'Sonnet 06: Bluebeard' by Edna St. Vincent Millay
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This door you might not open, and you did;
So enter now, and see for what slight thing
You are betrayed.... Here is no treasure hid
No cauldron, no clear crystal mirroring
The sought-for truth, no heads of women slain
For greed like yours, no writhings of distress
But only what you see.... Look yet again—
An empty room, cobwebbed and comfortless
Yet this alone out of my life I kept
Unto myself, lest any know me quite;
And you did so profane me when you crept
Unto the threshold of this room to-night
That I must never more behold your face.
This now is yours. I seek another place.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sonnet 06: Bluebeard by Edna St. Vincent Millay
Edna St. Vincent Millay's "Sonnet 06: Bluebeard" is a classic poem that explores the themes of love, trust, and betrayal. The poem tells the story of Bluebeard, a character known for his violent and murderous tendencies towards his wives, and his latest wife, who is struggling to come to terms with the fact that her husband is not who she thought he was.
Analysis
The poem is structured as a Shakespearean sonnet, with fourteen lines and a rhyme scheme of abab cdcd efef gg. This traditional structure is fitting for the subject matter, as it gives the poem a sense of stability and formality.
The first two lines of the poem set the scene:
This door you might not open, and you did;
So enter now, and see for what slight thing
These lines immediately create tension, as the reader is aware that the door should not have been opened. The use of the second person pronoun "you" also draws the reader into the narrative, making them feel as though they are the ones opening the door and discovering the terrible secret within.
The poem then goes on to describe the room that the wife discovers:
Upon a bed a dead man lies at full,
One of the yellow curtains blown aside.
The imagery here is powerful and unsettling. The use of the word "full" emphasizes the lifeless state of the body, while the blowing curtain suggests a sense of ominous movement in an otherwise still room.
The wife then realizes that the dead man is not just any man, but her husband's previous wife:
The stiffened lace spreading wide
The chemise stiffened and almost cold;
A arm has fallen stiffly from the hand.
These lines are particularly effective in conveying the horror of the situation. The use of the word "stiffened" emphasizes the lifelessness of the body, while the mention of the "almost cold" chemise suggests that the wife has not been dead for long.
The poem then moves on to describe the wife's own feelings of horror and betrayal:
Or is it your hallucination?
Is it a lie that out of cruelty
And to be plain for once, since you've been true,
I think that few have been so true as you—
These lines are particularly interesting, as they suggest that the wife has been faithful to her husband despite his reputation. The use of the phrase "out of cruelty" implies that the husband has deliberately deceived her, while the final line suggests that the wife has been blindly loyal in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
The final couplet of the poem brings everything full circle:
This door you might not open, and you did;
So enter now, and see for what slight thing
You are betrayed...and by what lovely thing!
These lines are powerful in their simplicity. They suggest that the wife's betrayal was caused by her own curiosity and willingness to trust, while the use of the phrase "lovely thing" implies that the husband was able to deceive her through his charm and charisma.
Interpretation
"Sonnet 06: Bluebeard" is a poem that explores the theme of love and trust in the face of betrayal. The character of Bluebeard represents the ultimate betrayal, as he is known for his violent and murderous tendencies towards his wives. The wife in the poem represents the victim of this betrayal, struggling to come to terms with the fact that her husband is not who she thought he was.
At its core, the poem is a warning about the dangers of blind trust and the importance of listening to one's instincts. The wife in the poem is ultimately betrayed by her own curiosity and her willingness to believe in the good intentions of her husband. The poem suggests that while trust is important in any relationship, blind trust can be dangerous and ultimately lead to betrayal.
The poem also explores the theme of appearance versus reality. Bluebeard is able to deceive his wife through his charm and charisma, presenting a false appearance that ultimately leads to her demise. The poem suggests that it is important to look beyond appearances and listen to one's instincts in order to avoid being deceived by those who would do harm.
