'THE WATCH' by Robert Herrick
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Man is a watch, wound up at first, but never
Wound up again; Once down, he's down for ever.
The watch once down, all motions then do cease;
The man's pulse stopt, all passions sleep in peace.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Timeless Beauty of Robert Herrick's "The Watch"
As I sat down to read Robert Herrick's "The Watch," I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. After all, this is one of the most iconic poems of the English language, and it has been celebrated and studied for centuries. But what is it about this poem that has captivated readers for so long? In this literary criticism and interpretation, I aim to explore the themes, symbols, and language of "The Watch" and show how they contribute to its enduring appeal.
The Poem
Before diving into the analysis, let's take a moment to appreciate the poem itself. Here is the full text of "The Watch":
Me thought this night Love's thronged embassy
Did court my soul with many a wanton smile,
And, looking round about, might gladness spy
In every thing that might provoke love's guile;
But when I looked on thee, alas! I found
My joy, my grief, my hope, my sorrow's wound.
O fair! O sweet! O heaven in earth contained!
How far more dear than life, being once enjoyed!
When, as thy sight did make my sense so chained
That in thy power to do or leave I stood,
And all my powers which erst were free, were bound,
The joys of heaven did on my soul abound.
But when I saw thy eyes so oft cast down,
That shame, disdain, and sorrow did appear,
I knew not what to do, or where to crown
My endless joys; but, as I stood in fear,
Love said, "Do this, and all these joys refund,
'Take up thine eyes, and be again made blind.'"
At first glance, "The Watch" appears to be a love poem. The speaker describes a night when he felt surrounded by "Love's thronged embassy" and saw "gladness" in everything that might "provoke love's guile." But when he looked upon his beloved, he realized that she was the source of both his "joy" and his "grief," his "hope" and his "sorrow's wound." The rest of the poem explores this paradoxical relationship, as the speaker alternates between praising his beloved's beauty and expressing his fear and confusion over her apparent rejection.
Themes
On a deeper level, "The Watch" grapples with some of the most fundamental themes of human existence: love, desire, happiness, and the meaning of life itself. Throughout the poem, the speaker expresses a desire to be united with his beloved, to experience the "joys of heaven" that he feels when he is in her presence. But he also acknowledges the pain that comes with love, the fear of rejection and the uncertainty of his own feelings. This tension between joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, is one of the central themes of the poem.
Another theme that emerges from "The Watch" is the idea of time. The title of the poem suggests that the speaker is waiting for something, watching and waiting for his beloved to reciprocate his feelings. But time is also a force that works against him, as he watches his beloved's "eyes so oft cast down" and feels the weight of shame and sorrow. Time is both a gift and a curse, a source of hope and of despair.
Symbols
To explore these themes further, we can look at some of the symbols that Herrick employs in "The Watch." One of the most powerful symbols is that of the eyes. The speaker describes how his beloved's "sight did make [his] sense so chained / That in [her] power to do or leave [he] stood." This suggests that the act of looking at someone can have a powerful effect, binding the beholder to the object of his or her desire. But the eyes can also be a source of shame and sorrow, as the speaker notes when he sees his beloved's "eyes so oft cast down." This suggests a conflict between desire and shame, between the desire to look and the fear of being seen.
Another symbol that appears in "The Watch" is that of heaven. The speaker describes how the "joys of heaven" "did on [his] soul abound" when he was in his beloved's presence. This suggests that love can be a transcendent experience, one that lifts us out of our ordinary lives and connects us to something greater. But the speaker also acknowledges that this experience is fleeting, that it can be lost or taken away at any moment. This suggests a sense of impermanence, of the fragility of even our most cherished experiences.
Language
Finally, we can look at the language of "The Watch" to see how it contributes to the poem's themes and symbols. One of the most striking features of the poem is its use of paradoxes and contradictions. The speaker describes his beloved as both a source of joy and of sorrow, as both fair and sweet and capable of shame and disdain. This suggests a complex and nuanced understanding of love, one that acknowledges its many contradictions and ambiguities.
Another feature of the poem's language is its use of repetition and rhyme. The opening line, "Me thought this night Love's thronged embassy," sets the tone for the rest of the poem, with its repeated use of the word "love" and its internal rhyme. This creates a sense of musicality and rhythm, reinforcing the poem's themes of desire and longing.
Conclusion
As I sit here, reflecting on "The Watch," I am struck by the timeless beauty of this poem. Despite being written over four hundred years ago, it still speaks to us today, with its themes of love, desire, and the passage of time. Whether we are young or old, whether we are in love or not, we can all relate to the speaker's sense of longing and his fear of rejection. And in the end, perhaps that is the true power of poetry: to connect us across time and space, to help us see ourselves and our world in a new light.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Watch by Robert Herrick is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a beautiful and thought-provoking piece that explores the themes of time, mortality, and the fleeting nature of life. In this article, we will take a closer look at this poem and analyze its meaning and significance.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing a watch, which is a symbol of time. The watch is personified, and the speaker asks it to tell him what time it is. The watch responds by saying that it is time to be gone, which is a metaphor for death. The watch then goes on to say that time is short and that life is fleeting. The speaker is reminded that he must make the most of his time on earth and live life to the fullest.
The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of time and mortality. In the first stanza, the speaker addresses the watch and asks it to tell him what time it is. The watch responds by saying that it is time to be gone, which is a metaphor for death. This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem and establishes the theme of mortality.
In the second stanza, the speaker reflects on the fleeting nature of life. He says that life is like a flower that blooms and then withers away. He also compares life to a stream that flows into the sea and is lost forever. These metaphors emphasize the idea that life is short and that we must make the most of our time on earth.
In the third stanza, the speaker encourages the reader to live life to the fullest. He says that we should enjoy life while we can and not waste our time on things that do not matter. He also reminds us that we will all eventually die and that we should make the most of the time we have.
The language used in the poem is simple and straightforward, but it is also very powerful. The use of metaphors and personification helps to convey the message of the poem in a way that is both beautiful and thought-provoking. The poem is also very rhythmic, with a regular meter and rhyme scheme that adds to its musicality.
One of the most interesting aspects of the poem is the way in which it explores the relationship between time and mortality. The watch is a symbol of time, and the fact that it is personified adds a sense of urgency to the poem. The watch reminds us that time is short and that we must make the most of our time on earth. At the same time, the watch is also a reminder of our mortality. It tells us that we will all eventually die and that we must make the most of the time we have.
The poem also explores the idea of the transience of life. The speaker uses metaphors to compare life to a flower that blooms and then withers away and a stream that flows into the sea and is lost forever. These metaphors emphasize the idea that life is short and that we must make the most of our time on earth.
The third stanza of the poem is particularly powerful. The speaker encourages the reader to live life to the fullest and not waste their time on things that do not matter. He reminds us that we will all eventually die and that we should make the most of the time we have. This message is particularly relevant in today's world, where many people are so busy with work and other responsibilities that they forget to enjoy life.
In conclusion, The Watch by Robert Herrick is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of time, mortality, and the fleeting nature of life. The use of metaphors and personification helps to convey the message of the poem in a way that is both powerful and musical. The poem is a reminder that life is short and that we must make the most of our time on earth. It encourages us to live life to the fullest and not waste our time on things that do not matter. The Watch is a classic poem that has stood the test of time and will continue to inspire readers for generations to come.
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