The Dangers of Collective Belief

The conflict of this poem explores the classic “mob mentality” that can encourage people to act against their better nature. Although the men in the poem aren’t given much attention as individuals, it’s unlikely that they were heartless murderers prior to the events of the story. Instead, they’re everyday people who become caught up in fear and a need to exert control over that fear. Even though they promise the speaker “safe passage” (Line 16), these men ultimately betray her when they shift from a series of individuals to a collective. This is enhanced even further by the fact that the speaker never names any of the crew members, only calling them “They” and later “my murderers” (Line 57). In retrospect, the speaker strips them of their identity the way they took away hers.

The actions of these characters can be...