The Forsaken Merman (Matthew Arnold)

In the poem, Arnold describes a particular couple, a merman and a human being who got married. Living in an enchanted world, they had children. However, one day she heard the bells of the church and decided to return to the real world, leaving behind her children and husband.

Gender Society: 

This poem lets us see how at that moment society can judge a woman who leave her children behind to fulfill her dreams (whatever that may be) even harder than a man. However, at this time this has not changed much. If a woman abandons a child, it is much worse than a man. Consequently, this allows us to know how chauvinist our society was and is.

Religion:

Margaret's main decision to leave was based on religion. She saw a gap between faith and the pagans, and she did not want to lose her soul. For that reason, she went back to church.I would say that Arnold was criticizing a religion, Christianity or paganism.