'The Death Of Marie Toro' by Robert Service

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We're taking Marie Toro to her home in Père-La-Chaise;
We're taking Marie Toro to her last resting-place.
Behold! her hearse is hung with wreaths till everything is hid
Except the blossoms heaping high upon her coffin lid.
A week ago she roamed the street, a draggle and a slut,
A by-word of the Boulevard and everybody's butt;
A week ago she haunted us, we heard her whining cry,
We brushed aside the broken blooms she pestered us to buy;
A week ago she had not where to rest her weary head . . .
But now, oh, follow, follow on, for Marie Toro's dead.

Oh Marie, she was once a queen -- ah yes, a queen of queens.
High-throned above the Carnival she held her splendid sway.
For four-and-twenty crashing hours she knew what glory means,
The cheers of half a million throats, the délire of a day.
Yet she was only one of us, a little sewing-girl,
Though far the loveliest and best of all our laughing band;
Then Fortune beckoned; off she danced, amid the dizzy whirl,
And we who once might kiss her cheek were proud to kiss her hand.
For swiftly as a star she soared; she had her every wish;
We saw her roped with pearls of price, with princes at her call;
And yet, and yet I think her dreams were of the old Boul' Mich',

And yet I'm sure within her heart she loved us best of all.
For one night in the Purple Pig, upon the rue Saint-Jacques,
We laughed and quaffed . . . a limousine came swishing to the door;
Then Raymond Jolicoeur cried out: "It's Queen Marie come back,
In satin clad to make us glad, and witch our hearts once more."
But no, her face was strangely sad, and at the evening's end:
"Dear lads," she said; "I love you all, and when I'm far away,
Remember, oh, remember, little Marie is your friend,
And though the world may lie between, I'm coming back some day."
And so she went, and many a boy who's fought his way to Fame,
Can look back on the struggle of his garret days and bless
The loyal heart, the tender hand, the Providence that came
To him and all in hour of need, in sickness and distress.
Time passed away. She won their hearts in London, Moscow, Rome;
They worshiped her in Argentine, adored her in Brazil;
We smoked our pipes and wondered when she might be coming home,
And then we learned the luck had turned, the things were going ill.
Her health had failed, her beauty paled, her lovers fled away;
And some one saw her in Peru, a common drab at last.
So years went by, and faces changed; our beards were sadly gray,
And Marie Toro's name became an echo of the past.

You know that old and withered man, that derelict of art,
Who for a paltry franc will make a crayon sketch of you?
In slouching hat and shabby cloak he looks and is the part,
A sodden old Bohemian, without a single sou.
A boon companion of the days of Rimbaud and Verlaine,
He broods and broods, and chews the cud of bitter souvenirs;
Beneath his mop of grizzled hair his cheeks are gouged with pain,
The saffron sockets of his eyes are hollowed out with tears.
Well, one night in the D'Harcourt's din I saw him in his place,
When suddenly the door was swung, a woman halted there;
A woman cowering like a dog, with white and haggard face,
A broken creature, bent of spine, a daughter of Despair.
She looked and looked, as to her breast she held some withered bloom;
"Too late! Too late! . . . they all are dead and gone," I heard her say.
And once again her weary eyes went round and round the room;
"Not one of all I used to know . . ." she turned to go away . . .
But quick I saw the old man start: "Ah no!" he cried, "not all.
Oh Marie Toro, queen of queens, don't you remember Paul?"

"Oh Marie, Marie Toro, in my garret next the sky,
Where many a day and night I've crouched with not a crust to eat,
A picture hangs upon the wall a fortune couldn't buy,
A portrait of a girl whose face is pure and angel-sweet."
Sadly the woman looked at him: "Alas! it's true," she said;
"That little maid, I knew her once. It's long ago -- she's dead."
He went to her; he laid his hand upon her wasted arm:
"Oh, Marie Toro, come with me, though poor and sick am I.
For old times' sake I cannot bear to see you come to harm;
Ah! there are memories, God knows, that never, never die. . . ."
"Too late!" she sighed; "I've lived my life of splendor and of shame;
I've been adored by men of power, I've touched the highest height;
I've squandered gold like heaps of dirt -- oh, I have played the game;
I've had my place within the sun . . . and now I face the night.
Look! look! you see I'm lost to hope; I live no matter how . . .
To drink and drink and so forget . . . that's all I care for now."

