In William Wordworth's poem "We Are Seven" we see Wordsworth asking a
little girl about her siblings. The little girl says that there are seven of them,
including two that are dead. Wordsworth tries to persuade the little girl that
her two deceased siblings cannot be counted among the living because they
are no longer alive. However, this little girl insists that these two be included.
"But they are dead; those two are dead! There spirits are in heaven! 'Taws
throwing words away; for still The little Maid would have her will, And said,
Nay we are seven!" (Lines 65-69).
No one knows for sure what happens to us when we die. In the poem,
the adult (Wordsworth) has very natural beliefs that the two deceased
children are gone. However, the little girl believes that they still exist around
her, maybe not in a physical presence, but she still feels that she can sense
"There graves are green, they may be seen" (Line 37). The fact that
the plants around her siblings graves are alive and growing, gives the little girl
proof that her brother and sister still exist. The little girl represents the
innocence and the simple minds of children. She will not let go of her beliefs.
The child's view of life is very natural and innocent. Just because someone is
dead does not mean that they are gone.
On the other hand, the adult does not view life in the same manner in
which the child does. The adults older and more complex mind sees life as
something that can only be seen, something that is physically present. In the
poem the adult feels that the child is foolish for insisting that her deceased
siblings be counted with the living, to the adult even the thought of this is
The adult in the poem tries to force the little girl to see the matter of
life the way that he does, but he can not "Twas throwing words away"
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