1. Dramatic Monologue: The poem is written as a dramatic monologue, where a single speaker reveals their thoughts and feelings to an implied listener. This allows Hardy to delve deeply into the character's inner world, revealing their personality and motivations.
2. Persona and Voice: The speaker in "Ruined" is a woman, likely a young bride, whose voice is characterized by a combination of despair, resignation, and defiance. Her language is simple and direct, revealing her emotional state:
* "I am but a woman, and I have loved." This simple statement reveals her vulnerability and emotional dependence.
* "I have seen the flower of my life grow and fade" This image evokes a sense of loss and the fleeting nature of happiness.
* "I have had my hope, my joy, my dream" This line underscores the speaker's past happiness and the sense of emptiness that now fills her life.
3. Shifting Tone: The poem's tone shifts from melancholy and despair to a more defiant and questioning tone as the speaker confronts the unfairness of her situation.
* "Why should I be less happy than the birds?" This line marks a shift from acceptance to defiance, challenging the speaker's current state and seeking justification for her suffering.
* "Theirs is the joy of love, theirs is the power to choose" The speaker acknowledges the freedom of birds and contrasts it with her own constrained life.
4. Use of Symbolism: Hardy employs symbolism to further develop the character and her voice. The ruined building, the "broken arch," represents not only the physical structure but also the speaker's own shattered life.
5. Evocation of Setting: The poem's setting plays a crucial role in shaping the character's voice and mood. The "ruined" building, a symbol of decay and destruction, reinforces the speaker's sense of loss and abandonment.
6. Dramatic Irony: The speaker's initial acceptance of her fate, her "resignation to sorrow," is ironic because the audience is aware of the circumstances that led to her ruined life. This awareness adds a layer of complexity to the character and her voice.
By combining these techniques, Hardy creates a compelling and multifaceted character whose voice resonates with honesty and pathos. The poem is a poignant exploration of the human condition, revealing the enduring power of love, loss, and the struggle to find meaning in a world that often seems indifferent to our pain.