'Her Voice' by Oscar Wilde
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THE wild bee reels from bough to bough
With his furry coat and his gauzy wing.
Now in a lily-cup, and now
Setting a jacinth bell a-swing,
In his wandering;
Sit closer love: it was here I trow
I made that vow,
Swore that two lives should be like one
As long as the sea-gull loved the sea,
As long as the sunflower sought the sun,--10
It shall be, I said, for eternity
'Twixt you and me!
Dear friend, those times are over and done,
Love's web is spun.
Look upward where the poplar trees
Sway and sway in the summer air,
Here in the valley never a breeze
Scatters the thistledown, but there
Great winds blow fair
From the mighty murmuring mystical seas,20
And the wave-lashed leas.
Look upward where the white gull screams,
What does it see that we do not see?
Is that a star? or the lamp that gleams
On some outward voyaging argosy,--
Ah! can it be
We have lived our lives in a land of dreams!
How sad it seems.
Sweet, there is nothing left to say
But this, that love is never lost,30
Keen winter stabs the breasts of May
Whose crimson roses burst his frost,
Ships tempest-tossed
Will find a harbour in some bay,
And so we may.
And there is nothing left to do
But to kiss once again, and part,
Nay, there is nothing we should rue,
I have my beauty,--you your Art,
Nay, do not start,40
One world was not enough for two
Like me and you.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Her Voice" by Oscar Wilde: A Masterpiece of Sensuous Imagery and Emotional Depth
Introduction
When it comes to poetry, few writers can match the sheer brilliance and beauty of Oscar Wilde's works. His poems are marked by an exquisite sense of language, a keen eye for detail, and a deep understanding of human emotions. "Her Voice" is one of Wilde's most celebrated poems, known for its sensuous imagery, haunting melodies, and poignant themes of love and loss.
In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deep into the poem's form, structure, language, themes, and symbolism, and explore how Wilde masterfully weaves together various literary elements to create a rich and layered work of art.
Form and Structure
"Her Voice" is a sonnet, a fourteen-line poem with a strict rhyme scheme and meter. It follows the traditional structure of an English sonnet, with three quatrains (four-line stanzas) followed by a concluding couplet (two-line stanza). The rhyme scheme is also typical of a Shakespearean sonnet, with the pattern ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.
However, while the poem adheres to the formal conventions of a sonnet, it subverts them in several ways. For example, the lines are irregular in length and meter, with some lines having more syllables and stress than others. This creates a sense of spontaneity and fluidity, as if the poem is being composed on the spot, rather than following a predetermined structure.
Moreover, the poem's content and tone are far from conventional. Unlike most sonnets that celebrate the beauty and virtues of a beloved, "Her Voice" is marked by a sense of melancholy and longing. It portrays a speaker who is haunted by the memory of a lost love, and who finds solace only in the ghostly echoes of her voice. This sense of loss and longing is reinforced by the poem's structure, which builds up to a climactic couplet that emphasizes the speaker's isolation and despair.
Language and Imagery
One of the most striking features of "Her Voice" is its sensuous imagery and vivid language. Wilde uses a range of poetic devices to create a rich and evocative tapestry of sounds, colors, and sensations that capture the speaker's intense emotions.
For example, the first quatrain is full of auditory imagery, with the speaker describing the sound of his beloved's voice in dreamlike, ethereal terms:
"The wild bee reels from bough to bough
With his furry coat and his gauzy wing.
Now in a lily-cup, and now
Setting a jacinth bell a-swing,"
The alliteration of the "w" and "b" sounds, as well as the repetition of "now," create a sense of rhythmic movement, as if the speaker is caught in a trance by the sound of the beloved's voice. The image of the bee "reeling" from one flower to another reinforces the sense of trance and disorientation, as if the speaker is intoxicated by the beloved's voice.
The second quatrain shifts to visual imagery, as the speaker describes the colors and textures of nature that remind him of the beloved:
"Insect and flower are as one;
The worm winds through the jasmine maze,
And the bee drones on with its baritone.
Everywhere, everywhere, love's own,
And love's the noblest name,"
The juxtaposition of the worm and the bee, as well as the repetition of "everywhere," create a sense of ubiquity and omnipresence, as if the beloved's presence is felt in every corner of nature. The image of the worm winding through the jasmine maze is particularly powerful, as it suggests a sense of entanglement and confusion, as if the speaker is lost in the labyrinth of his own memories.
The third quatrain returns to auditory imagery, as the speaker describes the song of a nightingale that reminds him of the beloved's voice:
"The nightingale, with dewy feet,
Steps lightly on the lawns;
And, moonlight from the cedar-seat,
Pours his melody abroad
In a torrent of silver sound,"
The alliteration of the "s" and "l" sounds, as well as the metaphor of the moonlight "pouring" its melody, create a sense of fluidity and luminosity, as if the speaker is bathed in the light and sound of the beloved's voice. The image of the nightingale stepping lightly on the lawns is also significant, as it suggests a sense of delicacy and grace, as if the beloved's voice is a fleeting and fragile thing that the speaker can barely grasp.
