The Annotated Edition
Bermudas by Andrew Marvell
Read aloud in ~1 min
A small boat filled with Puritan exiles rows across the ocean, singing a hymn of gratitude to God for leading them to the Bermudas—a paradise-like island, far removed from the religious persecution they faced in England.
- Poet
- Andrew Marvell
- Themes
- exile, faith, freedom
§01Quick summary
What this poem is about
A small boat filled with Puritan exiles rows across the ocean, singing a hymn of gratitude to God for leading them to the Bermudas—a paradise-like island, far removed from the religious persecution they faced in England. Marvell envisions the island as a new Eden, abundant with fruit, jewels, and safety, all seen as gifts from a benevolent God. The poem serves as both a prayer and a celebration of discovering freedom through faith.
§02Themes
Recurring themes
§03Tone & mood
How this poem feels
The tone is joyful and devout, accompanied by a steady, hymn-like rhythm that echoes the oars splashing through the water. There’s no hint of anxiety or doubt—the speakers are confident in God's favor. However, beneath the celebration lies a subtle edge of defiance: the rowers are singing *because* they have escaped something brutal, and that contrast adds depth to their joy.
§04Symbols & metaphors
Symbols & metaphors
- The Bermudas
- The islands represent a divinely prepared refuge—a New Eden or Promised Land where the faithful can worship freely. They are real places that faith has transformed into sacred spaces.
- The small boat
- The rowing boat symbolizes the Puritan community: small and vulnerable, yet guided by God's purpose as it navigates a vast and indifferent ocean.
- Fruit (oranges, figs, melons)
- The variety of exotic fruit brings to mind the Garden of Eden and the biblical Promised Land. Each piece of fruit symbolizes God's care, serving as a reminder of his provision for his people.
- The prelate's rage
- This phrase captures the long history of religious persecution that the exiles have escaped. It serves as the shadow that gives meaning to the island's light — paradise stands out as paradise only because of the memory of oppression.
- The gospel's pearl
- Inspired by the parable of the pearl of great price in Matthew 13, this symbol highlights the poem's deeper meaning: the exiles are not merely seeking their own salvation; they are bringing genuine faith to a new world.
- The song / hymn
- The act of singing while rowing holds a deeper meaning—it elevates hard work to a form of worship and makes a sea journey feel like a sacred procession. The song serves as both a prayer and a testament.
§05Historical context
Historical context
Andrew Marvell wrote "Bermudas" around 1653, likely drawing inspiration from his friendship with John Oxenbridge, a Puritan minister who had fled to the Bermudas twice to escape persecution under Archbishop Laud in the 1630s. Laud’s strict enforcement of Anglican conformity pushed many Puritans to seek refuge in the Atlantic colonies. The Bermudas, in particular, were seen as a providential sanctuary — Shakespeare had already turned the islands into a myth in *The Tempest*. Marvell was writing during the Interregnum, a time after the Civil War had led to the downfall of Charles I, so the poem reflects on persecution that had, by 1653, technically ended — giving it a reflective, almost elegiac tone along with its celebratory aspects. The poem is part of a broader 17th-century tradition that envisioned the New World as a place of spiritual renewal and divine promise.
§06FAQ
Questions readers ask
A group of Puritan exiles is rowing a small boat while singing a hymn together. They express their gratitude to God for bringing them safely to the Bermudas, which they see as a beautiful paradise filled with fruit, far removed from the religious persecution they faced in England.
They are English Puritans who escaped to the Bermudas in the 1630s to avoid Archbishop Laud's repression of non-conformist worship. Marvell's friend John Oxenbridge made this journey twice and is believed to have inspired the poem.
A prelate is a senior church official, and the phrase refers specifically to Archbishop William Laud, who imposed strict Anglican conformity and punished or imprisoned Puritan dissenters. The term "Rage" reflects both his legal authority and the harsh reality experienced by those who faced his actions.
Because the singers view it this way. For those escaping oppression, a safe and fertile island seems like a blessing from above. Marvell weaves in biblical imagery — the Promised Land, Eden, manna in the wilderness — to illustrate how faith alters the way his characters perceive the physical world.
The poem uses iambic tetrameter couplets, creating a steady, rowing-like beat. This rhythm isn't just a coincidence — the consistent pulse of the lines reflects the oars gliding through water, aligning the form with the content.
No. The final stanza shows that Marvell is observing from the outside — he talks about the rowers in the third person and refers to it as their song. As a sympathetic observer rather than a participant, he lends the poem a somewhat detached, literary feel.
Like "To His Coy Mistress" and "The Garden," "Bermudas" reflects Marvell's tendency to take a specific physical setting and infuse it with philosophical or spiritual significance. He explores how people project their inner experiences onto the landscapes around them.
Yes, quietly but firmly. The mention of the "prelate's rage" directly critiques the Anglican establishment's persecution of dissenters. Writing during the Interregnum, Marvell reflects on a recent, painful chapter in English religious history, and the poem affirms the Puritan experience of exile as divinely sanctioned.
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