Answer hint: The tone is reflective and realistic, with a touch of melancholy. The poet accepts the truth of human behavior and life’s loneliness. The mood moves from cheerful in the beginning to serious and contemplative toward the end.
7. What do the last four lines of the poem suggest about life and death?
👉 Answer hint: The poet reminds us that although life’s pleasures are shared with many, death and suffering are personal experiences. No one can take our pain or die for us. Every person must walk alone through life’s painful realities.
8. How does the poet contrast joy and sorrow in the poem?
👉 Answer hint: Wilcox uses opposites — laughter and weeping, feasting and fasting, rejoicing and grieving — to highlight how people respond differently to happiness and sadness. The contrast underlines the poem’s central theme: happiness unites people, sorrow isolates them.
9. What lesson about life can we learn from “Solitude”?
👉 Answer hint: Life is a mixture of joy and sorrow, but we must accept both. We should not expect others to always share our pain. The true lesson is to find strength within ourselves and remain optimistic even in loneliness.
10. Evaluate “Solitude” as a poem of universal truth.
👉 Answer hint: The poem expresses a truth that applies to all times and people — the world loves happiness and avoids sadness. Its universal message about human nature, loneliness, and resilience makes it a timeless piece of poetry.
More Questions:
1. Discuss the central theme of the poem “Solitude.”
The central theme of “Solitude” is the contrast between joy and sorrow in human life. Ella Wheeler Wilcox shows that happiness attracts people, while sadness isolates us. When we laugh and celebrate, everyone enjoys our company, but when we are sad, we must face our pain alone. The poem presents a realistic truth about human nature — people prefer pleasure and success but avoid grief and failure. It teaches that emotional strength and self-reliance are necessary because no one can share our suffering completely. Through simple but powerful expressions, the poet explains that joy is shared, but sorrow is personal. Thus, the poem gives a universal message that we should accept life as it is — with both happiness and pain — and remain strong and hopeful even in loneliness.
2. Explain the meaning of the lines “Laugh, and the world laughs with you; Weep, and you weep alone.”
These famous opening lines express the main idea of the poem. The poet means that people are always ready to share our joy but not our sorrow. When we are happy, cheerful, or successful, the world wants to be with us. Everyone enjoys our laughter and joins our celebrations. However, when we are sad or in trouble, people move away. We have to face pain and failure by ourselves. These lines reflect a deep truth about human behavior — that most people are attracted to joy and avoid sadness. The poet teaches us to accept this reality and become emotionally independent. Through these two short lines, Wilcox beautifully captures the nature of human companionship and the loneliness that follows sorrow.
3. How does Ella Wheeler Wilcox portray human nature in “Solitude”?
Ella Wheeler Wilcox portrays human nature as selfish, realistic, and pleasure-seeking. She observes that people love to share joy and success, but they do not want to share another person’s pain. In the poem, she writes that when we laugh, the world laughs with us, but when we weep, we must weep alone. This shows that people are drawn to happiness and turn away from sadness. The poet uses several examples — such as “Feast, and your halls are crowded; Fast, and the world goes by” — to prove that people are friendly in good times but disappear in bad ones. Her observation is not bitter but realistic. Through this poem, Wilcox shows that true strength lies in understanding human nature and accepting it calmly. She encourages readers to rely on themselves instead of expecting constant sympathy from others.
4. What message does the poem “Solitude” give to its readers?
The poem “Solitude” gives a message of self-reliance, courage, and acceptance of life’s reality. Ella Wheeler Wilcox teaches that happiness is easily shared with others, but sorrow must be faced alone. People enjoy our laughter but avoid our tears. Therefore, we should not depend on others for constant support or understanding. The poem encourages us to be emotionally strong and to find peace within ourselves. It reminds us that every person must experience loneliness, pain, and death alone. The poet’s message is realistic yet inspiring — we must accept both joy and sorrow as part of life. True wisdom lies in maintaining hope and strength even when no one is beside us.
