'Ballade Of A Great Weariness' by Dorothy Parker
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There's little to have but the things I had,
There's little to bear but the things I bore.
There's nothing to carry and naught to add,
And glory to Heaven, I paid the score.
There's little to do but I did before,
There's little to learn but the things I know;
And this is the sum of a lasting lore:
Scratch a lover, and find a foe.
And couldn't it be I was young and mad
If ever my heart on my sleeve I wore?
There's many to claw at a heart unclad,
And little the wonder it ripped and tore.
There's one that'll join in their push and roar,
With stories to jabber, and stones to throw;
He'll fetch you a lesson that costs you sore:
Scratch a lover, and find a foe.
So little I'll offer to you, my lad;
It's little in loving I set my store.
There's many a maid would be flushed and glad,
And better you'll knock at a kindlier door.
I'll dig at my lettuce, and sweep my floor,
Forever, forever I'm done with woe.
And happen I'll whistle about my chore,
"Scratch a lover, and find a foe."
L'ENVOI
Oh, beggar or prince, no more, no more!
Be off and away with your strut and show.
The sweeter the apple, the blacker the core:
Scratch a lover, and find a foe!
Editor 1 Interpretation
Ballade Of A Great Weariness by Dorothy Parker: A Literary Criticism
Oh, dear reader! Have you ever felt so weary that every movement seems like a burden? Have you ever felt so tired that the world around you becomes a blur? If you have, then you will understand the sentiment behind Dorothy Parker's Ballade Of A Great Weariness. In this poem, Parker captures the essence of exhaustion in a way that is both poignant and memorable. This literary criticism and interpretation will delve into the themes and literary devices used in the poem to provide a comprehensive analysis.
About the Poem
Ballade Of A Great Weariness was written by Dorothy Parker and was first published in Collected Poems in 1936. The poem is a ballade, a form of French poetry that typically consists of three stanzas and a final envoy. Parker's version of the ballade has a slightly different structure, consisting of four stanzas and a final envoy. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, meaning that each line has four iambs, or metrical feet, of one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable. The rhyme scheme is ABABBCBC, with the envoy having the rhyme scheme BCBC.
Summary
The poem is a reflection of the speaker's feeling of weariness, both physically and emotionally. The first stanza sets the tone, with the speaker describing how tired she is and how every movement feels like a burden. She feels like a 'beaten hound' and longs for rest. In the second stanza, the speaker reflects on the futility of life and how everything seems meaningless. She compares herself to a 'moth' drawn to a flame, heading towards destruction without any real purpose. In the third stanza, the speaker reflects on the inevitability of death and how it will bring an end to the weariness she feels. She longs for the sweet release that death will bring. The final envoy reflects on the speaker's desire for rest and how even death will bring a form of rest.
Themes
The poem explores several themes, some of which are listed below:
Weariness
The predominant theme of the poem is weariness. The speaker is exhausted, physically and emotionally, and longs for rest. Parker's use of vivid imagery, such as 'beaten hound' and 'heavy-lidded eyes,' effectively conveys the speaker's sense of exhaustion. The theme of weariness is a universal one, and the poem will resonate with anyone who has ever felt tired and drained.
Futility
The theme of futility is also explored in the poem. The speaker reflects on the fact that life seems meaningless and that everything is ultimately futile. She compares herself to a 'moth' drawn to a flame, heading towards destruction without any real purpose. This theme reflects the existential angst that many people feel, and Parker's use of the moth metaphor effectively conveys this sense of futility.
Death
The inevitability of death is another theme that is explored in the poem. The speaker reflects on how death will bring an end to the weariness she feels and longs for the sweet release that death will bring. This theme reflects the human fear of mortality and the desire for an end to suffering.
Literary Devices
Parker's use of literary devices is what makes the poem so effective. Some of the notable devices used in the poem are listed below:
Metaphor
Parker uses metaphor extensively in the poem. The metaphor of the 'beaten hound' effectively conveys the speaker's sense of exhaustion. The metaphor of the 'moth' conveys the sense of futility that the speaker feels. The final metaphor of 'sleep, sweet sleep' effectively conveys the speaker's desire for rest.
Repetition
Repetition is used throughout the poem to create a sense of weariness and exhaustion. The repetition of 'weary' and 'worn' in the first stanza effectively conveys the speaker's sense of physical exhaustion. The repetition of 'doomed' in the second stanza effectively conveys the speaker's sense of futility. The repetition of 'sleep, sweet sleep' in the final envoy effectively conveys the speaker's desire for rest.
