In James Joyce’s “The Dead,” the mention of “The Lass of Aughrim” raises questions about the use of the word “will” in a particular verse of the song.
The ballad “The Lass of Aughrim” is an Irish adaptation of the Scottish ballad “The Lass of Roch Royal,” which tells the story of a young woman seeking entry for herself and her child into the home of her lover, Lord Gregory.
Various interpretations of Lord Gregory’s character exist, with some viewing him as a “lover” and others as a “civilized seducer” or even a perpetrator of “date rape.”
The ballad, first documented in the 1700s but not published until much later, depicts a narrative where Lord Gregory’s mother deceives the young woman and turns her away, leading to a series of dramatic events.
The use of the word “will” in the ballad signifies sexual desire, with historical references dating back to Old English texts and later deemed “obsolete” by the Oxford English Dictionary.
An example from an 18th-century English translation of “Don Quixote” further illustrates the usage of “will” in a similar context of desire and obligation.
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