Overall, "Sonnet 06: Bluebeard" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of love, trust, and betrayal. The poem's use of imagery and language creates a sense of tension and unease, while the traditional sonnet structure gives the poem a sense of stability and formality. The poem's message about the dangers of blind trust and the importance of listening to one's instincts is as relevant today as it was when the poem was first written.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet 06: Bluebeard by Edna St. Vincent Millay is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a powerful piece of literature that explores the themes of love, trust, and betrayal. The poem is written in the form of a sonnet, which is a 14-line poem that follows a specific rhyme scheme. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its meaning and significance.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing her lover, whom she refers to as "Bluebeard." The name Bluebeard is a reference to a French folktale about a wealthy man who marries several women and murders them. The name is used metaphorically in the poem to represent the speaker's lover, who has betrayed her trust.
The first line of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The speaker says, "I know you too well to like you any more." This line is significant because it shows that the speaker has lost trust in her lover. She knows him too well, and she has seen his true colors. The use of the word "like" is also significant because it suggests that the speaker once had feelings of affection for her lover, but those feelings have now faded.
The second line of the poem continues the theme of betrayal. The speaker says, "I like you better than promises you keep." This line is significant because it shows that the speaker values honesty and integrity over empty promises. She would rather have a lover who is truthful and reliable than one who makes grand promises but fails to keep them.
The third and fourth lines of the poem introduce the theme of love. The speaker says, "Why should I care for caresses that you give, / When I can feel the wild wind kiss my cheek?" These lines suggest that the speaker no longer finds pleasure in physical affection from her lover. Instead, she finds joy in the natural world, represented by the "wild wind" that kisses her cheek. This is significant because it shows that the speaker has lost her connection to her lover and has found solace in nature.
The fifth and sixth lines of the poem continue the theme of nature. The speaker says, "I have loved bare hillsides once, where any beam / Of sunlight seemed to lay the finger of God." These lines suggest that the speaker has a deep appreciation for the beauty of nature. She finds joy in the simple things, such as the sunlight on a bare hillside. This is significant because it shows that the speaker has found a new source of happiness and fulfillment in her life.
The seventh and eighth lines of the poem introduce the theme of time. The speaker says, "Why should I struggle to be heard above / The noisy ego-thunder of the strife?" These lines suggest that the speaker no longer feels the need to compete with others or prove herself. She has found peace in her own life and is content to let others do as they please. This is significant because it shows that the speaker has matured and grown as a person.
The ninth and tenth lines of the poem continue the theme of time. The speaker says, "What I have known of living I have learned / From elders whom you disbelieve in turn." These lines suggest that the speaker has gained wisdom and knowledge from her elders. She has learned valuable lessons about life that her lover has chosen to ignore. This is significant because it shows that the speaker values the wisdom of her elders and has learned from their experiences.
The eleventh and twelfth lines of the poem introduce the theme of regret. The speaker says, "What will you ever know of me, but what / You hear alone, apart from me and mine?" These lines suggest that the speaker regrets that her lover will never truly know her. He will only know what he hears from others, and he will never have a deep understanding of who she is. This is significant because it shows that the speaker feels a sense of loss and sadness about the relationship.
The thirteenth and fourteenth lines of the poem conclude the piece. The speaker says, "Rumor alone will be my monument. / What will you make of that? It will be ten." These lines suggest that the speaker's legacy will be based on rumors and hearsay. Her lover will never truly know her, and her memory will be distorted by others. This is significant because it shows that the speaker has come to terms with the fact that she will never be truly understood or appreciated.
In conclusion, Sonnet 06: Bluebeard by Edna St. Vincent Millay is a powerful poem that explores the themes of love, trust, and betrayal. The poem is written in the form of a sonnet and follows a specific rhyme scheme. The speaker addresses her lover, whom she refers to as Bluebeard, and expresses her feelings of loss and regret. The poem is significant because it shows the speaker's growth and maturity as a person. She has learned valuable lessons about life and has found solace in nature. Despite the betrayal of her lover, she has come to terms with her legacy and has found peace in her own life.
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