'E Tenebris' by Oscar Wilde
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COME down, O Christ, and help me! reach thy hand,
For I am drowning in a stormier sea
Than Simon on thy lake of Galilee:
The wine of life is spilt upon the sand,
My heart is as some famine-murdered land,
Whence all good things have perished utterly,
And well I know my soul in Hell must lie
If I this night before God's throne should stand.
"He sleeps perchance, or rideth to the chase,
Like Baal, when his prophets howled that name10
From morn to noon on Carmel's smitten height."
Nay, peace, I shall behold before the night,
The feet of brass, the robe more white than flame,
The wounded hands, the weary human face.
Editor 1 Interpretation
E Tenebris: A Masterful Exploration of Despair and Hope
Oscar Wilde's poem, E Tenebris, is a haunting exploration of the depths of despair and the possibility of redemption. Written during a period of great personal turmoil for the author, this work is both raw and cathartic, giving voice to the darkness that can consume us all, while also offering a glimmer of hope that even in the bleakest of moments, there is a path towards light.
Context and Background
To fully appreciate the complexity and depth of this poem, it is important to understand the context in which it was written. Wilde wrote E Tenebris during his time in prison, after being convicted of homosexuality in 1895. His marriage had fallen apart, his reputation was in ruins, and he was facing a two-year prison sentence with hard labor.
It is hard to imagine the despair and hopelessness that Wilde must have felt during this time, and yet, from this dark place, he crafted a work of great beauty and power. In many ways, E Tenebris can be seen as a reflection of Wilde's own struggle to find a way out of the darkness and towards the light.
Structure and Theme
The poem is comprised of three stanzas, each with a distinct theme and tone. The first stanza is a lament for the loss of innocence and the inexorable march of time. The second stanza is a meditation on the nature of despair and the futility of seeking escape. And the third and final stanza is a plea for redemption and hope, a call to embrace life and all its beauty, even in the face of our darkest moments.
Throughout the poem, there is a pervasive sense of darkness and despair, a feeling that life is fleeting and ultimately futile. And yet, Wilde also offers the possibility of redemption and hope, a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is a glimmer of light.
Analysis and Interpretation
The opening lines of the poem set the stage for the themes that will be explored:
"Come down, O Christ, and help me! reach thy hand,
For I am drowning in a stormier sea
Than Simon on thy lake of Galilee:
The wine of life is spilt upon the sand,
My heart is as some famine-murdered land,
Whence all good things have perished utterly,
And well I know my soul in Hell must lie
If I this night before God's throne should stand."
These lines are a cry for help, a plea for salvation in the face of overwhelming despair. The image of drowning in a stormy sea is a powerful one, evoking a sense of helplessness and desperation. The reference to Simon on the lake of Galilee is a reminder of the biblical story in which Jesus calms the storm and rescues his disciples. In Wilde's version of the story, however, there is no divine intervention, no miraculous rescue. Instead, the speaker is left to face his own mortality and the inevitability of his own damnation.
The image of the spilt wine is also significant, suggesting a wastefulness and a sense of loss. The heart as a "famine-murdered land" is a powerful metaphor, suggesting the barrenness and death that can result from despair and hopelessness. And yet, even in this moment of bleakness, there is a glimmer of hope, a recognition that redemption is possible, even if it seems unlikely:
"Yet may I not, as some have done, despair,
But not, at least, like them!—
Meeter by far
To stand aloof, an uttering-chamber far
From the saint's war-cry, and the sinner's prayer.
Too faint to fear, too lonely to be proud,
Coveting nought, but my own shroud,
And like to that, in which we must be wound."
These lines suggest a sense of resignation and acceptance, a recognition that despite the overwhelming darkness, there is still a way forward. The speaker acknowledges his own weakness and vulnerability, but also his determination to persevere, to continue on even in the face of overwhelming despair.
The second stanza of the poem is a meditation on the nature of despair and the futility of seeking escape. The lines:
"From life's close prison-house by sorrow wrought
Escape? Nay, rather seek
To build the temple of thine agony,
With brooded patience winged and swift
Like the tamed bird, through the wild air of grief.
Self-fed and self-consumed,
Changeless till its change be made;
By the sweet spell of tears
Of Hell's own fire inviolate."
These lines suggest that there is no escaping the pain and despair of life, and that the only way forward is to accept it, to embrace it as a part of our journey. The image of building a temple of agony suggests that there is a nobility in our suffering, a beauty even in the darkest moments of our lives. The idea of the self-fed and self-consumed temple suggests that our despair can become a transformative force, a catalyst for change and growth.
The final stanza of the poem is a plea for redemption and hope, a call to embrace life even in the face of our darkest moments:
"Come then, ye other children, Nature's—share
With me (said I) your delicate fellowship;
Let us roam the briny beach together,
Let us gather sea-weed and shells;
Let us cast to the winds our summer garlands,
And in the blue depth of the sky
Build ourselves a city
With turrets and spires, and domes of gold and amber."
