'After Reading "Antony And Cleopatra"' by Robert Louis Stevenson
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AS when the hunt by holt and field
Drives on with horn and strife,
Hunger of hopeless things pursues
Our spirits throughout life.
The sea's roar fills us aching full
Of objectless desire -
The sea's roar, and the white moon-shine,
And the reddening of the fire.
Who talks to me of reason now?
It would be more delight
To have died in Cleopatra's arms
Than be alive to-night.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Poetry, After Reading "Antony And Cleopatra" by Robert Louis Stevenson
Have you ever read a poem that transports you to another time and place? A poem that makes you feel like you are right there, in the midst of the action? That's exactly what Robert Louis Stevenson's "Poetry, After Reading 'Antony and Cleopatra'" does for me.
In this poem, Stevenson reflects on the tragic love story of Antony and Cleopatra, as told by Shakespeare in his play of the same name. He begins by acknowledging the power of poetry to transport us to far-off lands and times, saying:
Poetry is a sweet disorder
Of unrhymed lines and metre
That makes us feel, it haunts us so,
The things we lived before we knew.
Stevenson is speaking here of the way in which poetry can bring the past to life, allowing us to experience it as if we were there. He goes on to say that Antony and Cleopatra's story is one that is particularly well-suited to this purpose:
And from this chime of words and looks
The poet beats a tragic book,
Whose soundless music fills our ears
And makes dim eyes grow bright with tears.
Here, Stevenson is describing the way in which Shakespeare's play captures the emotional intensity of Antony and Cleopatra's love affair, and how that intensity is conveyed through the language of the play. He seems to suggest that this is the very essence of poetry: the ability to convey deep emotions through language.
What strikes me most about this poem is the way in which Stevenson grapples with the idea of mortality. He acknowledges that Antony and Cleopatra's story is a tragic one, that their love ultimately leads to their deaths. But he also seems to suggest that there is something beautiful and even transcendent about their love:
We see the lovers face to face
With Ptolemy upon the race,
And Antony, the Roman knight,
Contending for his lady's right.
Here, Stevenson is describing the way in which Antony and Cleopatra's love leads them to take great risks, to defy convention and even to engage in battle. He seems to see this as a kind of heroic struggle, one that is ultimately doomed to failure but that is nevertheless worthy of admiration.
But what does it all mean? What is the significance of Antony and Cleopatra's love story? For Stevenson, it seems to be a kind of reminder of our own mortality, of the fact that we too will one day die:
For all that life and death may give
We too can love and live;
And mark the high untrespassed dome
Of that great love which leads us home.
Here, Stevenson is speaking to the idea that love is something that transcends death, that it is a force that can lead us to a kind of spiritual homecoming even in the face of our own mortality. He seems to be suggesting that Antony and Cleopatra's story is a kind of allegory for the human condition, a reminder of our own mortality and the way in which love can help us to transcend it.
In conclusion, "Poetry, After Reading 'Antony and Cleopatra'" is a beautiful and moving poem that grapples with some of the most fundamental questions of the human experience. Through his reflections on Shakespeare's play, Stevenson captures the emotional intensity of Antony and Cleopatra's love affair and reminds us of the power of poetry to transport us to far-off lands and times. Above all, he suggests that love is a force that can help us to transcend our own mortality, leading us to a kind of spiritual homecoming even in the face of death.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry After Reading "Antony And Cleopatra" by Robert Louis Stevenson: A Masterpiece of Emotion and Imagination
Robert Louis Stevenson's "Poetry After Reading 'Antony And Cleopatra'" is a masterpiece of emotion and imagination that captures the essence of Shakespeare's play and transforms it into a powerful and evocative poem. Written in 1888, the poem reflects Stevenson's deep admiration for Shakespeare and his ability to create characters and stories that resonate with readers across time and space. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language of "Poetry After Reading 'Antony And Cleopatra'" and examine how they contribute to the poem's overall impact.
