'Au Lecteur' by Charles Baudelaire
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La sottise, l'erreur, le péché, la lésine,
Occupent nos esprits et travaillent nos corps,
Et nous alimentons nos aimables remords,
Comme les mendiants nourrissent leur vermine.
Nos péchés sont têtus, nos repentirs sont lâches;
Nous nous faisons payer grassement nos aveux,
Et nous rentrons gaiement dans le chemin bourbeux,
Croyant par de vils pleurs laver toutes nos taches.
Sur l'oreiller du mal c'est Satan Trismégiste
Qui berce longuement notre esprit enchanté,
Et le riche métal de notre volonté
Est tout vaporisé par ce savant chimiste.
C'est le Diable qui tient les fils qui nous remuent!
Aux objets répugnants nous trouvons des appas;
Chaque jour vers l'Enfer nous descendons d'un pas,
Sans horreur, à travers des ténèbres qui puent.
Ainsi qu'un débauché pauvre qui baise et mange
Le sein martyrisé d'une antique catin,
Nous volons au passage un plaisir clandestin
Que nous pressons bien fort comme une vieille orange.
Serré, fourmillant comme un million d'helminthes,
Dans nos cerveaux ribote un peuple de démons,
Et quand nous respirons, la Mort dans nos poumons
Descend, fleuve invisible, avec de sourdes plaintes.
Si le viol, le poison, le poignard, l'incendie,
N'ont pas encore brodé de leurs plaisants dessins
Le canevas banal de nos piteux destins,
C'est que notre âme, hélas! n'est pas assez hardie.
Mais parmi les chacals, les panthères, les lices,
Les singes, les scorpions, les vautours, les serpents,
Les monstres glapissants, hurlants, grognants, rampants,
Dans la ménagerie infâme de nos vices,
Il en est un plus laid, plus méchant, plus immonde!
Quoiqu'il ne pousse ni grands gestes, ni grands cris,
Il ferait volontiers de la terre un débris
Et dans un bâillement avalerait le monde.
C'est l'Ennui!- L'oeil chargé d'un pleur involontaire,
Il rêve d'échafauds en fumant son houka.
Tu le connais, lecteur, ce monstre délicat,
--Hypocrite lecteur, --mon semblable, --mon frère!
Editor 1 Interpretation
Exciting interpretation of Au Lecteur by Charles Baudelaire
Au Lecteur is a classic poem by the French poet Charles Baudelaire, which was published in his book Les Fleurs du Mal (The Flowers of Evil) in 1857. This poem is considered as the preface and as an introduction to the entire collection of Baudelaire's poems. The poem is a masterpiece of symbolism, in which Baudelaire expressed his views on poetry, art, and the role of the artist in society. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the various themes and symbols in this poem and analyze its significance and relevance today.
The Structure and Style of the Poem
The poem Au Lecteur is a sonnet, which consists of fourteen lines with a strict rhyme scheme. The poem follows the traditional Petrarchan sonnet form, which consists of an octave (eight lines) and a sestet (six lines). In the octave, Baudelaire expresses his disdain for the world and his disgust for the society in which he lived. In the sestet, he expresses his hope for redemption through poetry and art.
The style of the poem is highly symbolic and metaphorical. Baudelaire uses a lot of imagery and allusions to express his ideas. The tone of the poem is rebellious and defiant. Baudelaire rejects the established norms of the society and the traditional forms of poetry. He advocates for a new kind of poetry that is free from the constraints of morality and tradition.
The Themes of the Poem
The poem Au Lecteur deals with a lot of themes, including the role of the artist in society, the power of poetry and art, the search for meaning and identity, and the corruption of the modern world.
The Role of the Artist in Society
One of the main themes of the poem is the role of the artist in society. Baudelaire portrays the artist as a rebel and a visionary who stands against the established norms of the society. He sees the artist as a prophet who has the power to change the world through his art. The artist is not bound by the conventions of society and is free to express his thoughts and ideas.
Baudelaire also sees the artist as a kind of priest who can provide spiritual guidance to the people. He believes that the artist can lead the people out of the darkness and into the light. The artist is not just an entertainer but a savior who can provide hope and inspiration to the people.
The Power of Poetry and Art
Another important theme of the poem is the power of poetry and art. Baudelaire believes that poetry and art have the power to transform the world. He sees them as a means of communication that can connect people across time and space. Poetry and art can inspire people to think differently and to act in new ways.
Baudelaire also believes that poetry and art can provide a sense of meaning and purpose to life. They can give people a sense of identity and help them to understand their place in the world. Poetry and art can provide a way for people to connect with the deeper aspects of themselves and with the universe.
The Search for Meaning and Identity
The poem Au Lecteur also deals with the search for meaning and identity. Baudelaire sees the modern world as a place of confusion and chaos. He believes that people are lost in a sea of meaningless and are searching for something to hold onto.
Baudelaire sees poetry and art as a means of finding meaning and identity. They can help people to connect with their inner selves and to find a sense of purpose in life. Poetry and art can provide a way for people to understand themselves and their place in the world.
The Corruption of the Modern World
The poem Au Lecteur also deals with the corruption of the modern world. Baudelaire sees the modern world as a place of vice and corruption. He believes that people have become enslaved by their desires and are no longer able to see the beauty and wonder of the world around them.
Baudelaire sees poetry and art as a means of resisting this corruption. They can provide a way for people to see beyond the surface of things and to connect with the deeper aspects of life. Poetry and art can provide a way for people to resist the temptations of the modern world and to find a path towards redemption.
