The symbolism of the chains represents the prisoners' bondage. When the eldest of the prisoner's younger brothers died, the chains were removed and his body was given partial freedom. However, he was buried in the cell in a section where the sun would not shine. In this way "even in deaht his freeborn breast / In such a dungeon could not rest." The chains were put over his grave as an ironic monument to his death. In this way, his brother may not be bound by physical chains, but his final resting place would always be in a prison. After the youngest brother's death, the narrator was finally unchained and could roam about the cell as he pleased. Ironically, he was allowed this little bit of freedom after the his only reasons for living had passed. This "compassionate" act of his captors was not really a favor. He had lost everything that was important to him, and the

In the midst of this poor man's despair, a bird had come to visit him, representing hope's grasp on him. He had just finished explaining how nothing existed to him "but silence, and a stirless breath / Which neither was of life or death." Then all of a sudden a sound broke the silence and it was certainly a stirring breath of life. The bird's song had stopped momentarily and then began again because it shows that even though the hope or struggle for freedom can be hindered shortly, it will begin again. The bird's song caused the prisoner to regain his senses that he blocked out. It caused the walls to close in again, reminding the man not to accept to the cell, but to continue to hope for freedom. Both the bird and the island make the man realize that the cell is not where he belongs, and that he should not accept his location and become numb to beauty.

This window was his only portal to the outside world and represented his only portal through which to experience freedom. As he look out of the window, he lost his ability to accept his plight. When his brother had died, he gave up on everything. As far as he was concerned, "there were no stars, no earth, no time, / No check, no change, no good, no crime." But when his curiousity got the better of him, he noticed the beauty of nature and wished for freedom as shown by the "heavy load"

Some common words found in the essay are:
Prisoner Chillon, Lake Leman, hope freedom, Lord Byron's, unable enjoy, bird's song, outside world, accept situation,
Approximate Word count = 913
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)