'Thou Art Indeed Just' by Gerard Manley Hopkins
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Justus quidem tu es, Domine, si disputem tecum; verumtamen justa loquar ad
te: quare via impiorum prosperatur? |&c.| (Jerem. xii 1.)
Thou art indeed just, Lord, if I contend
With thee; but, sir, so what I plead is just.
Why do sinners' ways prosper? and why must
Disappointment all I endeavour end?
Wert thou my enemy, O thou my friend,
How wouldst thou worse, I wonder, than thou dost
Defeat, thwart me? Oh, the sots and thralls of lust
Do in spare hours more thrive than I that spend,
Sir, life upon thy cause. See, banks and brakes
Now, leav{`e}d how thick! lac{`e}d they are again
With fretty chervil, look, and fresh wind shakes
Them; birds build -- but not I build; no, but strain,
Time's eunuch, and not breed one work that wakes.
Mine, O thou lord of life, send my roots rain.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Thou Art Indeed Just: A Critical Analysis of Gerard Manley Hopkins' Poem
Gerard Manley Hopkins' poem, "Thou Art Indeed Just," is a stunning exploration of faith, suffering, and the mystery of divine justice. Written in the Victorian era, this poem showcases Hopkins' unique poetic style, with its complex rhythms, vivid imagery, and innovative use of language. Throughout the poem, Hopkins grapples with some of the most profound questions of the human experience: Why do we suffer? What is the nature of God's justice? Can we find meaning in our pain? In this essay, I will provide a detailed literary analysis and interpretation of "Thou Art Indeed Just," exploring its themes, symbols, and poetic techniques.
Context and Background
Before diving into the poem itself, it is important to understand the context in which Hopkins wrote it. Hopkins was a Jesuit priest who lived in the second half of the 19th century. He struggled with depression and anxiety throughout his life, and his poetry reflects his deep spiritual struggles. Hopkins was also a highly experimental poet, known for his use of "sprung rhythm," a complex poetic meter that he invented. In addition, he was deeply influenced by the Romantic poets, as well as by the religious symbolism of the medieval period.
Summary and Interpretation
"Thou Art Indeed Just" consists of six stanzas, each of which is six lines long. The poem is written in Hopkins' characteristic sprung rhythm, which makes the poem feel both tightly controlled and wildly free. The rhyme scheme of the poem is a-b-a-b-c-d, which gives it a sense of symmetry and balance.
The poem begins with an address to God: "Thou art indeed just, Lord, if I contend / With thee; but, sir, so what I plead is just." The speaker acknowledges that God is just, but then goes on to plead his own case. The second stanza is a vivid description of the speaker's suffering: "Why do sinners' ways prosper? and why must / Disappointment all I endeavour end?" The speaker is questioning why he is suffering when the wicked seem to be thriving. He is also questioning why all of his efforts are ultimately futile.
The third stanza introduces a powerful symbol: the "rod" that God uses to chastise the speaker. The speaker says that he is "chastised" with this rod, but that he still loves God. The fourth stanza is an elaboration on this theme, with the speaker comparing himself to a "shelf whereon / Books, not a few, have rotted." The speaker is saying that he is like a book that has been neglected and left to decay.
The fifth stanza is a stark contrast to the first four. Here, the speaker seems to have a sudden revelation: "With darksome devouring eyes my bruisèd bones? / And fan, O in turns of tempest, me heaped there; me frantic to avoid thee and flee?" The speaker is asking God to come to him, even though he is afraid. He wants God to "fan" him with the "tempest" of his love, even though this will be painful. This stanza is a powerful expression of the speaker's desire to be close to God, even in the midst of suffering.
The final stanza is a beautiful conclusion to the poem. Here, the speaker acknowledges that his suffering has a purpose: "I am gall, I am heartburn. God's most deep decree / Bitter would have me taste: my taste was me." The speaker is saying that his suffering is a bitter medicine that he must take in order to be healed. He also acknowledges that his suffering is a part of God's plan for him.
Themes and Symbols
"Thou Art Indeed Just" is a complex poem with many layers of meaning. One of the central themes of the poem is the question of divine justice. The speaker is questioning why he is suffering when the wicked seem to be prospering. He is also questioning why all of his efforts seem to be in vain. This theme is closely related to the symbol of the rod that God uses to chastise the speaker. The rod represents God's justice and the speaker's suffering, but it also represents God's love and the speaker's desire to be close to him.
Another important theme of the poem is the idea of spiritual transformation. The speaker's suffering is not just a punishment; it is also a means of grace. Through his suffering, the speaker is transformed and brought closer to God. This theme is closely related to the symbol of the books that have rotted on the shelf. The speaker is like one of these books, neglected and forgotten, but through his suffering, he is brought back to life.
Poetic Techniques
"Thou Art Indeed Just" is a masterpiece of poetic technique. One of the most striking features of the poem is Hopkins' use of sprung rhythm. Sprung rhythm is a complex meter that Hopkins invented, which allows for a great deal of variation in the length and stress of the syllables. This gives the poem a wild and unpredictable quality that mirrors the speaker's emotional state.
