'My Fancy' by Lewis Carroll
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I painted her a gushing thing,
With years about a score;
I little thought to find they were
A least a dozen more;
My fancy gave her eyes of blue,
A curly auburn head:
I came to find the blue a green,
The auburn turned to red.
She boxed my ears this morning,
They tingled very much;
I own that I could wish her
A somewhat lighter touch;
And if you ask me how
Her charms might be improved,
I would not have them added to,
But just a few removed!
She has the bear's ethereal grace,
The bland hyaena's laugh,
The footstep of the elephant,
The neck of a giraffe;
I love her still, believe me,
Though my heart its passion hides;
"She's all my fancy painted her,"
But oh! how much besides!
Editor 1 Interpretation
My Fancy by Lewis Carroll: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Have you ever experienced the sensation of being swept away by a daydream or a sudden surge of imagination? Lewis Carroll's poem, My Fancy, captures that feeling with astonishing clarity and lyrical beauty. Written in 1863, this poem is a testament to Carroll's genius as a writer and his ability to communicate complex emotions through simple words and vivid imagery.
Overview of the Poem
Before we dive deeper into the interpretation of My Fancy, let's take a look at the poem itself. Here is the text in full:
I painted her a gushing thing, With years perhaps a score, I little thought to find they were At least a dozen more; My fancy gave her eyes of blue, A curly auburn head: I came to find the blue a green, The auburn turned to red.
She boxed my ears this morning, They tingled very much; I own that I could wish her A somewhat lighter touch; And if you ask me how it came, I cannot well reply, Perhaps she thought some harm I meant, Yet did not like to say.
I played with her this morning, And led her by the hand, And round the garden-walks I led The merry-looking band. She danced beside me on the grass, Her lovely head aglow, I wondered was it fright or joy, Whose signs were those that show?
She looked so lovely as she swayed The little maids a-row; To me she seemed a fairest thing That mortals know or know - A lady so magnificently fair, That men would bow before; Her eyes were the brightest of the bright, And they shone like sapphires four.
I quarreled with her, madam; I dared to call her mine: And when she said she was not, I asked her for a sign; And when she gave me that sign of hers, I saw my foolishness, For all along I'd thought it was A puppy or a kiss.
She's sleeping by my lady's side, (I'm not ashamed to say,) And when I wake to-morrow morn, I'll find her where she lay; And if she be not gone away, I'll surely break my fast, And all the world may laugh at me, For I found her at the last.
At first glance, My Fancy appears to be a playful and whimsical poem, filled with vivid images and delightful rhymes. The poem is written in the first person, with the speaker describing his experiences with a mysterious woman he calls "her." The speaker's descriptions of this woman are romantic and idealized, with "eyes of blue" and a "curly auburn head." However, as the poem progresses, the tone becomes darker and more uncertain. The woman seems to be both alluring and dangerous, with the speaker describing her as "a gushing thing" and "magnificently fair" while also acknowledging that she "boxed my ears this morning" and "quarreled with her." The poem concludes with the speaker uncertain of his own feelings towards this woman, questioning whether he truly loves her or if he is simply caught up in his own fantasies.
Themes and Interpretations
So what does My Fancy mean, exactly? Like all great works of literature, this poem can be interpreted in a number of different ways, depending on the reader's perspective and personal experiences. Here are a few possible themes and interpretations of My Fancy:
The Power of Imagination
One of the most obvious themes of My Fancy is the power of imagination. The speaker describes his creation of a beautiful woman in his mind, painting her with "eyes of blue" and a "curly auburn head." However, as he comes into contact with the real woman, he realizes that his imagination was not entirely accurate. Her eyes are not blue, but green, and her hair is not auburn, but red. This disconnect between reality and imagination is a common theme in Carroll's work, and it speaks to the idea that our imaginations can be both a source of inspiration and a source of disappointment.
The Illusion of Love
Another possible interpretation of My Fancy is that it is a commentary on the illusion of love. The speaker seems to be infatuated with this mysterious woman, describing her as "a lady so magnificently fair, / That men would bow before." However, as the poem progresses, it becomes clear that the relationship is not all sunshine and roses. The woman boxes the speaker's ears, and they have a quarrel. The speaker even admits that he is not sure if he truly loves her or if he is simply caught up in his own fantasies. This theme of the illusion of love is also explored in Carroll's other works, most notably in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, where Alice falls in love with the White Knight but ultimately realizes that it was just a passing fancy.
Gender and Power
One of the more subtle themes of My Fancy is the question of gender and power. The woman in the poem is never named or fully described, and the speaker seems to be caught in a kind of power struggle with her. She boxes his ears and quarrels with him, but at the same time, he is drawn to her beauty and grace. This tension between attraction and conflict is common in Carroll's work, and it speaks to the complex power dynamics that exist between men and women.