The Symbols in the Poem
The poem Au Lecteur is full of symbols and metaphors. These symbols help to convey the themes of the poem and to give it a deeper meaning.
The Flowers of Evil
The title of the book in which the poem is published is Les Fleurs du Mal, which means The Flowers of Evil. This title is a powerful symbol of the corruption and decay of the modern world. Baudelaire sees the world as a garden that is full of beautiful flowers, but these flowers are poisoned by evil. The flowers represent the beauty and wonder of the world, while the evil represents the corruption and decay.
The Albatross
Baudelaire uses the image of the albatross to represent the artist in society. The albatross is a majestic bird that is free to soar high in the sky. However, when it is brought down to the ground, it becomes clumsy and awkward. Baudelaire sees the artist as a kind of albatross who is free to fly in the world of art and imagination. However, when the artist is forced to confront the realities of the world, he becomes awkward and out of place.
The Spleen
Baudelaire uses the term "spleen" to describe the sense of melancholy and despair that pervades the modern world. The spleen is a symbol of the darkness and confusion that people feel in the face of the modern world. Baudelaire sees poetry and art as a means of overcoming the spleen and finding a way towards redemption.
The Significance of the Poem
The poem Au Lecteur is an important work of literature that has had a profound impact on poetry and art. Baudelaire's ideas about the role of the artist in society and the power of poetry and art have influenced generations of artists and writers.
The poem is also significant because of its rebellious and defiant tone. Baudelaire rejected the established norms of society and the traditional forms of poetry. He advocated for a new kind of poetry that was free from the constraints of morality and tradition. This kind of poetry was a precursor to the modernist movement in literature.
The poem is also significant because of its relevance today. The themes of the poem, such as the search for meaning and identity, the corruption of the modern world, and the power of poetry and art, are still relevant today. Baudelaire's ideas about the role of the artist in society are especially relevant in a world that is increasingly dominated by technology and consumerism.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the poem Au Lecteur is a masterpiece of symbolism and metaphor. Baudelaire's ideas about the role of the artist in society, the power of poetry and art, and the search for meaning and identity are still relevant today. The poem is a testament to the power of literature and art to inspire and transform the world.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Au Lecteur: A Poem of Rebellion and Controversy
Charles Baudelaire's Au Lecteur is a poem that has been the subject of much controversy and debate since its publication in 1857. The poem is the opening piece of Baudelaire's collection of poems, Les Fleurs du Mal (The Flowers of Evil), which is considered one of the most important works of French literature. The poem is a declaration of rebellion against the moral and social norms of the time, and it is a call to embrace the darker aspects of human nature.
The poem begins with the line "La sottise, l'erreur, le péché, la lésine, / Occupent nos esprits et travaillent nos corps," which translates to "Folly, error, sin, and greed / Occupy our minds and work our bodies." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a critique of the society in which Baudelaire lived. He believed that people were too focused on material possessions and were not paying enough attention to their inner selves.
Baudelaire was a poet who was known for his controversial views and his willingness to challenge the status quo. He believed that art should be a reflection of the darker aspects of human nature, and that it should not be censored or sanitized. This belief is evident in Au Lecteur, which is a poem that is filled with images of death, decay, and despair.
One of the most striking images in the poem is the line "Les Fleurs du Mal sont les fleurs de la Révolution," which translates to "The Flowers of Evil are the flowers of the Revolution." This line is a reference to the French Revolution, which was a time of great upheaval and change in France. Baudelaire believed that his poetry could be a catalyst for a new revolution, one that would challenge the moral and social norms of the time.
Another important aspect of the poem is its use of symbolism. Baudelaire was a master of symbolism, and he used it to great effect in Au Lecteur. For example, the image of the "albatross" is used to represent the poet. The albatross is a bird that is known for its grace and beauty, but it is also a bird that is often hunted and killed. Baudelaire saw himself as an albatross, a poet who was both admired and reviled by society.
The poem also contains a number of references to classical mythology and literature. For example, the line "Le soleil rayonnait sur la mer, / Laissant monter, comme aux théâtres, / Des gerbes d'or fin sur les vagues," which translates to "The sun shone on the sea, / Sending up, as in a theater, / Showers of fine gold on the waves," is a reference to the Greek myth of Icarus. In the myth, Icarus flies too close to the sun and his wings melt, causing him to fall to his death. Baudelaire uses this image to represent the dangers of ambition and the pursuit of pleasure.
One of the most controversial aspects of the poem is its use of language. Baudelaire was known for his use of vulgar and obscene language, and Au Lecteur is no exception. The poem contains a number of references to sex and prostitution, as well as a number of curse words. This use of language was shocking to many readers at the time, and it led to the poem being banned in France for many years.
Despite its controversial nature, Au Lecteur is a poem that has had a profound impact on French literature and culture. It is a poem that challenges the reader to think deeply about the nature of humanity and the role of art in society. Baudelaire believed that art should not be censored or sanitized, and that it should be a reflection of the darker aspects of human nature. This belief has influenced generations of artists and writers, and it continues to inspire new forms of expression today.
In conclusion, Au Lecteur is a poem that is both controversial and profound. It is a poem that challenges the reader to think deeply about the nature of humanity and the role of art in society. Baudelaire was a poet who was willing to challenge the status quo, and his poetry continues to inspire new forms of expression today. Whether you agree with his views or not, there is no denying the impact that Baudelaire has had on French literature and culture.
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