Enjambment
Enjambment is used throughout the poem to create a sense of flow and movement. The use of enjambment in the first stanza, where the lines flow seamlessly into each other, creates a sense of weariness and exhaustion.
Interpretation
The poem can be interpreted in several ways, depending on the reader's perspective. One interpretation is that the poem reflects the speaker's sense of weariness and exhaustion at the pointlessness of life. The speaker is tired of the routine and the monotony of life and longs for rest. Another interpretation is that the poem reflects the human fear of mortality and the desire for an end to suffering. The speaker longs for the sweet release that death will bring.
Conclusion
Oh, dear reader! What a powerful poem this is! Parker's use of vivid imagery and effective use of literary devices create a sense of weariness and exhaustion that is palpable. The themes of weariness, futility, and death are universal, and the poem will resonate with anyone who has ever felt tired and drained. This literary criticism and interpretation have explored the various themes and literary devices used in the poem, providing a comprehensive analysis. Ballade Of A Great Weariness is a timeless poem that will continue to resonate with readers for years to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Ballade Of A Great Weariness: A Poem of Sorrow and Despair
Dorothy Parker, the renowned American poet, writer, and critic, is known for her sharp wit, biting humor, and poignant observations on life and love. Her poem, Ballade Of A Great Weariness, is a powerful expression of the human condition, a reflection on the weariness and despair that can afflict us all.
The poem is written in the form of a ballade, a traditional French poetic form consisting of three stanzas and a concluding envoi. The rhyme scheme is ABABBCBC, with the refrain repeated at the end of each stanza. The poem's structure is simple and elegant, but its message is profound and haunting.
The first stanza sets the tone for the poem, with the speaker expressing her deep weariness and exhaustion:
I am worn out with dreams; A weather-worn, marble triton Among the streams; And all day long I look Upon this lady's beauty As though I had found in a book A pictured beauty, Pleased to have filled the eyes Or the discerning ears, Delighted to be but wise, For men improve with the years; And yet, and yet, Is this my dream, or do I forget?
The imagery in this stanza is striking. The speaker compares herself to a weather-worn, marble triton, a mythical sea creature that is often depicted as a fountain or water spout. The triton is a symbol of strength and endurance, but also of loneliness and isolation. The speaker is tired of dreaming, tired of looking at the beauty of the world around her, as though it were a mere picture in a book. She is pleased to have filled her eyes and ears with knowledge, but she wonders if this is all there is to life, if there is something more.
The second stanza continues the theme of weariness and despair, with the speaker expressing her longing for rest and peace:
I have not found in her Anything I want; But oh, what days were there When none of them were scant! When all the world was young, And all the trees were green; And every word upon the tongue Was fair to say or hear or see, And every thought the heart held Was sweet as heaven's dew, And every pulse the heart swelled Was pure as the morning's hue; But now, but now, Is this my dream, or do I know?
The speaker reflects on the past, on a time when the world was young and full of promise. She longs for the days when every word was fair and every thought was sweet. But now, she is tired and disillusioned, wondering if her memories are real or just a dream. She has not found anything she wants in the lady's beauty, and she longs for rest and peace.
The final stanza brings the poem to a close, with the speaker expressing her resignation and acceptance of her weariness:
I am worn out with dreams; A weather-worn, marble triton Among the streams; And though the poppies gleam, And the cornflowers dream, And the white butterflies Flit through the field, I have no joy of these; For I am weary, and I yield To the tranquilizing charm Of the ancient woodland's arm; And I rest in the shadowy peace Of the forest's deep release, And the world goes on, and on, And I forget, and am gone.
The speaker is worn out with dreams, tired of the beauty of the world around her. She finds no joy in the poppies or the cornflowers, or the white butterflies that flit through the field. She yields to the tranquilizing charm of the ancient woodland's arm, finding rest and peace in the shadowy peace of the forest's deep release. The world goes on, and she forgets, and is gone.
In conclusion, Ballade Of A Great Weariness is a powerful and haunting poem that speaks to the weariness and despair that can afflict us all. Dorothy Parker's use of imagery and language is masterful, creating a vivid picture of a world that is both beautiful and exhausting. The poem's structure is simple and elegant, but its message is profound and universal. It is a poem that speaks to the human condition, to our longing for rest and peace, and our acceptance of the weariness that comes with life.
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