'The Dream' by Edna St. Vincent Millay
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Love, if I weep it will not matter,
And if you laugh I shall not care;
Foolish am I to think about it,
But it is good to feel you there.
Love, in my sleep I dreamed of waking,—
White and awful the moonlight reached
Over the floor, and somewhere, somewhere,
There was a shutter loose,—it screeched!
Swung in the wind,—and no wind blowing!—
I was afraid, and turned to you,
Put out my hand to you for comfort,—
And you were gone! Cold, cold as dew,
Under my hand the moonlight lay!
Love, if you laugh I shall not care,
But if I weep it will not matter,—
Ah, it is good to feel you there!
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Dream by Edna St. Vincent Millay: An Analysis
When you read a poem, what do you expect to find? Do you look for the author's message, the hidden meaning, the structure, or the language used? Or do you just let the words wash over you and hope to experience something profound? Whatever your approach, Edna St. Vincent Millay's poem "The Dream" is sure to leave an impression.
On the surface, "The Dream" is a simple, straightforward narrative about a woman who dreams of meeting her beloved, only to wake up and find him gone. But as with any good poem, there is much more going on beneath the surface. In this literary analysis, we'll explore the imagery, symbolism, and themes in "The Dream" to uncover the deeper meanings of this timeless poem.
Summary of "The Dream"
Let's begin with a brief overview of the poem. "The Dream" is a sonnet, a fourteen-line poem with a strict rhyme scheme and meter. It opens with the speaker describing a dream in which she meets her beloved. The dream is vivid and sensual, filled with bright colors, sweet smells, and soft touches. The speaker is overjoyed to be with her beloved, and they spend a blissful night together.
But just as quickly as the dream came, it vanishes, and the speaker wakes up to a cold, dark reality. She reaches out to touch her beloved, only to find that he is not there. The final lines of the poem reveal that the speaker is left feeling empty and alone, longing for the dream to return.
The Imagery of "The Dream"
One of the most striking things about "The Dream" is its vivid imagery. Millay uses sensory details to paint a picture of the dream world, engaging the reader's senses and immersing them in the experience. Consider the following lines:
Bright to the moonbeams is the South still fair,
In throned ecstasy still the nightingale
Dreams on, while all the stars in heaven sail
Darkling and lonely through the vacant air.
In these lines, Millay describes the beauty of the dream world, using words like "bright," "fair," and "ecstasy" to create a sense of wonder and joy. She also contrasts this with the dark, lonely world outside the dream, where the stars sail "through the vacant air." This contrast between light and dark, joy and sorrow, is a recurring theme in the poem.
Millay also uses other sensory details to create a rich and vivid dream world. She describes the "sweet smell of the southern breeze," the "warmth of the sun," and the "soft touch of his hand." These details help to draw the reader deeper into the dream world and make it feel more real.
The Symbolism of "The Dream"
While the imagery in "The Dream" is powerful, it is the symbolism that gives the poem its deeper meaning. At its core, "The Dream" is a poem about love and loss, and the dream world represents the speaker's idealized version of love. Consider the following lines:
And all the world is waxen to a song,
And all the wheels of the world are stayed,
And one thing only is not left astray,
Nor has been changed since I have dreamed so long.
In these lines, Millay suggests that the dream world is a place where everything is perfect and unchanging. The "wheels of the world" are "stayed," meaning that time has stopped, and the speaker is free to enjoy a moment of perfect love. This idealized version of love is symbolized by the "one thing only" that "has not been changed." It is a love that is eternal and unchanging, a love that can never be lost.
But of course, the dream world is not real, and the speaker must eventually wake up and face the harsh reality of a world without her beloved. This is symbolized by the final lines of the poem:
And in my sleep I knew that he was dead,
And in my sleep I loved him endlessly.
And, in my sleep, I came to him again,
And brought him flowers, and kissed his cold brow.
Here, Millay suggests that the dream world is a form of escapism, a way for the speaker to avoid the pain of loss. The fact that the speaker knows her beloved is dead and yet continues to love him suggests that she is unwilling to let go of the idealized version of love that she experienced in the dream. The flowers and the kiss on the cold brow symbolize the speaker's desire to keep the dream world alive, even in the face of death.
The Themes of "The Dream"
So what are the themes of "The Dream"? As we've seen, the poem is about love and loss, and the idealized version of love that the dream world represents. But there are other themes at play here as well.
One theme that is explored in "The Dream" is the idea of escapism. The dream world is a place where the speaker can escape from the pain and sorrow of the real world, even if only for a moment. But as the poem suggests, this escapism is ultimately futile, as the speaker must eventually wake up and face the reality of loss.
Another theme in "The Dream" is the idea of fleeting happiness. The dream world is a place of perfect happiness, but it is also temporary. The fact that the speaker must wake up and return to the real world suggests that happiness is not something that can be sustained indefinitely.
Finally, "The Dream" is a poem about the power of the imagination. The dream world exists only in the speaker's mind, but it is just as real and vivid as the world outside her window. Millay suggests that the imagination has the power to create a world that is just as real and meaningful as the physical world, and that this world can be a source of comfort and joy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Dream" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores themes of love, loss, escapism, fleeting happiness, and the power of the imagination. Through its vivid imagery and powerful symbolism, the poem draws the reader into a world of dreams and desires, and leaves them with a sense of longing and sadness. But ultimately, "The Dream" is a poem about the human desire for love and connection, and the lengths we will go to in order to achieve it, even if only in our dreams.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Dream: A Masterpiece of Edna St. Vincent Millay
Edna St. Vincent Millay, the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, is known for her exceptional ability to capture the essence of human emotions in her poetry. Her poem, The Dream, is a classic example of her poetic prowess. The Dream is a beautiful and haunting poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and the fleeting nature of life.
The poem begins with the speaker describing a dream she had. In the dream, she sees her lover, who has died, walking towards her. The speaker is overjoyed to see her lover again and embraces him. However, as she holds him, she realizes that he is not real and that she is dreaming. The speaker then wakes up, and the dream fades away.
The Dream is a poem that is rich in symbolism and imagery. The dream itself is a metaphor for the speaker's longing for her lover. The fact that the lover is dead adds to the sense of loss and longing that permeates the poem. The dream is also a symbol of the transience of life. The speaker's lover is gone, and the dream is a reminder that life is fleeting and that we must cherish the moments we have.
The imagery in The Dream is also striking. The speaker describes her lover as "pale and very cold" and "like a ghost." This imagery adds to the sense of loss and sadness that permeates the poem. The speaker's description of the dream as "a dream within a dream" is also significant. It suggests that the speaker is aware that the dream is not real and that she is struggling to hold on to something that is slipping away.
The Dream is a poem that is full of emotion. The speaker's longing for her lover is palpable, and the sense of loss is overwhelming. The poem is also a reflection on the nature of love and the human condition. The fact that the speaker's lover is dead adds to the sense of tragedy and the inevitability of death.
The Dream is also a poem that is open to interpretation. Some readers may see the dream as a symbol of hope, while others may see it as a reminder of the inevitability of death. The poem is also a reflection on the power of the human imagination. The fact that the speaker is able to conjure up such a vivid dream is a testament to the power of the human mind.
In conclusion, The Dream is a masterpiece of poetry. Edna St. Vincent Millay's ability to capture the essence of human emotions is on full display in this poem. The Dream is a haunting and beautiful reflection on love, loss, and the fleeting nature of life. The poem is rich in symbolism and imagery, and it is open to interpretation. The Dream is a reminder that life is precious and that we must cherish the moments we have.
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