'HIS WISH TO PRIVACY' by Robert Herrick

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Give me a cell
To dwell,
Where no foot hath
A path;
There will I spend,
And end,
My wearied years
In tears.

Editor 1 Interpretation

HIS WISH TO PRIVACY: AN EXPLORATION OF ROBERT HERRICK'S POETRY

Have you ever stopped to think about the power of privacy? How it can be both a source of comfort and a burden? Robert Herrick's poem "His Wish to Privacy" delves into the complexities of this concept, exploring the desire for seclusion and the consequences that come with it.

Background

Before we dive into the poem itself, let's take a moment to learn about the poet behind it. Robert Herrick was born in London in 1591 and is best known for his poetry, which often explored themes of love, nature, and the passage of time. He lived during a tumultuous period in English history, witnessing the reigns of James I, Charles I, and the English Civil War. It is said that he was a clergyman before turning to poetry, and many of his works have religious undertones.

The Poem

Now, let's turn our attention to "His Wish to Privacy." Here's the poem in full:

Give me a cell,
To dwell,
Where no foot hath
A path;
There will I spend,
And end
My wearied years
In tears.

But O how vain
Is pain!
Not that alone
But grown
With causeless fears,
And cares,
And sorrows more
Than four

Bring me my wine,
Which is divine;
And begone, all you
That do
Whate'er you are
In war:

I covet more
The god
That's poor,
Than all the rest
That are drest
In silver, or in gold,
And hold

In their power
Honour,
Or rule o'er
Peace, or war.

Give me a cell,
To dwell;
Where no foot hath
A path;
And there I'll make
To me alone,
A seat,
When I am gone,
And my dear shade
Shall be laid
Under the ground,
And bound,

To all the woes,
That Mortals know,
Till the sad world
Shall all be fled,

And the unthinking dead
Shall sleep, in rest
As undisturbed, as are

The center of this earth,
As still as death;
As cold as clay;
As wandering as the moon,
As troubleless as the deep,
Or aposentless sleep.

The poem is written in six quatrains, each with an ABAB rhyme scheme. It begins with the speaker's desire for solitude, asking for a "cell" where he can spend his remaining years in peace. He acknowledges the futility of pain, but also the additional burden of "causeless fears, / And cares, / And sorrows more / Than four."

In the third stanza, the speaker calls for wine, which he describes as divine. He then tells those around him to leave, saying "begone, all you / That do / Whate'er you are / In war." This could be interpreted as a rejection of the outside world and all its troubles.

The fourth stanza is perhaps the most interesting. The speaker declares that he "covet[s] more / The god / That's poor, / Than all the rest / That are drest / In silver, or in gold." This seems to suggest that the speaker values simplicity and humility over material wealth and power. He rejects the "honour" and "rule" that come with wealth, instead seeking a more spiritual existence.

The final two stanzas return to the speaker's desire for seclusion. He reiterates his wish for a "cell" where he can make "A seat, / When I am gone, / And my dear shade / Shall be laid / Under the ground." He acknowledges the hardships of mortal life, but suggests that in death, we can find peace and rest.

Analysis

So, what can we make of "His Wish to Privacy"? Let's start with the title. The word "privacy" can mean different things to different people. Some may see it as a luxury, a chance to escape the pressures of the outside world. Others may view it as a burden, a lonely existence without the warmth of human companionship. In this poem, the speaker seems to embody both of these perspectives. He longs for a "cell" where he can be alone, but also acknowledges the pain and fear that can come with solitude.

The repeated refrain of "Give me a cell, / To dwell," suggests a sense of urgency on the speaker's part. He is not simply asking for a quiet place to rest, but rather a cell, which connotes a sense of confinement. This could be seen as a metaphor for the limitations of human existence, the fact that we are all confined to our mortal bodies and the world around us.