The Uncertainty of Reality
Finally, My Fancy can be seen as a meditation on the uncertainty of reality. The speaker's initial vision of the woman is idealized and romantic, but as he comes into contact with her, he realizes that his imagination was not entirely accurate. Her eyes are not blue, but green, and her hair is not auburn, but red. This disconnect between perception and reality is a common theme in Carroll's work, and it speaks to the idea that reality is not always what it seems.
Conclusion
In conclusion, My Fancy is a beautiful and complex poem that explores a range of themes and ideas. From the power of imagination to the illusion of love, from gender and power dynamics to the uncertainty of reality, Carroll's poem is a rich and rewarding work of literature. Whether you are a fan of Carroll's other works or simply appreciate poetry that speaks to the complexities of the human experience, My Fancy is sure to delight and inspire. So why not take a few moments to read it again and see what new insights you can discover?
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
My Fancy: A Journey Through the Mind of Lewis Carroll
Lewis Carroll, the pen name of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, is a name that is synonymous with the world of children's literature. His most famous work, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, has captured the imaginations of generations of readers. However, Carroll was not just a writer of children's stories. He was also a mathematician, a logician, and a photographer. His interests and talents were varied, and this is reflected in his poetry. One of his lesser-known works, My Fancy, is a poem that takes the reader on a journey through the mind of Lewis Carroll.
The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of Carroll's imagination. The first stanza begins with the line, "I painted her a gushing thing," and goes on to describe a woman who is the embodiment of all that is feminine. She is beautiful, delicate, and emotional. However, the speaker of the poem is not content with this idealized version of womanhood. He goes on to say, "I drew her flowing tears, / The real, the true, like life: / Her timid looks, her maiden fears, / Her griefs for aye at strife." Here, the speaker is acknowledging that there is more to women than just their beauty. They are complex beings with a range of emotions and experiences. The fact that the speaker is male adds an interesting layer to this stanza. It is as if Carroll is acknowledging that he, as a man, can never fully understand the experiences of women, but he is trying to capture them as best he can.
The second stanza takes a different turn. It begins with the line, "I carved her lips as cherry red," and goes on to describe a woman who is more sexualized than the one in the first stanza. She is still beautiful, but now her beauty is more overtly sexual. The speaker says, "Her waist, I measured it with gold, / I filled her eyes with sunny light, / I made her hair of silken fold, / And this I called delight." This stanza is interesting because it shows how Carroll's imagination can take him in different directions. He can create idealized versions of women, but he can also create more sexualized versions. It is as if he is exploring the different facets of femininity.
The third and final stanza is the most abstract of the three. It begins with the line, "She's neither pink nor pale," and goes on to describe a woman who is not easily defined. She is not just a collection of physical attributes. She is something more intangible. The speaker says, "She's neither red nor white, / She's rather of the coral hue, / And tinted with a light." This stanza is interesting because it shows how Carroll's imagination can take him beyond the physical realm. He is not just interested in creating beautiful women; he is interested in exploring the essence of womanhood.
Overall, My Fancy is a poem that showcases the breadth and depth of Lewis Carroll's imagination. It is a journey through the mind of a man who was fascinated by the world around him. He was interested in beauty, but he was also interested in the complexities of human emotion. He was interested in the physical, but he was also interested in the abstract. My Fancy is a poem that invites the reader to explore these different facets of Carroll's imagination. It is a poem that rewards close reading and careful consideration.
One of the things that makes My Fancy so interesting is the way that it explores the relationship between the artist and his subject. The speaker of the poem is creating a woman, but he is also acknowledging that she is more than just a creation. She is a representation of something real and true. The fact that the speaker is male adds an interesting layer to this relationship. It is as if Carroll is acknowledging that there is always a distance between the artist and his subject. He can never fully capture the essence of what he is trying to create.
Another interesting aspect of My Fancy is the way that it explores the different facets of femininity. The first stanza presents a woman who is idealized and emotional. The second stanza presents a woman who is sexualized and beautiful. The third stanza presents a woman who is abstract and difficult to define. Together, these stanzas create a portrait of femininity that is complex and multifaceted. Carroll is not interested in creating a one-dimensional version of womanhood. He is interested in exploring all of its different aspects.
In conclusion, My Fancy is a poem that showcases the breadth and depth of Lewis Carroll's imagination. It is a journey through the mind of a man who was fascinated by the world around him. It is a poem that invites the reader to explore the different facets of femininity and the relationship between the artist and his subject. It is a poem that rewards close reading and careful consideration. If you are a fan of Lewis Carroll's work, or if you are interested in exploring the complexities of human emotion and creativity, then My Fancy is a poem that you should definitely read.
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