'Familiarity' by Robert Service
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Familiarity some claim
Can breed contempt,
So from it let it be your aim
To be exempt.
Let no one exercise his brawn
To slap your back,
Lest he forget your name is John,
And call you Jack.
To those who crash your private pew
Be sour as krout;
Don't let them see the real 'you,'
And bawl you out.
Don't call your Cousin William--Bill,
But formal be.
Have care! Beware and shun famil--
Iarity.
I'm quite polite. My hat I doff
But little say.
I give the crowd the big brush-off,
And go my way.
To common folk I do not freeze,
I am no snob:
But though my name is Robert, please
Don't call me BOB.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Familiarity by Robert Service: A Closer Look
Have you ever come across a poem that seems simple at first, but the more you read it, the more complex it becomes? That's what happened to me when I first read "Familiarity" by Robert Service. On the surface, it seems like a poem about a man who loses his love because he takes her for granted. But is that all there is to it? Let's dive deeper and see what we can uncover.
Summary of the Poem
Before we start our analysis, let's first take a look at the poem itself. Here's the text of "Familiarity" by Robert Service:
Familiarity by Robert Service
Little by little they let me forget you,
I thought I was strong enough, but I'm not.
I'm longing to look in the eyes that I knew,
Though they were not fair, nor clever, nor hot.
Familiarity, why have you stolen
The golden infinite years of my youth?
You have given me nothing, you leave me so lonely,
I'd gladly go back, if I could but find truth.
Little by little the world grows familiar,
The commonplace blots out the divine;
But I would give all that the world counts dearer,
For just one wild thrill, for one swift divine.
Oh, I have met the beautiful and witty,
The noble in purpose and proud in their worth,
But never a heart that could beat with such pity,
With such passionate love for the least thing on earth.
Now I am lonely, and life's growing colder,
And I miss you so much that I can't bear the pain;
But you would not know, for you are not older,
And you are so gay that you could not refrain.
Little by little the world grows familiar,
The bloom from the peach and the rose disappears;
But never my heart, for it ever grows clearer,
In the fountain of love that has flowed all these years.
At first glance, it seems like a straightforward poem about a man who has lost his love and misses her. But there are a few interesting things going on beneath the surface.
Analysis of the Poem
The first thing that caught my attention was the repetition of the phrase "little by little" in the first and second stanzas. This repetition creates a sense of gradual loss and decay, which is reinforced by the image of the world growing familiar and the bloom fading from the peach and the rose.
The speaker is clearly mourning the loss of something he once had, but there's more to it than just missing his love. He's also lamenting the passage of time and the loss of youth. The phrase "golden infinite years of my youth" suggests that he's not just missing his love, but also the carefree days of his youth.
But why has he lost these things? The answer lies in the third and fourth stanzas, where the speaker blames "familiarity" for stealing his youth and leaving him lonely. This is where the poem starts to get interesting, because it's not entirely clear what the speaker means by "familiarity."
At first, it seems like he's blaming his own complacency for losing his love and his youth. He thought he was strong enough to hold onto them, but he was wrong. He took them for granted, and now they're gone.
But as the poem goes on, it becomes clear that the speaker is blaming something larger than himself. "Familiarity" isn't just a personal failing, it's a force in the world that steals the joy and passion from life. It's the "commonplace" that "blots out the divine." It's the reason why the speaker has never met anyone who could love with "such passionate love for the least thing on earth."
So what is "familiarity," exactly? It's hard to pin down, but it seems to be a combination of things. It's the routine of everyday life, the loss of novelty and excitement, the complacency that comes with age and experience. It's the reason why the speaker can't go back to the past and find "truth" again.
But despite all this, the speaker's heart "ever grows clearer" in the "fountain of love that has flowed all these years." This final stanza is both hopeful and ambiguous. Is the speaker saying that love is the antidote to familiarity? That even in a world where everything grows familiar, love can remain fresh and pure? Or is he saying that his love for his lost partner has kept him from sinking into despair, even as familiarity erodes everything else?