The line "And there I'll make / To me alone, / A seat," is interesting in its use of the word "alone." It suggests that the speaker is not simply seeking solitude, but also a sense of ownership over his environment. He wants to make a "seat" that is uniquely his, a place where he can be himself without the intrusion of others.

The fourth stanza, with its rejection of material wealth and power, is perhaps the most compelling part of the poem. The speaker declares that he values the "god that's poor" over those who are "drest / In silver, or in gold." This could be seen as a rejection of the corrupting influence of wealth and power, or as a call to embrace a simpler, more humble existence.

Finally, the poem's closing lines suggest a desire for eternal rest. The speaker describes the dead as "undisturbed" and "troubleless," suggesting that death is a way to escape the hardships of life. However, the line "Till the sad world / Shall all be fled," suggests a certain melancholy. The world may be "sad," but it is still worth experiencing, even with all its pain and fear.

Conclusion

Overall, "His Wish to Privacy" is a complex and thought-provoking poem. It explores the desire for seclusion and the consequences that come with it, as well as the value of simplicity and humility in a world ruled by material wealth and power. The poem's use of metaphor and repetition adds depth and nuance to its themes, making it a powerful meditation on the human experience.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Robert Herrick’s “His Wish to Privacy” is a poem that explores the speaker’s desire for solitude and privacy. The poem is a reflection on the importance of being alone and the need for personal space in a world that is often crowded and noisy. Herrick’s use of language and imagery creates a vivid picture of the speaker’s desire for privacy, and his longing for a quiet and peaceful existence.

The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, which gives it a rhythmic and musical quality. The use of rhyme and repetition also adds to the poem’s musicality, and helps to create a sense of unity and coherence. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with four lines. The first stanza sets the tone for the poem, and establishes the speaker’s desire for privacy:

Give me a cell To dwell, Where no foot hath A path.

The first line of the poem is a command, and sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is asking for a cell, which is a small, enclosed space. This is a metaphor for the speaker’s desire for privacy and solitude. The second line, “To dwell,” reinforces this desire, and suggests that the speaker wants to live in this cell. The third line, “Where no foot hath,” emphasizes the speaker’s desire for isolation, and suggests that he wants to be in a place where no one else has been. The final line, “A path,” reinforces the idea of isolation, and suggests that the speaker wants to be in a place that is difficult to reach.

The second stanza of the poem continues the theme of isolation and privacy:

This hind Let me find Whose gentle heart Gives smart.

The first line of the second stanza introduces a new image, that of a hind, which is a female deer. This is a metaphor for the speaker’s desire for a gentle and peaceful existence. The second line, “Let me find,” suggests that the speaker is searching for this hind, and that he has not yet found her. The third line, “Whose gentle heart,” emphasizes the speaker’s desire for gentleness and kindness, and suggests that he wants to be surrounded by these qualities. The final line, “Gives smart,” is a paradoxical statement, which suggests that the speaker wants to be hurt by the hind’s gentleness. This may be interpreted as a desire for emotional intensity, or as a desire for a deeper connection with the natural world.

The third and final stanza of the poem concludes with a reflection on the speaker’s desire for privacy:

Contented there, I'll sit and fear No man's envy, Nor whispering.

The first line of the third stanza, “Contented there,” suggests that the speaker has found the solitude and privacy that he desires. The second line, “I’ll sit and fear,” suggests that the speaker is comfortable in this solitude, and that he is not afraid of being alone. The third line, “No man’s envy,” emphasizes the speaker’s desire to be free from the jealousy and envy of others. The final line, “Nor whispering,” reinforces the idea of privacy, and suggests that the speaker wants to be free from the gossip and chatter of others.

Overall, “His Wish to Privacy” is a poem that explores the theme of solitude and privacy. The speaker’s desire for isolation and quiet is expressed through the use of metaphor, imagery, and repetition. The poem is written in a musical and rhythmic style, which adds to its emotional intensity. The poem is a reflection on the importance of being alone, and the need for personal space in a world that is often crowded and noisy.

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