Patricide in the First Degree

"Edward" by Anonymous

"Edward" describes a deranged man murdering his father after being advised by his mother.  Edward did not wish to kill his father.  This much can be seen in the first two stanzas when his mother asks why his sword is bloodied, and Edward states, "I have killed my hawk so good, and I had no more but he," and, "I have killed my red-roan steed, that once was so fair and free," (Anonymous 977).  Edward compares his father to a precious hawk and a fair, free steed to emphasize his self-disgust at having killed a man he cared for very much.  Edward also inveighs against his mother for convincing him to kill his father.  This verbal assault, showing what Edward has done and why, manifests at the two most climactic points in the poem: stanzas three and seven.  In stanza three, Edward reveals explicitly, "I have killed my father dear, alas, and woe is me," (Anonymous 978).  This first climax in the poem solidifies the image of Edward as penitent and distraught over his mother's commanded actions.  The second climax displays Edward's inner rage.  In the seventh stanza, speaking to his mother, Edward says, "The curse of hell from me shall ye bear, such counsels you gave to me," (Anonymous 978).  The counsels he speaks of are his mother's homicidal urgings, the motivation behind Edward's horrendous act.   For these counsels, Edward damns his mother to hell, distancing himself completely from her and the evil he has committed.