5. Analyze the imagery used in the poem “Solitude.”
Ella Wheeler Wilcox uses powerful and simple imagery to express her ideas. The images of laughter, weeping, feasting, and fasting vividly contrast happiness and sadness. For example, “Laugh, and the world laughs with you” creates a joyful image of companionship, while “Weep, and you weep alone” suggests loneliness and pain. Similarly, “Feast, and your halls are crowded; Fast, and the world goes by” shows how people gather during celebrations but disappear during hard times. The image of “narrow aisles of pain” at the end of the poem symbolizes the personal journey of suffering and death that everyone must walk alone. These visual pictures make the poem emotional and easy to understand. Through her imagery, Wilcox makes an abstract idea — emotional isolation — feel real and universal.
6. Describe the tone and mood of the poem.
The tone of “Solitude” is reflective, realistic, and slightly melancholic. Ella Wheeler Wilcox speaks with wisdom and maturity about the truths of life. She does not complain about loneliness but accepts it as a natural part of human existence. The mood of the poem changes from cheerful to serious — it begins with laughter and ends with pain. The poet’s tone is calm and thoughtful as she explores how happiness brings people together while sorrow separates them. There is also a gentle sadness in her words, showing empathy for those who suffer alone. Yet the poem is not hopeless — it carries an inspiring message of inner strength and courage. Overall, the tone and mood help convey the poem’s deep emotional truth and universal meaning.
7. What do the last four lines of the poem suggest about life and death?
The last four lines of “Solitude” suggest that while life’s pleasures can be shared with many, pain and death must be faced alone. The poet says that there is room in the halls of pleasure for a “long and lordly train,” meaning many people join us in happy times. But when we pass through “the narrow aisles of pain,” we walk alone. This image represents the loneliness of suffering and the inevitability of death. No one can truly share our pain or die in our place. These lines express a universal truth — life is both social and solitary. The poet encourages us to accept this truth with courage and dignity. In the end, each person’s journey is personal, and strength must come from within.
8. How does the poet contrast joy and sorrow in the poem?
Ella Wheeler Wilcox builds the poem entirely around the contrast between joy and sorrow. She presents this contrast through pairs of opposite actions — “laugh” vs. “weep,” “feast” vs. “fast,” “rejoice” vs. “grieve.” Each pair shows how the world reacts differently to our emotions. When we are happy, people share our laughter and success; when we are sad, they avoid us. This contrast reveals the selfish and selective nature of human companionship. The poet uses this idea to teach that joy brings company, but sorrow brings solitude. Her contrast is not only emotional but also philosophical — it reflects life’s dual nature, where happiness and pain coexist. Through this comparison, Wilcox reminds readers that both are necessary parts of human experience.
9. What lesson about life can we learn from “Solitude”?
From “Solitude,” we learn that life is full of both joy and sorrow, and we must be prepared to face both. The poem teaches us that we cannot depend on others to share all our emotions. While people may enjoy our happiness, they often avoid our sadness. This is a universal truth about human nature. Therefore, we should learn to be strong and self-reliant. True wisdom lies in accepting life’s realities without bitterness. The poet encourages us to stay cheerful and courageous even when we are alone. The lesson of the poem is simple but powerful — happiness attracts the world, sorrow isolates us, but inner strength helps us endure everything with dignity.
10. Evaluate “Solitude” as a poem of universal truth.
“Solitude” expresses a truth that is universal and timeless — people share our joy but not our sorrow. Ella Wheeler Wilcox’s observation about human behavior applies to all cultures and ages. Everyone experiences moments of loneliness and realizes that pain must be faced alone. The poem speaks about the selfish tendency of society but also inspires personal strength. Its simple language, musical rhythm, and emotional depth make it relatable to every reader. The truth it presents — that happiness gathers crowds, while sorrow leads to solitude — is a permanent part of human life. Because of its deep moral message and realistic portrayal of emotions, “Solitude” stands as a poem of universal truth and lasting wisdom.