And so she went her heedless way, and all our help was vain.
She trailed along with tattered shawl and mud-corroded skirt;
She gnawed a crust and slept beneath the bridges of the Seine,
A garbage thing, a composite of alcohol and dirt.
The students learned her story and the cafes knew her well,
The Pascal and the Panthéon, the Sufflot and Vachette;
She shuffled round the tables with the flowers she tried to sell,
A living mask of misery that no one will forget.

And then last week I missed her, and they found her in the street
One morning early, huddled down, for it was freezing cold;
But when they raised her ragged shawl her face was still and sweet;
Some bits of broken bloom were clutched within her icy hold.
That's all. . . . Ah yes, they say that saw: her blue, wide-open eyes
Were beautiful with joy again, with radiant surprise. . . .

A week ago she begged for bread; we've bought for her a stone,
And a peaceful place in Père-La-Chaise where she'll be well alone.
She cost a king his crown, they say; oh, wouldn't she be proud
If she could see the wreaths to-day, the coaches and the crowd!
So follow, follow, follow on with slow and sober tread,
For Marie Toro, gutter waif and queen of queens, is dead.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Death of Marie Toro: A Poem That Captivates with Its Emotion

Have you ever read a poem that stayed with you long after you finished it? A poem that made you think, feel, and question? Robert Service's "The Death of Marie Toro" is such a poem. It's a haunting and powerful work that tells the story of a woman who dies alone in the wilderness. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the themes, imagery, and symbolism of this classic poem and explain why it continues to resonate with readers to this day.

Overview of the Poem

Before we dive into the analysis, let's first understand the basic plot of the poem. "The Death of Marie Toro" is a narrative poem that tells the story of a young woman who leaves her home in search of adventure. She sets out into the wilderness on horseback, but eventually becomes lost and unable to find her way back. She dies alone and is later discovered by a search party. The poem is divided into four stanzas, each with a different tone and focus.

Themes

One of the major themes of the poem is the danger of the wilderness. Marie Toro's death is a stark reminder of the harsh realities of nature and the risks that come with exploring it. Service describes the wilderness as "a land of lost content, / I shall not find again" (1-2), emphasizing the idea that once someone is lost in the wilderness, they may never return.

Another theme of the poem is the isolation of the individual. Marie Toro is alone in the wilderness, with no one to help or comfort her in her final moments. Service describes her as "a lonely ghost, / The phantom of a girl" (17-18), highlighting the sense of loneliness and abandonment that she must have felt.

Finally, the poem touches on the idea of fate and destiny. Marie Toro's death seems almost inevitable, as if it was always meant to happen. Service writes, "Her destiny she met alone; / But met it without fear" (27-28), suggesting that Marie Toro had accepted her fate and was at peace with it.

Imagery

Service's use of imagery is one of the most striking aspects of the poem. He creates vivid and evocative pictures in the reader's mind, painting a picture of the vast and unforgiving wilderness. For example, he describes the landscape as "a land of lone and dreary marches / That stretch beyond the dawn" (3-4), conjuring up an image of endless desolation and emptiness.

Service also uses powerful imagery to convey the sense of isolation and abandonment that Marie Toro must have felt. He writes, "The road was like a ribbon, / And the moonlight seemed to crown / The pass with pale November; / And the rider look'd so lone" (9-12), creating a picture of a solitary figure in the midst of an empty and unforgiving landscape.

Finally, Service's use of imagery also conveys the sense of inevitability and fate that permeates the poem. He writes, "She fought with Death, and met him grinning; / He took her by the hand" (23-24), creating a vivid picture of a woman struggling against an unstoppable force.

Symbolism

Service's use of symbolism is another powerful aspect of the poem. One of the most striking symbols is the horse that Marie Toro is riding. The horse symbolizes her only means of escape, and also represents the fragility of human life in the face of the wilderness. When the horse dies, Marie Toro is left completely alone and helpless.

Another symbol in the poem is the moon. Service writes, "The moon swung low and sinister, / And sneered in her face like Death" (19-20), creating a picture of a hostile and menacing moon. The moon symbolizes the forces of nature that are beyond human control, and also represents the sense of isolation and abandonment that Marie Toro must have felt.

