'Love In The Asylum' by Dylan Thomas
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A stranger has come
To share my room in the house not right in the head,
A girl mad as birds
Bolting the night of the door with her arm her plume.
Strait in the mazed bed
She deludes the heaven-proof house with entering clouds
Yet she deludes with walking the nightmarish room,
At large as the dead,
Or rides the imagined oceans of the male wards.
She has come possessed
Who admits the delusive light through the bouncing wall,
Possessed by the skies
She sleeps in the narrow trough yet she walks the dust
Yet raves at her will
On the madhouse boards worn thin by my walking tears.
And taken by light in her arms at long and dear last
I may without fail
Suffer the first vision that set fire to the stars.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Love in the Asylum: A Poem of Madness and Passion
Dylan Thomas is famous for his lyrical and experimental poetry, which explores the themes of love, death, and spirituality. His poem "Love in the Asylum" is a haunting and surreal meditation on the madness and passion of love, set in a mental institution. In this literary criticism, we will analyze the poem's structure, imagery, and symbolism to unravel its meaning and significance.
The Structure of the Poem
"Love in the Asylum" is a free verse poem composed of twenty-two stanzas, each consisting of three or four lines. The poem has a loose and irregular structure, with irregular line lengths, enjambments, and internal rhymes. The poem's rhythm is uneven, reflecting the emotional turmoil of the speaker's mind. The poem's tone is somber, yet sensual, with a dreamlike quality that blurs the boundaries between reality and fantasy.
The Imagery of the Poem
The poem is filled with vivid and surreal imagery that evokes the speaker's mental state. The speaker describes the asylum as a "white shawl" that covers his "head and feet," suggesting the confinement and isolation he feels. The speaker also describes the "three suns" that rise and set in his mind, representing the conflicting emotions he experiences. The suns are also associated with the three Marys in Christian mythology, suggesting the speaker's spiritual struggle.
The speaker's lover is described as a "butterfly" that flutters in and out of his cell, bringing him moments of joy and hope. The lover's beauty is compared to the "sun and moon" and the "stars and sea," suggesting her transcendent quality. The lover is also described as a "lioness" that prowls the corridors of the asylum, suggesting her wild and untamed nature.
The speaker's own body is described as a "cage" that traps his mind, suggesting the confinement and limitation he experiences. The speaker also describes himself as a "pilgrim" who wanders through the corridors of the asylum, seeking redemption and enlightenment. The speaker's condition is compared to that of a "bird" that has lost its wings and cannot fly, suggesting his helplessness and vulnerability.
The Symbolism of the Poem
"Love in the Asylum" is filled with symbolic motifs that deepen the poem's meaning. The most prominent motif is that of the sun, which represents the conflicting emotions of the speaker. The three suns also symbolize the Holy Trinity, suggesting the speaker's spiritual struggle. The motif of the butterfly represents the fleeting moments of joy and hope that the speaker experiences in his confinement. The butterfly also symbolizes the metamorphosis of the speaker's mind, as he undergoes a transformative experience.
The motif of the lioness represents the speaker's lover's fierce and passionate nature. The lioness also represents the speaker's own animalistic impulses, which are suppressed in his confinement. The motif of the cage represents the speaker's confinement and limitation, as well as his desire for freedom. The motif of the pilgrim represents the speaker's spiritual quest for enlightenment and redemption, as he seeks to overcome his mental illness.
The Meaning of the Poem
"Love in the Asylum" is a deeply introspective and personal poem that explores the speaker's mental illness and his passionate love for his lover. The poem suggests that the speaker's love is both a source of comfort and a source of torment, as his lover's presence reminds him of what he has lost. The poem also suggests that the speaker's mental illness is a result of his inability to reconcile his conflicting emotions and his spiritual doubts.
The poem can be interpreted as a meditation on the nature of love and madness, and how they are intertwined. The poem suggests that love can drive one to madness, but it can also be a source of healing and transformation. The poem also suggests that madness can be a spiritual experience, as it forces one to confront the deepest parts of oneself.
Conclusion
"Love in the Asylum" is a haunting and surreal poem that explores the nature of love and madness. The poem's vivid imagery and symbolic motifs create a dreamlike atmosphere that reflects the speaker's mental state. The poem's structure and tone convey the emotional turmoil and passionate intensity of the speaker's love. The poem's meaning is complex and multi-layered, inviting multiple interpretations and perspectives. Ultimately, "Love in the Asylum" is a testament to the transformative power of love and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Love In The Asylum: A Masterpiece of Dylan Thomas
Dylan Thomas, the Welsh poet, is known for his unique style of writing that is full of vivid imagery and complex metaphors. His poem, Love In The Asylum, is a masterpiece that explores the theme of love and madness. The poem is a powerful and haunting portrayal of the intense emotions that can arise from love, and the destructive effects that it can have on the human mind.
The poem is written in the first person, and the speaker is a patient in an asylum. The poem begins with the speaker describing the asylum as a place of darkness and despair. The speaker is trapped in this place, and he longs for the freedom that he once had. He is haunted by memories of his past, and he is tormented by the thought of never being able to escape from the asylum.
The speaker then begins to describe his love for a woman who is also a patient in the asylum. He describes her as a beautiful and mysterious creature, and he is drawn to her despite the fact that she is also trapped in the asylum. The speaker's love for this woman is intense and all-consuming, and it is clear that he is willing to do anything to be with her.
The poem is full of vivid imagery and metaphors that help to convey the speaker's emotions. For example, the speaker describes his love as a "wild bird" that is trapped in a cage. This metaphor is powerful because it suggests that the speaker's love is both beautiful and dangerous. The bird is wild and free, but it is also trapped and unable to escape.
The speaker also uses the metaphor of a "black sun" to describe his love. This metaphor is particularly effective because it suggests that the speaker's love is both dark and powerful. The sun is a symbol of light and warmth, but the black sun is a symbol of darkness and despair.
The poem is also full of religious imagery, which adds to its haunting and powerful tone. The speaker describes his love as a "crucifix" that he carries with him wherever he goes. This metaphor is particularly effective because it suggests that the speaker's love is both a burden and a source of strength.
The poem ends with the speaker describing his desire to escape from the asylum with his lover. He longs to be free and to be able to live his life with the woman he loves. However, it is clear that this desire is impossible to fulfill. The speaker is trapped in the asylum, and he is unable to escape from the darkness and despair that surrounds him.
In conclusion, Love In The Asylum is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the theme of love and madness. The poem is full of vivid imagery and metaphors that help to convey the speaker's intense emotions. The poem is also full of religious imagery, which adds to its haunting and powerful tone. Overall, Love In The Asylum is a masterpiece of Dylan Thomas, and it is a testament to his unique style of writing and his ability to convey complex emotions through his poetry.
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