'The New Helen' by Oscar Wilde
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WHERE hast thou been since round the walls of Troy
The sons of God fought in that great emprise?
Why dost thou walk our common earth again?
Hast thou forgotten that impassioned boy,
His purple galley, and his Tyrian men,
And treacherous Aphrodite's mocking eyes?
For surely it was thou, who, like a star
Hung in the silver silence of the night,
Didst lure the Old World's chivalry and might
Into the clamorous crimson waves of war!10
Or didst thou rule the fire-laden moon?
In amorous Sidon was thy temple built
Over the light and laughter of the sea?
Where, behind lattice scarlet-wrought and gilt,
Some brown-limbed girl did weave thee tapestry,
All through the waste and wearied hours of noon;
Till her wan cheek with flame of passion burned,
And she rose up the sea-washed lips to kiss
Of some glad Cyprian sailor, safe returned
From Calpé and the cliffs of Herakles!20
No! thou art Helen, and none other one!
It was for thee that young Sarpedôn died,
And Memnôn's manhood was untimely spent;
It was for thee gold-crested Hector tried
With Thetis' child that evil race to run,
In the last year of thy beleaguerment;
Ay! even now the glory of thy fame
Burns in those fields of trampled asphodel,
Where the high lords whom Ilion knew so well
Clash ghostly shields, and call upon thy name.30
Where hast thou been? in that enchanted land
Whose slumbering vales forlorn Calypso knew,
Where never mower rose to greet the day
But all unswathed the trammelling grasses grew,
And the sad shepherd saw the tall corn stand
Till summer's red had changed to withered gray?
Didst thou lie there by some Lethæan stream
Deep brooding on thine ancient memory,
The crash of broken spears, the fiery gleam
From shivered helm, the Grecian battle-cry.40
Nay, thou wert hidden in that hollow hill
With one who is forgotten utterly,
That discrowned Queen men call the Erycine;
Hidden away that never mightst thou see
The face of Her, before whose mouldering shrine
To-day at Rome the silent nations kneel;
Who gat from Love no joyous gladdening,
But only Love's intolerable pain,
Only a sword to pierce her heart in twain,
Only the bitterness of child-bearing.50
The lotos-leaves which heal the wounds of Death
Lie in thy hand; O, be thou kind to me,
While yet I know the summer of my days;
For hardly can my tremulous lips draw breath
To fill the silver trumpet with thy praise,
So bowed am I before thy mystery;
So bowed and broken on Love's terrible wheel,
That I have lost all hope and heart to sing,
Yet care I not what ruin time may bring
If in thy temple thou wilt let me kneel.60
Alas, alas, thou wilt not tarry here,
But, like that bird, the servant of the sun,
Who flies before the northwind and the night,
So wilt thou fly our evil land and drear,
Back to the tower of thine old delight,
And the red lips of young Euphorion;
Nor shall I ever see thy face again,
But in this poisonous garden must I stay,
Crowning my brows with the thorn-crown of pain,
Till all my loveless life shall pass away.70
O Helen! Helen! Helen! yet awhile,
Yet for a little while, O, tarry here,
Till the dawn cometh and the shadows flee!
For in the gladsome sunlight of thy smile
Of heaven or hell I have no thought or fear,
Seeing I know no other god but thee:
No other god save him, before whose feet
In nets of gold the tired planets move,
The incarnate spirit of spiritual love
Who in thy body holds his joyous seat.80
Thou wert not born as common women are!
But, girt with silver splendour of the foam,
Didst from the depths of sapphire seas arise!
And at thy coming some immortal star,
Bearded with flame, blazed in the Eastern skies,
And waked the shepherds on thine island-home.
Thou shalt not die: no asps of Egypt creep
Close at thy heels to taint the delicate air;
No sullen-blooming poppies stain thy hair,
Those scarlet heralds of eternal sleep.90
Lily of love, pure and inviolate!
Tower of ivory! red rose of fire!
Thou hast come down our darkness to illume:
For we, close-caught in the wide nets of Fate,
Wearied with waiting for the World's Desire,
Aimlessly wandered in the house of gloom,
Aimlessly sought some slumberous anodyne
For wasted lives, for lingering wretchedness,
Till we beheld thy re-arisen shrine,
And the white glory of thy loveliness.100
Editor 1 Interpretation
"The New Helen" by Oscar Wilde: A Critical Interpretation
When one thinks of Oscar Wilde, what usually comes to mind are his plays and witty epigrams. However, Wilde was also an accomplished poet, and "The New Helen" is a prime example of his poetic talent. This poem, which was published in 1881, is an exploration of beauty, desire, and the danger of obsession.