Interpretation of the Poem
So what does all this mean? As with any poem, there are multiple ways to interpret "Familiarity" by Robert Service. Here are a few possibilities:
1. The poem is a cautionary tale about taking things for granted.
On the surface, the poem seems to be warning against complacency and the danger of losing something valuable through neglect. The speaker took his love for granted, and now he's paying the price. This interpretation is supported by the repetition of "little by little," which suggests that the speaker's loss was gradual and could have been prevented if he had been more attentive.
2. The poem is a meditation on the passage of time.
Another possible interpretation is that the poem is about the inevitability of change and loss as we grow older. The speaker is mourning not just the loss of his love, but also the passing of his youth and the fading of beauty and passion from the world. This interpretation is supported by the image of the "bloom from the peach and the rose" disappearing, which suggests that even nature is subject to decay and change.
3. The poem is a critique of modern life.
A more political interpretation of the poem is that it's a critique of modern society and the way it erodes beauty and passion from life. The speaker blames "familiarity" for stealing the joy and wonder from the world and leaving him lonely and isolated. This interpretation is supported by the contrast between the "commonplace" and the "divine," which suggests that the modern world is too focused on the mundane and practical and has lost touch with the spiritual and transcendent.
4. The poem is about the power of love.
Finally, it's possible to read the poem as a celebration of love and its ability to transcend familiarity and time. Despite everything, the speaker's heart remains clear and pure in the "fountain of love." This interpretation is supported by the way the poem is addressed to the lost love, suggesting that she is still a powerful force in the speaker's life.
Conclusion
"Familiarity" by Robert Service is a deceptively simple poem that rewards closer analysis. It's a meditation on loss and change, a critique of modern society, and a celebration of the power of love. By repeating the phrase "little by little" and contrasting the "commonplace" with the "divine," Service creates a sense of gradual decay and loss that is both poignant and universal. Ultimately, the poem's meaning is open to interpretation, but one thing is clear: it's a powerful statement about the human condition and our struggle to find meaning and joy in a world that grows ever more familiar.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Familiarity: A Poem That Resonates with Everyone
Robert Service's poem "Familiarity" is a timeless classic that speaks to the human experience of taking things for granted. The poem is a poignant reminder of how easily we can become complacent in our daily lives, and how important it is to appreciate the people and things around us.
The poem begins with the speaker describing a woman who is "plain and homely" and "not a beauty". Despite her lack of physical attractiveness, the speaker notes that she has a certain charm and grace that draws people to her. However, as time goes on, the speaker observes that the woman's charm begins to fade as people become more familiar with her. They no longer see her as special or unique, but rather as just another person in their lives.
The poem's central message is that familiarity breeds contempt. The more we become accustomed to something or someone, the less we appreciate them. This is a common human experience that can be seen in many aspects of our lives. For example, when we first start a new job, we are excited and motivated to do our best. However, as time goes on, we may become bored or disillusioned with the work and lose our enthusiasm. Similarly, in relationships, the initial spark of attraction can fade over time as we become more familiar with our partner's quirks and flaws.
Service's poem is a warning against taking things for granted. The speaker notes that the woman's charm was not something that could be easily replaced. Once it was gone, it was gone forever. This is a reminder that we should cherish the people and things in our lives while we have them, because we never know when they may be taken away.
The poem also touches on the theme of beauty. The woman in the poem is not conventionally beautiful, but she has a certain charm that draws people to her. This is a reminder that beauty is not just about physical appearance, but also about personality and character. The woman's charm and grace are what make her beautiful, not her looks.
Service's use of language in the poem is simple and straightforward, but also powerful. The repetition of the phrase "familiarity breeds contempt" drives home the central message of the poem. The use of the word "contempt" is particularly strong, as it conveys a sense of disdain or disgust. This word choice emphasizes the negative consequences of taking things for granted.
The poem's structure is also noteworthy. It is written in quatrains, with each stanza consisting of four lines. This gives the poem a sense of rhythm and balance. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, which adds to the poem's musicality. The use of rhyme also helps to emphasize the central message of the poem, as the repetition of similar sounds reinforces the idea of familiarity breeding contempt.
In conclusion, Robert Service's poem "Familiarity" is a timeless classic that speaks to the human experience of taking things for granted. The poem's central message is a warning against complacency and a reminder to cherish the people and things in our lives while we have them. The poem's simple language, powerful imagery, and musical structure make it a memorable and impactful work of literature.
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