Scottish traditional ballads contain some of the most haunting and beautiful poetry ever composed. From 1500 to 1765, some of the authors of the poem are anonymous, which makes it even more surprising. In this time period, society operates in a feudal system containing many divisions of rank and power. Kings, lords, and knights live lives of luxury and leisure, while those of lower rank such as sailors and peasants have a duty to obey the higher ranks, even die for them. The ballad, "Sir Patrick Spens", portrays various types of power involving the forces of nature, the king, the knight and the captain Sir Patrick Spens. In the first stanza the audience meets the mighty king, who “sits in the city of Dumferling, /Drinking the blood-red wine” (1-2). Kings sit on thrones and hold court, but apparently this king occupies the entire city, signifying how places identify with powerful political figures. The blood-red wine is found at the beginning of the ballad and foreshadows the king's imprudent decisions, which result in the deaths of innocent people. He rules as if he doesn't care about the his p...