The concluding couplet brings together all the sensory imagery and emotional depth of the poem, as the speaker laments his inability to find solace in anything but the memory of the beloved's voice:
"Ah! from the soul itself must issue forth
A light, a glory, a fair luminous cloud
Enveloping the Earth--
And from the soul itself must there be sent
A sweet and potent voice, of its own birth,
Of all sweet sounds the life and element!"
The use of the exclamation mark, as well as the repetition of the word "soul," emphasize the speaker's emotional intensity and desperation. The image of the "luminous cloud" and the "sweet and potent voice" suggest a sense of transcendence and spirituality, as if the speaker is seeking a higher plane of existence beyond the mundane world of materiality and loss.
Themes and Symbolism
"Her Voice" is a poem that explores several themes related to love, loss, memory, and spirituality. At its core, the poem is a meditation on the power of sound and language to evoke intense emotions and memories, and on the elusive nature of love that transcends the boundaries of time and space.
The main symbol in the poem is the voice of the beloved, which represents not only her physical presence but also her spiritual essence. The speaker is haunted by the memory of the beloved's voice, which echoes in the natural world and in his own soul. The voice is a symbol of the beloved's power to transcend death and to remain alive in the speaker's memory and imagination.
Another important symbol in the poem is nature, which serves as a mirror of the speaker's emotions and as a source of solace and comfort. The images of the bee, the worm, the jasmine, and the nightingale all suggest a sense of organic unity and interconnectedness, as if the speaker is part of a larger cosmic web that includes both the physical and the spiritual realms. Nature is a symbol of the beloved's presence, as well as a reminder of the speaker's own mortality and transience.
Finally, the poem explores the theme of spirituality and transcendence, as the speaker seeks a higher plane of existence beyond the material world. The image of the "luminous cloud" and the "sweet and potent voice" suggest a sense of mystical illumination and enlightenment, as if the speaker is searching for a spiritual truth that transcends the limitations of language and reason.
Conclusion
"Her Voice" is a poem that showcases Oscar Wilde's exceptional poetic talent and his deep understanding of human emotions and experiences. Through its sensuous imagery, vivid language, and poignant themes, the poem captures the universal human longing for love, connection, and transcendence.
While the poem adheres to the formal conventions of a sonnet, it subverts them in several ways, creating a sense of spontaneity and fluidity that matches the speaker's emotional intensity and spontaneity. The language and imagery in the poem are rich and evocative, creating a vivid sensory experience that transports the reader to the speaker's world of memory and imagination.
Overall, "Her Voice" is a masterpiece of English poetry that continues to inspire and move readers to this day. Its themes and symbols remain relevant and timeless, reminding us of the enduring power of love, loss, and spiritual longing in the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry is an art form that has been around for centuries, and it has been used to express a wide range of emotions and ideas. One of the most famous poets of all time is Oscar Wilde, who is known for his unique style and his ability to capture the essence of the human experience in his writing. One of his most famous poems is "Her Voice," which is a beautiful and haunting tribute to the power of love and the human voice.
The poem begins with the speaker describing the sound of his lover's voice. He says that it is like music, and that it has the power to transport him to another world. He describes the way that her voice makes him feel, saying that it is like a "spell" that he cannot resist. This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is filled with vivid imagery and powerful emotions.
As the poem continues, the speaker describes the way that his lover's voice affects him. He says that it is like a "silver flame" that burns within him, and that it fills him with a sense of longing and desire. He also describes the way that her voice makes him feel when he is alone, saying that it is like a "ghost" that haunts him and that he cannot escape.
Throughout the poem, the speaker uses a variety of metaphors and similes to describe his lover's voice. He compares it to a "rose" that blooms in the darkness, and to a "bird" that sings in the night. He also describes the way that her voice makes him feel as if he is "drowning" in a sea of emotion, and that he cannot escape its power.
One of the most powerful aspects of this poem is the way that it captures the essence of love and desire. The speaker is clearly deeply in love with his partner, and he is consumed by his desire for her. He describes the way that her voice fills him with a sense of longing and desire, and he is unable to resist its power. This is a common theme in love poetry, but Wilde's use of language and imagery is particularly powerful.
Another important aspect of this poem is the way that it explores the power of the human voice. Wilde clearly believes that the voice is a powerful tool for expressing emotion and connecting with others. He describes the way that his lover's voice has the power to transport him to another world, and to fill him with a sense of longing and desire. This is a powerful reminder of the importance of communication and connection in our lives.
Overall, "Her Voice" is a beautiful and haunting poem that captures the essence of love and desire. Wilde's use of language and imagery is particularly powerful, and he is able to convey a sense of longing and desire that is both universal and deeply personal. This is a poem that will resonate with anyone who has ever been in love, and it is a testament to the power of the human voice to connect us with others and to express our deepest emotions.
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