'Buried Life, The' by Matthew Arnold
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Light flows our war of mocking words, and yet,
Behold, with tears mine eyes are wet!
I feel a nameless sadness o'er me roll.
Yes, yes, we know that we can jest,
We know, we know that we can smile!
But there's a something in this breast,
To which thy light words bring no rest,
And thy gay smiles no anodyne.
Give me thy hand, and hush awhile,
And turn those limpid eyes on mine,
And let me read there, love! thy inmost soul.
Alas! is even love too weak
To unlock the heart, and let it speak?
Are even lovers powerless to reveal
To one another what indeed they feel?
I knew the mass of men conceal'd
Their thoughts, for fear that if reveal'd
They would by other men be met
With blank indifference, or with blame reproved;
I knew they lived and moved
Trick'd in disguises, alien to the rest
Of men, and alien to themselves--and yet
The same heart beats in every human breast!
But we, my love!--doth a like spell benumb
Our hearts, our voices?--must we too be dumb?
Ah! well for us, if even we,
Even for a moment, can get free
Our heart, and have our lips unchain'd;
For that which seals them hath been deep-ordain'd!
Fate, which foresaw
How frivolous a baby man would be--
By what distractions he would be possess'd,
How he would pour himself in every strife,
And well-nigh change his own identity--
That it might keep from his capricious play
His genuine self, and force him to obey
Even in his own despite his being's law,
Bade through the deep recesses of our breast
The unregarded river of our life
Pursue with indiscernible flow its way;
And that we should not see
The buried stream, and seem to be
Eddying at large in blind uncertainty,
Though driving on with it eternally.
But often, in the world's most crowded streets,
But often, in the din of strife,
There rises an unspeakable desire
After the knowledge of our buried life;
A thirst to spend our fire and restless force
In tracking out our true, original course;
A longing to inquire
Into the mystery of this heart which beats
So wild, so deep in us--to know
Whence our lives come and where they go.
And many a man in his own breast then delves,
But deep enough, alas! none ever mines.
And we have been on many thousand lines,
And we have shown, on each, spirit and power;
But hardly have we, for one little hour,
Been on our own line, have we been ourselves--
Hardly had skill to utter one of all
The nameless feelings that course through our breast,
But they course on for ever unexpress'd.
And long we try in vain to speak and act
Our hidden self, and what we say and do
Is eloquent, is well--but 't#is not true!
And then we will no more be rack'd
With inward striving, and demand
Of all the thousand nothings of the hour
Their stupefying power;
Ah yes, and they benumb us at our call!
Yet still, from time to time, vague and forlorn,
From the soul's subterranean depth upborne
As from an infinitely distant land,
Come airs, and floating echoes, and convey
A melancholy into all our day.
Only--but this is rare--
When a belov{'e}d hand is laid in ours,
When, jaded with the rush and glare
Of the interminable hours,
Our eyes can in another's eyes read clear,
When our world-deafen'd ear
Is by the tones of a loved voice caress'd--
A bolt is shot back somewhere in our breast,
And a lost pulse of feeling stirs again.
The eye sinks inward, and the heart lies plain,
And what we mean, we say, and what we would, we know.
A man becomes aware of his life's flow,
And hears its winding murmur; and he sees
The meadows where it glides, the sun, the breeze.
And there arrives a lull in the hot race
Wherein he doth for ever chase
That flying and elusive shadow, rest.
An air of coolness plays upon his face,
And an unwonted calm pervades his breast.
And then he thinks he knows
The hills where his life rose,
And the sea where it goes.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Matthew Arnold's "The Buried Life": A Journey of Self-Discovery
When it comes to poetry, Matthew Arnold is one of the most celebrated Victorian poets. His poem "The Buried Life" is a classic example of his literary prowess. It is a powerful and thought-provoking piece that takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery.
Overview
"The Buried Life" was published in 1852 as part of Arnold's collection of poems, "Poems by Matthew Arnold." It is a long narrative poem that is divided into four parts, each exploring a different aspect of the human experience.
The poem is a reflection on the human condition and the search for meaning and purpose in life. Arnold explores the idea that there is a part of us that is buried deep inside, a part we often ignore or suppress. This buried life is our true self, our innermost desires and aspirations, and our connection to the divine.
Part One: The Buried Life
The first part of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the piece. It begins with the speaker describing his sense of unease and restlessness. He feels that something is missing in his life, that there is a part of him that is buried deep inside.