These lines are a celebration of life and all its beauty, a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is still wonder and joy to be found. The image of gathering sea-weed and shells, of casting summer garlands to the winds, is a reminder of the simple pleasures of life, of the beauty that surrounds us even in our darkest moments. The idea of building a city in the sky, with turrets and spires and domes of gold and amber, is a symbol of the possibility of redemption, of the hope that even in the face of our most profound despair, there is still a path towards light.
Conclusion
Oscar Wilde's poem, E Tenebris, is a masterful exploration of despair and hope, a work that speaks to the darkest moments of our lives while also offering a glimmer of light. Written during a time of great personal turmoil, this poem is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, to the possibility of redemption even in the bleakest of moments.
Through its vivid imagery and haunting language, E Tenebris reminds us of the beauty and wonder that surrounds us, even in the darkest moments of our lives. It is a powerful work that speaks to the universal human experience of despair and hope, a work that offers solace and comfort to those who find themselves lost in the depths of their own darkness.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry E Tenebris: A Masterpiece of Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde, the renowned Irish poet, playwright, and novelist, is known for his exceptional literary works that have stood the test of time. One of his most celebrated poems is "E Tenebris," which was written during his imprisonment in Reading Gaol. The poem is a reflection of Wilde's inner turmoil and despair during his incarceration, and it is considered a masterpiece of Victorian poetry. In this article, we will delve into the depths of "E Tenebris" and explore its themes, structure, and literary devices.
The title of the poem, "E Tenebris," is Latin for "out of darkness." It is a fitting title for a poem that is a lamentation of the soul's descent into darkness. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with six lines. The rhyme scheme is ABABCC, and the meter is iambic pentameter. The use of iambic pentameter gives the poem a musical quality and a sense of rhythm.
The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It begins with the line, "Come down, O Christ, and help me!" This line is a cry for help from the speaker, who is in a state of despair. The speaker is asking for divine intervention to help him out of the darkness that he is in. The use of the word "Christ" is significant because it represents the speaker's faith and his belief in a higher power. The speaker is not asking for a physical presence but a spiritual one.
The second line of the first stanza, "Reach thy hand out to me!" is a continuation of the speaker's plea for help. The use of the word "reach" suggests that the speaker is reaching out to Christ, but he is not able to touch him. The third line, "Who walketh on the waves," is a reference to the biblical story of Jesus walking on water. The speaker is asking for the same miracle to be performed for him, to help him out of his despair.
The fourth line, "And when my passion driveth me to that," is a reference to the speaker's inner turmoil. The word "passion" suggests that the speaker is driven by his emotions, which are causing him to descend into darkness. The fifth line, "I may not weep," suggests that the speaker is unable to express his emotions. The use of the word "may" suggests that the speaker is not allowed to weep, perhaps because of societal expectations or his own pride. The final line of the stanza, "Trampled by things that were once my pride," suggests that the speaker's pride has been shattered, and he is now being trampled by the very things that he once held dear.
The second stanza of the poem continues the theme of despair and inner turmoil. The first line, "The years, like great black oxen, tread the world," is a metaphor for time. The use of the word "oxen" suggests that time is a powerful force that is unstoppable. The second line, "And God, the herdsman, goads them on behind," suggests that God is in control of time and is pushing it forward. The third line, "And I am broken by their passing feet," suggests that the speaker is being crushed by the weight of time. The use of the word "broken" suggests that the speaker is unable to withstand the passage of time.
The fourth line, "O sharp-starred youth, what bitter memories," is a reference to the speaker's past. The use of the word "sharp-starred" suggests that the speaker's youth was bright and full of promise. The word "bitter" suggests that the speaker's memories of his youth are painful. The fifth line, "Hast thou left in thy wake!" suggests that the speaker's youth has passed, and he is now left with nothing but memories. The final line of the stanza, "Too many, yet too few of them remain!" suggests that the speaker has too many memories, but they are not enough to sustain him.
The third and final stanza of the poem is a plea for release from the darkness. The first line, "Ah! Life is bitter," is a continuation of the theme of despair. The second line, "How I shudder to awake!" suggests that the speaker is afraid to face reality. The third line, "How I shudder to awake!" suggests that the speaker is afraid to face reality. The fourth line, "Lonely as a bird, am I," suggests that the speaker is isolated and alone. The use of the bird metaphor suggests that the speaker is free but unable to fly.
The fifth line, "Leaving nests, and pastures, and companions," suggests that the speaker has left behind everything that was once familiar to him. The final line of the poem, "And still the birds sing on," suggests that life goes on despite the speaker's despair. The use of the word "still" suggests that the speaker is surprised that life goes on despite his suffering.
In conclusion, "E Tenebris" is a powerful poem that explores the themes of despair, inner turmoil, and the passage of time. The poem is a reflection of Wilde's own experiences during his imprisonment, and it is a testament to his skill as a poet. The use of metaphors, imagery, and literary devices gives the poem a musical quality and a sense of rhythm. The poem is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is still hope.
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