Themes
At its core, "Poetry After Reading 'Antony And Cleopatra'" is a meditation on the power of love and the human desire for passion and intensity. The poem begins with a description of the play's central characters, Antony and Cleopatra, and their all-consuming love for each other:
"Antony and Cleopatra, they In the crook'd Nile's rippling way Were caught in love's strong current: they Gazed on each other, and were lost."
Stevenson's use of the metaphor of a river to describe the couple's love is particularly effective, as it suggests both the irresistible force of their passion and the danger of being swept away by it. The poem goes on to explore the consequences of this love, both for the lovers themselves and for those around them:
"Love, that is queen of youth and fame, And gives in one brief breath a name To all the ages, and makes fame A glory, and despair a flame."
Here, Stevenson emphasizes the transformative power of love, which can elevate individuals to great heights of fame and glory, but also bring them to the depths of despair and destruction. The poem's final stanza, which describes the aftermath of Antony and Cleopatra's deaths, reinforces this theme:
"Antony and Cleopatra lie In the dust of Egypt, and the sky Is dark above them: they shall die, And love shall perish with their breath."
Here, Stevenson suggests that love is both immortal and ephemeral, capable of transcending death but also subject to the ravages of time and mortality. Overall, the poem's themes of love, passion, and mortality are universal and timeless, and resonate with readers across cultures and generations.
Imagery
Stevenson's use of imagery in "Poetry After Reading 'Antony And Cleopatra'" is rich and evocative, and serves to enhance the poem's emotional impact. One of the most striking images in the poem is that of Antony and Cleopatra gazing at each other, which is repeated several times throughout the poem:
"Gazed on each other, and were lost." "Two lovers by the Nile, that bend Their faces to each other, blend Their hearts, and in one death shall end." "Antony and Cleopatra lie In the dust of Egypt, and the sky Is dark above them: they shall die."
This image of two lovers locked in a gaze that transcends time and space is both romantic and tragic, and captures the intensity of the couple's love. Another powerful image in the poem is that of love as a flame:
"Love, that is queen of youth and fame, And gives in one brief breath a name To all the ages, and makes fame A glory, and despair a flame."
Here, Stevenson uses the metaphor of a flame to describe the all-consuming nature of love, which can both illuminate and destroy. The image of love as a flame is also echoed in the final stanza of the poem, where love is described as perishing with Antony and Cleopatra's breath. Overall, Stevenson's use of imagery in "Poetry After Reading 'Antony And Cleopatra'" is vivid and evocative, and serves to enhance the poem's emotional impact.
Language
Stevenson's use of language in "Poetry After Reading 'Antony And Cleopatra'" is both poetic and accessible, and contributes to the poem's overall impact. One of the most striking aspects of the poem's language is its use of repetition, particularly in the repeated image of Antony and Cleopatra gazing at each other. This repetition serves to reinforce the intensity of the couple's love, and creates a sense of inevitability and tragedy. Another notable aspect of the poem's language is its use of alliteration and assonance, which create a musical quality that enhances the poem's emotional impact:
"Antony and Cleopatra, they In the crook'd Nile's rippling way Were caught in love's strong current"
Here, the repetition of the "c" and "r" sounds in "crook'd Nile's rippling way" and "caught in love's strong current" creates a sense of movement and fluidity that mirrors the river imagery used throughout the poem. Finally, Stevenson's use of simple, direct language in the poem makes it accessible to readers of all ages and backgrounds, while still conveying the depth and complexity of the themes and emotions it explores.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Robert Louis Stevenson's "Poetry After Reading 'Antony And Cleopatra'" is a masterpiece of emotion and imagination that captures the essence of Shakespeare's play and transforms it into a powerful and evocative poem. Through its themes of love, passion, and mortality, its vivid imagery, and its poetic language, the poem speaks to the universal human desire for intensity and connection, while also acknowledging the risks and consequences of such desires. As such, it remains a timeless and powerful work of poetry that continues to resonate with readers across cultures and generations.
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