Summary

The poem begins with the speaker crying out in anger that he intends to leave the country and travel the world. He insists that he is a free man and should not have to get approval before doing what he wants. Every good thing in his life has been ruined or corrupted by sorrow. He plans to seek out pure pleasure, no longer hesitating based on questions of what is right or wrong. He thinks of his thoughts as a "cage" that he intends to free himself from (21). He repeats his intention to travel and expresses scorn for those who think of anything other than themselves, saying that they deserve their suffering. However, as he grows angrier and angrier, he hears a voice calling him "child" (35). He responds "my lord," acknowledging his subservience to the power of this voice (36).

Analysis

"The Collar" is first...