Contrasting Outlooks in Dream of the Rood and The...

Differing Outlooks in Dream of the Rood and The Wanderer Outlook defines our perception of reality. The characters in Dream of the Rood and The Wanderer maintain opposed perspectives that greatly influence the way they view their common state of desolation. The dreamer and the Cross in Dream of the Rood embrace a religious ideology that gives them hope, whereas the earth-walker in The Wanderer embraces an existential view that leaves him to suffer his loneliness. The characters differing outlooks greatly influence how they view their exile, their ultimate destination, and the journey to this destination, their homecoming. The characters of both works face exile: the dreamers friends have gone hence from the†¦show more content†¦The dreamer, like those who endured fire, is renewed with hope, and is joyful (Rood 21). He trusts in a higher power, and anticipates rejoining his friends who he believes are in heaven with God. Though it might have felled all foes, the Cross endured its exile bravely in the presence of the Lord. It is mocked with him, drenched with his blood, and laden with his sorrows, and when Christ was dismounted from it, the Cross, as well as Christ, bowed to the mens hands (Rood 20). The Cross, despite its fate, is patient and humble like Christ, and while Christ is redemption, the Cross is a symbol of that journey to heaven: the Cross shall the kingdom be sought by each soul on this earthly journey that thinks to dwell with the Lord (Rood 21). The loss of his friends and the lord of his mead-hall, however, devastate the earth-walker. While the dreamer and the Cross have God to protect them from the cruelty of exile, the earth-walker is inconsolably forlorn. He speaks of how cruel a companion sorrow is to the man who has no beloved protectors. The earth-walker is bereft of all of the joys of earth, and unlike the Cross and the dreamer, he has no one in whom to seek comfort. For him, no joy on earth means no joy at all; for him all delight has gone (Wanderer 69). The characters common state of exile imposes a theme of homecoming upon the Dream of the Rood and The