Final answer:
The poetry lines suggest that Deborah feels trapped and dissatisfied with her marriage to T-Ray. The contrast between her emotional state and the imagery of nature represents her yearning for freedom and the suffocating nature of her marital situation. The hope of a Quaker to help bury Hugh also underscores a possible escape from her oppressive life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The lines of poetry regarding Deborah's marriage to T-Ray reveal a profound sense of despondency and discontent. As depicted in the lines, Deborah is illustrated as someone who is emotionally detached and saddened by her marriage. The reference to Deborah leaning against the iron bars reflects a sense of imprisonment or constraint, suggesting that her marriage lacks freedom and is suffocating.
The 'fierce discontent' fading into 'a pitiful, humble quiet' indicates a resignation to her circumstances, implying a lack of joy or love in the marriage. The surrounding environment, particularly the hills and the light, signifies hope and freedom, contrasting sharply with her current situation. This dichotomy between her inner turmoil and the external serenity underscores the stifling nature of her marriage with T-Ray.
Moreover, the vivid use of nature-heavy imagery in the text further accentuates the constraints of Deborah's marriage. The free air and warm light are symbolic of the life and vibrancy that Deborah's marriage lacks. When a Quaker offers to lay to rest the body of Hugh in an area where the 'winds of God blow all the day', it symbolizes a compassionate reprieve from the stifling life Deborah experiences.
Finally, the metaphor of Deborah turning her face to the sky suggests a longing for liberation and a connection to something greater and more ethereal than her oppressive marriage.