Lot's Wife
Study Guide Compiled by Cecilia Osyanju
Background
The Genesis story of Lot’s family is told practically, without giving much insight into emotions or
thoughts of the people involved. In fact, the account reads like a historical document more than
a story. As the biblical story unfolds, readers are given the facts about what happened, but no
insight into the feelings or thoughts of any of the characters are revealed. Lot’s wife is
particularly overlooked in this story, as she turns into a pillar of salt for disobeying the command
of the angel, and is never spoken of again. This poem gives the reader insight into what might
possibly have been going through the mind of this woman, Lot’s wife, whose name we are never
even given.
Lot's Wife by Anna Akhmatova is a poignant and sympathetic retelling of the biblical story of
Lot's wife, who was turned into a pillar of salt for disobeying God's command not to look back as
she and her family fled the doomed city of Sodom. The poem focuses on the emotional state
and inner turmoil of Lot's wife as she is forced to abandon her home and life in Sodom.
Akhmatova paints a vivid picture of the wife's "wild grief" and her intense longing to take "one
last sight" of her beloved city, "the rose turrets of your native Sodom, the square where you
sang, and the yard where you span." The wife is torn between obeying God's command and
her deep attachment to the life she is leaving behind.
Ultimately, the wife's emotions overcame her, and "she looked - and her eyes were instantly
bound by pain." In that single glance back, she is transformed into a pillar of salt, her "fleet feet"
rooting into the ground. Akhmatova laments this tragic end, questioning whether the wife's
death was truly warranted, asking "Who'll mourn her as one of Lot's family members? Doesn't
she seem the smallest of losses to us?" Yet the poet declares that she will "always remember /
One who gave her life up for one single glance."
Through this poetic retelling, Akhmatova gives voice and empathy to a figure often overlooked
or condemned in the biblical account. She highlights the wife's humanity, her understandable
attachment to home and the life she knew, and the profound sadness of her fate. In doing so,
Akhmatova invites the reader to consider the nuances of this story and the complex emotions
that may have motivated the wife's fateful decision.
Line-by-Line Analysis:
1. "Holy Lot was a-going behind God's angel,"
○ Here, Lot is described as following the angel of God, implying his obedience and
reverence.
2. "He seemed huge and bright on a hill, huge and black."
○ The angel is portrayed with contrasting imagery of brightness and darkness,
perhaps symbolizing divine presence and judgment.
3. "But the heart of his wife whispered stronger and stranger:"
○ Lot's wife is characterized by her inner conflict and curiosity, which grows
stronger against the divine command.
4. "It's not very late, you have time to look back"
○ Her inner voice tempts her to disobey, suggesting she can still indulge in
nostalgia and longing for her home in Sodom.
5. "At these rose turrets of your native Sodom,"
○ The imagery of "rose turrets" paints a romanticized picture of her homeland,
appealing to her emotional attachment.
6. "The square where you sang, and the yard where you span,"
○ Specific memories of her life in Sodom are evoked, highlighting domestic scenes
and personal history.
7. "The windows looking from your cozy home
○ The familiarity and comfort of her home are emphasized, along with her role as a
wife and mother.
8. "Where you bore children for your dear man."
○ This line reinforces her familial ties and responsibilities.
9. "She looked -- and her eyes were instantly bound
○ Despite the warning, she gives in to temptation and looks back, instantly
regretting her decision.
10. "By pain -- they couldn't see any more at all:"
○ Looking back causes her physical and emotional pain, blinding her to her
surroundings and the consequences.
11. "Her fleet feet grew into the stony ground,"
○ This vividly depicts her transformation into a pillar of salt, immobilized and
trapped in her decision.
12. "Her body turned into a pillar of salt."
○ The climax of the poem, where Lot's wife suffers her fate as punishment for her
disobedience.
13. "Who'll mourn her as one of Lot's family members?"
○ The speaker questions whether Lot's wife will be mourned or remembered
among the family of Lot, implying her insignificance in history.
14. "Doesn't she seem the smallest of losses to us?"
○ This reflects on her fate as seemingly insignificant, yet the poem goes on to
contradict this sentiment.
15. "But deep in my heart I will always remember One who gave her life up for one single
glance."
○ The concluding lines express the speaker's lasting memory and respect for Lot's
wife, recognizing her sacrifice and humanity.
Poetic Devices
Anna Akhmatova uses several poetic devices in her poem "Lot's Wife" to convey the emotional
turmoil and tragic fate of Lot's wife:
Imagery
The poem is rich in vivid imagery that paints a picture of Lot's wife's inner thoughts and the
world she is leaving behind:
"At these rose turrets of your native Sodom,
The square where you sang, and the yard where you span,
The windows looking from your cozy home
Where you bore children for your dear man.
This imagery highlights the depth of her attachment to Sodom and the pain of abandoning it.
The poem also uses striking visual imagery to depict her tragic transformation:
"Her eyes were instantly bound
By pain - they couldn't see any more at all.
Her fleet feet grew into the stony ground,
Her body turned into a pillar of salt."
Allusion (Bibilical Allusion)
The poem "Lot's Wife" by Anna Akhmatova prominently features a biblical allusion to the story
of Lot's wife from the Book of Genesis in the Bible. This allusion serves as a central motif that
shapes the poem's theme, imagery, and underlying meaning.
In the biblical narrative (Genesis 19:15-26), Lot and his family are instructed by angels to flee
from the sinful city of Sodom before its destruction. They are warned not to look back upon
leaving. However, Lot's wife disobeys this command and turns to look back at the city, resulting
in her transformation into a pillar of salt.
The biblical allusion provides a framework through which the poem explores universal themes of
human fallibility, moral choice, and the consequences of disobedience. It adds depth to the
poem's imagery and narrative, evoking a sense of ancient wisdom and ethical contemplation
that transcends specific religious contexts.
Symbolism
Symbolism of Salt: In biblical and literary contexts, salt often symbolizes permanence,
purification, or preservation. Lot's wife becoming a pillar of salt symbolizes her fixation on the
past and serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of dwelling on worldly attachments
rather than heeding divine warnings.
The transformation of Lot's wife into a pillar of salt symbolizes several concepts:
● Irreversibility: Once transformed, the pillar of salt is static and unchanging, symbolizing
the irreversible consequences of her disobedience.
● Stagnation: Salt can be seen as a symbol of stagnation or being stuck in a particular
state, suggesting that dwelling on the past can lead to a state of immobility or emotional
paralysis.
● Purification or Preservation: Salt can also symbolize purification or preservation,
hinting at the idea that her fate serves as a preserved lesson or warning for future
generations about the dangers of disobedience and attachment to worldly things.
Lot's Wife:Lot's wife symbolizes human frailty, disobedience, and the consequences of looking
back on the past despite divine warnings. She represents the conflict between personal
attachments and higher moral or spiritual imperatives. Her decision to look back at Sodom
symbolizes a longing for the familiar comforts of her past life, even at the expense of obedience
and safety.
Alliteration
Examples include "fleet feet" and "cozy home," enhancing the rhythm and sound of the poem.
Themes:
1. Disobedience and Consequences: The central theme revolves around disobedience to
divine command and the severe consequences that follow.
2. Loss and Regret: It explores the loss of home, family, and life due to a single act of
looking back.
3. Memory and Remembrance: The speaker reflects on the enduring memory of Lot's
wife, suggesting empathy and recognition for her tragic choice.
4. Fate and Destiny: The poem contemplates the predetermined fate and destiny of
individuals as dictated by higher powers.
5. Nostalgia and Longing