The Speaker

From the beginning of the poem, the speaker shares her intention to reclaim and integrate all the scattered parts of herself. Her tone can be characterized as determined since she repeats the phrase "I shall" (1, 2, and 5). She also comes across as defiant in that she resists joining the hustle and bustle of modern life. Instead, she chooses to watch "people rushing / In restless self-importance to and fro" and compares herself to a sibyl (7–8). For the speaker, peace and self-harmony are achieved through solitude.

Other People

The speaker chooses to remain separate from others in "The Crystal Gazer." She compares her integrated self to a crystal ball in which she watches nature, the passage of time, and other humans. In comparison to the speaker's solitary contemplation, other people rush "In restless self-importance to and fro" (8). This shows that the speaker views others from a distance and decides not...