The speaker describes this buried life as a "spring of love" that is "shut from sight." He longs to uncover this hidden part of himself and to be reunited with his true self. The poem is full of symbolism, with the buried life representing our deepest desires and aspirations.
Part Two: The Secret Self
In the second part of the poem, the speaker reflects on the nature of the buried life. He describes it as a secret self that is hidden from the world. This secret self is the part of us that is most vulnerable and most in need of protection.
The speaker laments the fact that we often hide our true selves from the world, fearing rejection or ridicule. He believes that if we could only be true to ourselves, we would find the fulfillment we seek.
Part Three: The Quest
The third part of the poem is the most dramatic. The speaker embarks on a quest to uncover his buried life. He travels to distant lands, seeking answers to his questions and searching for the key to unlocking his true self.
The quest is full of danger and uncertainty, but the speaker is determined to succeed. He realizes that he cannot find his buried life alone and seeks the help of others on his journey.
Part Four: The Revelation
The final part of the poem is the most reflective. The speaker has found what he was looking for and has uncovered his buried life. He realizes that the journey was not about finding something external but rather about discovering something within himself.
The revelation is a moment of clarity and understanding. The speaker recognizes that the buried life is not something to be feared or suppressed but rather something to be embraced and celebrated.
Interpretation
The poem is a powerful exploration of the human condition. Arnold is grappling with the idea that we are all struggling to find meaning and purpose in our lives. We all have a buried life that we long to uncover, but we often suppress it, fearing rejection or ridicule.
The poem is also a reflection on the nature of self-discovery. Arnold believes that the only way to uncover our buried life is to embark on a journey of self-discovery. This journey is full of uncertainty and danger, but it is ultimately rewarding.
The poem is full of symbolism, with the buried life representing our deepest desires and aspirations. The quest to uncover the buried life is a metaphor for the journey of self-discovery. It is a journey that we must all undertake if we are to find fulfillment and happiness in our lives.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Matthew Arnold's "The Buried Life" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem. It explores the human condition and the search for meaning and purpose in life. The poem is full of symbolism and metaphor, and it takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery.
Arnold's message is clear: we all have a buried life that we long to uncover. It is our true self, our innermost desires and aspirations, and our connection to the divine. The only way to uncover our buried life is to embark on a journey of self-discovery, a journey that is full of uncertainty and danger but ultimately rewarding.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Buried Life, The: A Masterpiece of Matthew Arnold
Matthew Arnold, one of the most prominent poets of the Victorian era, wrote a poem titled "The Buried Life" that has become a classic in the world of literature. The poem is a reflection on the human condition and the search for meaning in life. It is a powerful and thought-provoking work that has inspired countless readers over the years.
The poem is divided into two parts, each consisting of four stanzas. The first part describes the speaker's sense of being trapped in a mundane existence, where he feels that there is something missing in his life. He describes this feeling as a "buried life" that is hidden beneath the surface of his everyday existence. The speaker longs to uncover this buried life and find meaning in his existence.
The second part of the poem is a reflection on the nature of the buried life. The speaker suggests that this buried life is a universal experience, shared by all human beings. He argues that we all have a sense of something missing in our lives, and that this sense of incompleteness drives us to seek out meaning and purpose.
The poem is written in a highly metaphorical style, with the buried life serving as a powerful symbol for the human condition. The speaker suggests that the buried life is like a well that has been covered over, and that we must dig deep to uncover it. He also suggests that the buried life is like a seed that has been planted, and that we must nurture it in order for it to grow and flourish.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of imagery. Arnold employs a wide range of metaphors and symbols to convey the complex ideas that he is exploring. For example, he compares the buried life to a "dark unfathomed cave" and a "deep well." These images suggest a sense of mystery and depth, and convey the idea that the buried life is something that is hidden and difficult to access.
Arnold also uses a number of natural images to convey the idea of growth and development. He compares the buried life to a seed that must be nurtured in order to grow, and suggests that it is like a plant that needs sunlight and water to thrive. These images suggest that the buried life is something that requires care and attention in order to flourish.
Another important aspect of the poem is its exploration of the relationship between the buried life and the external world. The speaker suggests that the buried life is something that is deeply connected to the natural world, and that it is through our interactions with the world around us that we can uncover its secrets. He suggests that we must be open to the beauty and wonder of the world in order to access the buried life.
Overall, "The Buried Life" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores some of the most fundamental questions of human existence. It is a work that has inspired countless readers over the years, and continues to be a classic of English literature. Through its use of metaphor and imagery, it conveys a sense of mystery and depth that speaks to the human experience in a profound way.
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