'from The Tenth Elegy' by Rainer Maria Rilke
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Ah, but the City of Pain: how strange its streets are:
the false silence of sound drowning sound,
and there--proud, brazen, effluence from the mold of emptiness--
the gilded hubbub, the bursting monument.
How an Angel would stamp out their market of solaces,
set up alongside their church bought to order:
clean and closed and woeful as a post office on Sunday.
Outside, though, there's always the billowing edge of the fair.
Swings of Freedom! High-divers and Jugglers of Zeal!
And the shooting gallery with its figures of idiot Happiness
which jump, quiver, and fall with a tinny ring
whenever some better marksman scores. Onward he lurches from cheers
to chance; for booths courting each curious taste
are drumming and barking. And then--for adults only--
a special show: how money breeds, its anatomy, not some charade:
money's genitals, everything, the whole act
from beginning to end--educational and guaranteed to make you
virile . . . . . . . . .
. . . . Oh, but just beyond that,
behind the last of the billboards, plastered with signs for "Deathless,"
that bitter beer which tastes sweet to those drinking it
as long as they have fresh distractions to chew . . . ,
just beyond those boards, just on the other side: things are real.
Children play, lovers hold each other, off in the shadows,
pensive, on the meager grass, while dogs obey nature.
The youth is drawn farther on; perhaps he's fallen in love
with a young Lament . . . . . He pursues her, enters meadowland.
She says:
"It's a long way. We live out there . . ."
Where? And the youth follows.
Something in her bearing stirs him. Her shoulders, neck--,
perhaps she's of noble descent. Still, he leaves her, turns around,
glances back, waves . . . What's the use? She's a Lament.
Translated by Edward Snow
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Tenth Elegy by Rainer Maria Rilke: A Deep Dive into the Human Condition
Oh wow, where do I even begin with this masterpiece? The Tenth Elegy by Rainer Maria Rilke is a poem that is both hauntingly beautiful and deeply philosophical. It speaks to the very essence of what it means to be human, to long for something greater than ourselves, and to grapple with the fleeting nature of life.
Context and Structure
But before we dive into the intricacies of the poem itself, let's talk a bit about the context in which it was written. Rilke was a German poet who lived from 1875 to 1926, a time of great upheaval and change in Europe. He wrote in the aftermath of World War I, a time when people were grappling with the horrors of war and the disillusionment that followed.
The Tenth Elegy is part of a larger work called The Duino Elegies, which Rilke began writing in 1912 but didn't complete until 1922. The Duino Elegies are a series of ten poems that explore themes such as love, death, and the human condition. The Tenth Elegy, in particular, delves into the idea of longing and how it shapes our lives.
The poem is structured as a series of questions and answers, with the speaker posing questions to an unknown entity and then attempting to answer them himself. This structure adds to the philosophical nature of the poem, as the speaker is constantly questioning and seeking answers.
Analysis
So let's dive into the poem itself. The opening lines set the tone for the entire elegy:
Why, if this interval of being can be spent serenely in the form of a laurel, slightly darker than all other green, with tiny waves on the edges of every leaf (like the smile of a breeze)—: why then have to be human—and, escaping from fate, keep longing for fate? ...
Right away, we are confronted with the idea that life can be lived serenely, like a laurel tree, and yet humans choose to escape this fate and long for something more. The use of the word "fate" here is interesting, as it suggests that there is a predetermined course for our lives, and yet we still long for something beyond that.
The speaker goes on to ask why we are "fascinated by the worst and most fatal?" This is a question that has troubled philosophers for centuries. Why are humans drawn to darkness and death, even when it is not in our best interest?
The answer, according to the speaker, is that it is our longing that drives us. We long for something beyond ourselves, something greater than our mortal lives. This longing is what makes us human:
But secretly, our being remains inconsolable within us. It longs for the Infinite. When it reaches the end of the narrow arc of existence, it has a sense of stillness in which there is nothing it can do but love.
The idea of being "inconsolable" is a powerful one. It suggests that no matter what we do, we will always be longing for something more. And yet, this longing is what gives our lives meaning. It is what drives us to create, to love, and to connect with others.
The speaker goes on to describe the pain of this longing:
The way a man might die from the truth that lies beyond truth, the way he might die of his feelings for the daughter of a neighbor who died long ago, such is the way we die from our own reality.
Here, the speaker is suggesting that the truth of our existence is too much for us to bear. We long for something greater, but when we confront the reality of our lives, we are overwhelmed by the weight of it. The metaphor of a man dying from his feelings for a neighbor's daughter is a powerful one, as it suggests that our longing can be both beautiful and tragic.
The elegy ends on a note of hope, however. The speaker suggests that even though our longing may be painful, it is ultimately what gives our lives meaning:
And they are right, who, with love and patience, stand by the inconsolable, and do not abandon him, even if he remains silent for years.
Here, the speaker is suggesting that we should embrace our longing, even if it is painful. We should stand by it and not abandon it, for it is what makes us human. The use of the word "inconsolable" here suggests that our longing can never be fully satisfied, but that we should embrace it anyway.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Tenth Elegy by Rainer Maria Rilke is a powerful exploration of the human condition. It speaks to the idea that we long for something beyond ourselves, something greater and more meaningful than our mortal lives. This longing can be both beautiful and tragic, but it is ultimately what gives our lives meaning.
The poem is filled with powerful metaphors and imagery, and its structure as a series of questions and answers adds to its philosophical nature. Rilke was a masterful poet, and The Tenth Elegy is a testament to his skill and insight.
As humans, we will always be longing for something more. We will always be in search of the Infinite. But as the speaker suggests, it is our longing that makes us human, and we should embrace it, even when it is painful. For it is our longing that gives our lives meaning.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Tenth Elegy by Rainer Maria Rilke is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a beautiful and thought-provoking piece of literature that explores the human condition and the nature of love. In this analysis, we will delve deep into the poem and explore its themes, symbolism, and imagery.
The poem begins with the speaker contemplating the nature of love. He describes it as a force that is both beautiful and terrifying. Love, he says, is something that we cannot control, and it can often lead us down paths that we never intended to take. The speaker then goes on to describe the different ways in which love can manifest itself in our lives.
One of the most striking aspects of this poem is its use of symbolism. The speaker uses a variety of symbols to represent different aspects of love. For example, he describes love as a "great star" that shines down on us from above. This image is both beautiful and powerful, and it suggests that love is something that is beyond our control.
Another symbol that the speaker uses is that of the "dark forest." He describes love as a journey through this forest, where we are constantly surrounded by darkness and uncertainty. This image is particularly powerful because it suggests that love is not always easy or straightforward. It can be a difficult and challenging journey, but it is one that is ultimately worth taking.
Throughout the poem, the speaker also uses a variety of metaphors to describe love. For example, he describes love as a "wild beast" that we must learn to tame. This metaphor suggests that love is something that is powerful and untamed, but it is also something that we can learn to control and harness.
Another metaphor that the speaker uses is that of the "invisible thread." He describes love as a thread that connects us to the people we love, even when we are far apart. This image is particularly poignant because it suggests that love is something that transcends distance and time.
One of the most interesting aspects of this poem is the way in which the speaker explores the relationship between love and death. He suggests that love is something that can help us to overcome our fear of death. He describes love as a force that can give us the courage to face our mortality and to embrace life to the fullest.
Overall, The Tenth Elegy is a beautiful and powerful poem that explores the nature of love and the human condition. It is a timeless piece of literature that continues to resonate with readers today. Whether you are a fan of poetry or simply interested in exploring the complexities of the human experience, this poem is definitely worth reading.
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