The identity of Lucy in William Wordsworth’s "Lucy Poems" is a mystery that has intrigued scholars and poetry enthusiasts alike since the publication of the collection. While it is known that these poems were written during a short period when Wordsworth lived in Germany, he never gave any insight into the possible identity of the titular maiden.
Over the years, scholars have proposed many theories. While the speaker seems to feel romantic love for Lucy, some believe that Lucy actually represents Wordsworth’s beloved sister, Dorothy. Wordsworth and his sister were separated during their youth upon their parents’ death, but they were reunited again as adults and lived together from 1797 until Wordsworth’s death in 1850. The Wordsworth siblings shared a deep friendship, and Dorothy—being a writer herself—understood her brother’s passions and was a key figure in his circle of literary friends.
Other scholars have suggested that Lucy is modeled on Wordsworth’s childhood sweetheart and eventual wife, Mary Hutchinson. Love letters discovered by scholars in 1978 exchanged between the poet and his wife revealed that they had had a very affectionate marriage during which Wordsworth wrote poems about her. However, prior to his marriage, Wordsworth had a love affair with a French woman named Annette Vallon during his time in France. This relationship led to the birth of their daughter, Caroline. Time and distance would keep the lovers apart, and Wordsworth would only see Annette and Caroline together once—when his daughter was already grown—just prior to his marriage to Hutchinson. Nonetheless, it is not widely believed that the Lucy figure is based on Vallon.
One of the most commonly accepted theories is that Lucy is an abstract representation of the poet’s muse—perhaps even inspired by the various women in his life. By projecting his dreams, thoughts, and deepest fears on the figure of Lucy, Wordsworth may have been using her character as a literary device and as the embodiment of Romantic ideals.