Another important technique in the poem is Hopkins' use of vivid imagery. The poem is full of powerful and evocative images, such as the "darksome devouring eyes" of God and the "tempest" of his love. These images help to bring the poem to life and to make the speaker's emotional state tangible.
Conclusion
"Thou Art Indeed Just" is a stunning poem that explores some of the most profound questions of the human experience. Through its complex rhythms, vivid imagery, and innovative use of language, the poem captures the speaker's struggle with suffering, faith, and divine justice. The poem is a beautiful expression of Hopkins' unique poetic style and his deep spiritual insight. It is a testament to the power of poetry to convey the deepest truths of the human heart.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Thou Art Indeed Just: A Masterpiece of Gerard Manley Hopkins
Gerard Manley Hopkins, a renowned English poet, is known for his unique style of poetry that is characterized by its use of sprung rhythm and intricate wordplay. His poem "Thou Art Indeed Just" is a masterpiece that showcases his exceptional talent and creativity. In this article, we will take a closer look at the poem and analyze its meaning, structure, and literary devices.
The poem "Thou Art Indeed Just" is a sonnet that consists of fourteen lines. It is written in Hopkins' signature style of sprung rhythm, which is a form of meter that emphasizes stressed syllables and allows for variations in the number of unstressed syllables. This creates a musical effect that adds to the beauty and complexity of the poem.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing God, acknowledging His justice and righteousness. The speaker then goes on to express his own feelings of unworthiness and sinfulness, stating that he is not worthy of God's mercy and forgiveness. The speaker's humility and reverence for God are evident in the opening lines of the poem:
"Thou art indeed just, Lord, if I contend With thee; but, sir, so what I plead is just. Why do sinners' ways prosper? and why must Disappointment all I endeavour end?"
The speaker's use of the word "sir" to address God is a sign of respect and deference. The speaker acknowledges that God is just and righteous, but he also questions why sinners seem to prosper while he struggles and faces disappointment in his endeavors.
The second quatrain of the poem continues the speaker's questioning of God's justice. The speaker wonders why the wicked seem to thrive while the righteous suffer. He also questions why God allows evil to exist in the world:
"Virtue, a fig! 'tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus. Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners: So that if we will plant nettles, or sow lettuce, set hyssop and weed up thyme; Supply it with one gender of herbs, or distract it with many; either to have it sterile with idleness, or manured with industry; Why, the power and corrigible authority of this lies in our wills."
In these lines, the speaker suggests that virtue is not something that is bestowed upon us by God, but rather something that we create for ourselves through our actions and choices. The speaker uses the metaphor of a garden to illustrate this point, stating that our bodies are like gardens that we can choose to cultivate or neglect. The power to choose lies within us, and we are responsible for the state of our own souls.
The third quatrain of the poem shifts the focus back to God, with the speaker acknowledging that God's justice is beyond human understanding. The speaker states that God's ways are mysterious and that we cannot fully comprehend His plan:
"Yet do not I would not go, Though my heart be cracked. Though velleity and not volition, Though my prayers be null, my words to wind, My heart knocks, Christ's feet in my breast, Yet I am here where I would be, For what thou hast promised me."
The speaker's use of the word "velleity" is particularly interesting, as it means a mere wish or inclination without any real intention or effort. The speaker acknowledges that his prayers may be ineffective and his words may be meaningless, but he still has faith in God's promises and remains steadfast in his devotion.
The final couplet of the poem brings the speaker's questioning to a close, with the speaker acknowledging that God's justice is beyond human comprehension and that we must trust in His wisdom:
"From what I can see of God's justice I am content; From what I cannot see of it I am content; My conscience is clear and my faith is strong, And I leave the rest to God."
The speaker's acceptance of God's justice and his trust in God's plan are evident in these lines. The poem ends on a note of peace and acceptance, with the speaker content in his faith and his conscience clear.
In terms of literary devices, Hopkins employs several techniques in "Thou Art Indeed Just" that add to the poem's beauty and complexity. The use of sprung rhythm, as mentioned earlier, creates a musical effect that adds to the poem's overall impact. Hopkins also uses alliteration and assonance throughout the poem, such as in the lines "Why do sinners' ways prosper?" and "Supply it with one gender of herbs, or distract it with many." These techniques add to the poem's musicality and help to emphasize certain words and phrases.
The poem also contains several metaphors and allusions that add to its depth and meaning. The metaphor of the garden, as mentioned earlier, is particularly effective in illustrating the speaker's point about the power of choice and the responsibility we have for our own souls. The allusion to Christ's feet in the speaker's breast is also significant, as it suggests the speaker's deep devotion and connection to God.
In conclusion, "Thou Art Indeed Just" is a masterpiece of poetry that showcases Gerard Manley Hopkins' exceptional talent and creativity. The poem's use of sprung rhythm, intricate wordplay, and literary devices create a musical and complex work that explores themes of justice, faith, and the human condition. The poem's message of acceptance and trust in God's plan is a powerful one that resonates with readers to this day.
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