Finally, the search party that eventually finds Marie Toro's body can be seen as a symbol of the forces of civilization that are trying to tame and control the wilderness. Service writes, "They found her by the river's mouth, / The vacuous valley of the South" (30-31), creating a picture of a group of people who are trying to impose order on a chaotic and untamed landscape.

Conclusion

"The Death of Marie Toro" is a powerful and haunting poem that explores themes of danger, isolation, and fate. Service's use of imagery and symbolism creates a vivid and evocative picture of the wilderness, and his masterful storytelling keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end. This poem is a true classic, and it continues to resonate with readers to this day.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Death of Marie Toro: A Poem of Tragedy and Loss

Robert Service, the renowned poet, is known for his ability to capture the essence of human emotions in his works. His poem, The Death of Marie Toro, is a classic example of his mastery of the art of poetry. The poem tells the story of a young woman, Marie Toro, who dies tragically, leaving behind a grieving family and a community in shock. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem to understand the depth of emotion that Service has conveyed.

The poem begins with a description of the setting, a small village in the mountains. The imagery used here is vivid and evocative, painting a picture of a place that is both beautiful and isolated. The use of words like "wilderness," "solitude," and "lonely" creates a sense of foreboding, hinting at the tragedy that is to come. The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, establishing a sense of melancholy and sadness.

The second stanza introduces us to Marie Toro, the protagonist of the poem. Service describes her as a young woman with a "face like a lily," emphasizing her beauty and innocence. The use of the word "lily" is significant, as it is a symbol of purity and grace. This description sets up a contrast between Marie's beauty and the tragedy that is about to befall her.

The third stanza introduces the conflict of the poem. Marie falls in love with a man who is not of her own village, and her family disapproves of the relationship. The use of the word "forbidden" emphasizes the societal norms that are being violated. The conflict between love and tradition is a common theme in literature, and Service handles it with sensitivity and nuance.

The fourth stanza is where the tragedy occurs. Marie's lover is killed in a hunting accident, and she is left alone and heartbroken. The use of the word "sudden" emphasizes the unexpectedness of the event, and the imagery of the "crimson stain" creates a sense of violence and brutality. The death of Marie's lover is the catalyst for the rest of the poem, setting in motion a chain of events that leads to her own demise.

The fifth stanza describes Marie's descent into madness. The use of the word "raving" emphasizes the intensity of her emotions, and the imagery of her "wild eyes" creates a sense of fear and unease. The language used here is powerful and evocative, conveying the depth of Marie's despair.

The sixth stanza is where Marie's death is described. The use of the word "frenzy" emphasizes the violence of her death, and the imagery of the "cliff's sheer brink" creates a sense of danger and peril. The language used here is stark and uncompromising, conveying the finality of Marie's fate.

The final stanza is where the poem reaches its emotional climax. The use of the word "weeping" emphasizes the sadness and grief of the community, and the imagery of the "funeral train" creates a sense of solemnity and reverence. The poem ends with a sense of closure, but also a sense of loss. The death of Marie Toro is a tragedy that has affected not just her family, but the entire community.

In terms of themes, The Death of Marie Toro explores the themes of love, tradition, and tragedy. The conflict between love and tradition is a central theme of the poem, as Marie's love for a man outside of her village is what ultimately leads to her demise. The theme of tragedy is also explored, as the death of Marie's lover sets in motion a chain of events that leads to her own death. The poem is a powerful exploration of the human condition, and the emotions that we all experience in the face of loss and tragedy.

In terms of language, Service's use of imagery is particularly effective. The vivid descriptions of the setting and the characters create a sense of realism that draws the reader into the poem. The use of symbolism, such as the lily and the crimson stain, adds depth and meaning to the poem. The language used to describe Marie's descent into madness and her eventual death is particularly powerful, conveying the intensity of her emotions and the finality of her fate.

In conclusion, The Death of Marie Toro is a classic poem that explores the themes of love, tradition, and tragedy. Service's use of imagery and language is particularly effective, conveying the depth of emotion that the poem evokes. The poem is a powerful exploration of the human condition, and the emotions that we all experience in the face of loss and tragedy.

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