Overview and Analysis
The poem is structured as a conversation between the speaker and a woman who is described as "fairer than the evening air clad in the beauty of a thousand stars." The speaker marvels at her beauty and compares her to mythical figures like Venus and Helen of Troy. He is captivated by her and begs her to stay with him, warning her of the dangers that await her outside.
However, the woman is not swayed by his pleas. She tells him that she must go out into the world and that she is not afraid of its dangers. She says that if she were to stay with the speaker, she would be "shut up in a tower of brass," and that she would rather "wander where the winds wills."
At its core, "The New Helen" is a poem about the power of beauty and the danger of becoming obsessed with it. The speaker is so captivated by the woman's beauty that he wants to keep her all to himself, even if it means confining her to a tower. But the woman knows that true beauty cannot be contained or controlled, and that it must be allowed to roam free.
This theme is further emphasized by the references to mythological figures like Venus and Helen of Troy. Both of these figures were known for their beauty, and both were the cause of great conflict and tragedy. The speaker seems to be aware of this, as he warns the woman that she will be "chased by clamorous wars."
Interpretation
"The New Helen" can be interpreted in a number of ways, but one possible reading is that it is a commentary on Victorian society's obsession with beauty and the dangers of that obsession. In the Victorian era, beauty was highly valued, especially in women. Women were expected to be "the fairer sex," and their worth was often measured by their physical appearance.
However, Wilde seems to be arguing that this obsession with beauty can be dangerous. The speaker's desire to keep the woman all to himself is reminiscent of the way men in Victorian society often treated women as possessions rather than individuals. The woman's insistence on being free to wander where she wills can be seen as a rejection of this kind of possessive behavior.
Furthermore, the references to Venus and Helen of Troy suggest that beauty has always been a source of conflict and tragedy. The speaker's warning that the woman will be "chased by clamorous wars" is a reminder that beauty can be a weapon, and that those who possess it are often the targets of envy and desire.
Of course, "The New Helen" is not just a commentary on Victorian society. Its themes are timeless and universal, and they speak to our own obsession with beauty and desire. In a world that often values appearance over substance, Wilde's poem is a reminder that beauty is fleeting, and that true worth cannot be measured by physical appearance alone.
Conclusion
"The New Helen" is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the themes of beauty, desire, and obsession. With its references to mythological figures and its commentary on Victorian society, it is a work that is both timeless and timely. Whether read as a commentary on Victorian society's obsession with beauty or as a warning against our own obsession with appearance, "The New Helen" is a work that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The New Helen: A Masterpiece of Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde, the renowned Irish poet, playwright, and novelist, is known for his witty and satirical works that often challenged the norms of Victorian society. One of his lesser-known works, The New Helen, is a poem that showcases Wilde's poetic prowess and his ability to weave a complex narrative with vivid imagery and symbolism.
The New Helen is a poem that tells the story of a woman who is compared to the mythical figure of Helen of Troy, known for her beauty and the destruction she caused. The poem is divided into three parts, each exploring a different aspect of the woman's character and the impact she has on those around her.
The first part of the poem introduces the woman and describes her beauty in detail. Wilde's use of language is particularly striking in this section, as he employs vivid imagery and metaphor to convey the woman's allure. For example, he describes her hair as "a golden mesh" and her eyes as "two stars that meet and part." The effect is to create a sense of otherworldliness around the woman, as if she is not quite human but rather a goddess or a fairy.
The second part of the poem shifts the focus to the impact the woman has on those around her. Wilde portrays her as a destructive force, causing chaos and upheaval wherever she goes. He uses the metaphor of a storm to describe her effect on the world, saying that "she comes like a storm-wind / And she goes like a flame." The imagery is powerful and evocative, conveying the sense of danger and unpredictability that surrounds the woman.
The third and final part of the poem takes a more philosophical turn, exploring the nature of beauty and its relationship to truth and goodness. Wilde suggests that beauty is a double-edged sword, capable of both inspiring and corrupting those who encounter it. He writes, "Beauty is a sword of flame, / It is a splendid, shining shame, / A glow in hearts, a lovely blame." The paradoxical nature of beauty is further emphasized by the final lines of the poem, which suggest that the woman's beauty is both a blessing and a curse: "She is the Helen of our Troy, / She is the Helen of our joy."
Overall, The New Helen is a masterful work of poetry that showcases Wilde's skill as a writer and his ability to explore complex themes with depth and nuance. The poem's use of vivid imagery, metaphor, and symbolism creates a rich and evocative world that draws the reader in and leaves a lasting impression. Wilde's exploration of the nature of beauty and its relationship to truth and goodness is particularly thought-provoking, and his portrayal of the woman as a destructive force is both haunting and powerful. In short, The New Helen is a must-read for anyone interested in the works of Oscar Wilde or in the art of poetry more broadly.
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