'The Pulley' by George Herbert

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When God at first made man,
Having a glass of blessings standing by,
Let us (said He) pour on him all we can:
Let the world's riches, which dispersed lie,
Contract into a span.So strength first made a way;
Then beauty flowed, then wisdom, honour, pleasure:
When almost all was out, God made a stay,
Perceiving that alone of all His treasure
Rest in the bottom lay.For if I should (said He)
Bestow this jewel also on my creature,
He would adore My gifts instead of Me,
And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature:
So both should losers be.Yet let him keep the rest,
But keep them with repining restlessness:
Let him be rich and weary, that, at least,
If goodness lead him not, yet weariness
May toss him to My breast.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Pulley by George Herbert: A Masterpiece of Religious Poetry

The Pulley is a poem by George Herbert, one of the most distinguished metaphysical poets of the seventeenth century. The poem is a meditation on God's love and man's restless soul, and it explores the idea that God's love is the only thing that can truly satisfy human desires. The Pulley is a masterpiece of religious poetry that combines rich imagery, clever metaphors, and profound theological insights. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the meaning and significance of The Pulley and its enduring relevance for readers today.

The Poem

Before we dive into the interpretation of the poem, let's first take a look at the text of The Pulley:

When God at first made man,
Having a glass of blessings standing by;
Let us (said he) pour on him all we can:
Let the world's riches, which dispersed lie,
Contract into a span.

So strength first made a way;
Then beauty flowed, then wisdom, honour, pleasure:
When almost all was out, God made a stay,
Perceiving that, alone of all his treasure,
Rest in the bottom lay.

For if I should (said he)
Bestow this jewel also on my creature,
He would adore my gifts instead of me,
And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature:
So both should losers be.

Yet let him keep the rest,
But keep them with repining restlessness:
Let him be rich and weary, that at least,
If goodness lead him not, yet weariness
May toss him to my breast.

The poem consists of four stanzas, each with a different rhyme scheme. The first stanza sets the scene by describing how God created man and poured upon him all the blessings of the world, but stopped short of giving him rest. The second stanza explains why God held back rest, as it would cause man to worship the gifts rather than the giver. The third stanza acknowledges that man is still given the other blessings of strength, beauty, wisdom, honor, and pleasure, but with the caveat that he will be restless and dissatisfied without God. The final stanza suggests that weariness and dissatisfaction may ultimately lead man to turn to God and find rest in him.

Interpretation

The Pulley is a poem that explores the relationship between God and man and the nature of human desire. The central metaphor of the poem is the pulley, a mechanical device used to lift heavy objects by exerting less force. In the poem, God is the one who uses the pulley to lift man from his worldly desires and draw him closer to himself. The metaphor is powerful because it suggests that man is incapable of reaching God without divine intervention, just as a heavy object cannot be lifted without the use of a pulley.

The poem's opening lines, "When God at first made man, / Having a glass of blessings standing by," suggest that God created man with the intention of pouring upon him all the blessings of the world. The image of the "glass of blessings" evokes a sense of abundance and generosity on God's part. The use of the word "glass" also suggests that these blessings are fragile and fleeting, like the material of a drinking glass.

The next line, "Let us (said he) pour on him all we can," reinforces the idea that God is overflowing with blessings and wants to bestow them upon man. The use of the plural pronoun "us" implies that God is not alone in his decision to create man and bless him. It suggests a sense of community and cooperation within the Godhead.

The line "Let the world's riches, which dispersed lie, / Contract into a span" is a clever use of imagery. The idea that the world's riches are "dispersed" suggests that they are scattered and disorganized, while the phrase "contract into a span" implies that they can be brought together and made compact. This imagery underscores the idea that God has the power to bring order to the chaos of the world and bestow blessings upon man.

In the second stanza, we learn why God held back the blessing of rest. The line "Perceiving that, alone of all his treasure, / Rest in the bottom lay" implies that rest is the most valuable of all God's blessings. This is a surprising revelation, as one might expect strength, beauty, or wisdom to be considered the most valuable. The fact that rest is held back suggests that it is a gift that can only be given by God, and that man is incapable of finding rest on his own.

The line "He would adore my gifts instead of me" is a crucial insight into the nature of human desire. It suggests that man is more interested in the blessings of God than in God himself. This is a common theme in religious literature, as many believe that humans are prone to idolatry and worship of false gods. The line also implies that God desires to be worshipped for who he is, not just for what he can give.

The third stanza acknowledges that God has bestowed upon man the other blessings of strength, beauty, wisdom, honor, and pleasure, but with the caveat that he will be restless and dissatisfied without God. This is an important insight into the human condition, as it suggests that even the greatest blessings of the world are insufficient to satisfy the human soul. The line "Let him be rich and weary" is particularly poignant, as it suggests that even wealth and comfort can ultimately lead to weariness and dissatisfaction.

The final stanza suggests that weariness and dissatisfaction may ultimately lead man to turn to God and find rest in him. The line "May toss him to my breast" is a powerful image, as it suggests that God is waiting with open arms to welcome man and offer him rest. The use of the word "toss" suggests that man may be reluctant to turn to God, but that God is persistent in his pursuit of man.

Conclusion

In conclusion, The Pulley is a masterpiece of religious poetry that explores the relationship between God and man and the nature of human desire. The poem's central metaphor of the pulley is a powerful image that suggests that man is incapable of reaching God without divine intervention. The poem's use of imagery, metaphor, and theological insight make it a rich and rewarding text for readers today. The Pulley is a reminder that even the greatest blessings of the world are insufficient to satisfy the human soul, and that true rest and fulfillment can only be found in God.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Pulley: A Poem of Divine Restlessness and Human Longing

George Herbert's "The Pulley" is a classic poem that explores the relationship between God and humanity, and the restlessness that exists within both. The poem is a meditation on the nature of human desire, and the ways in which God's love and grace can both satisfy and unsettle our deepest longings.

At its core, "The Pulley" is a poem about the tension between human ambition and divine providence. The poem begins with an image of God as a craftsman, creating the world and all its wonders. But when he comes to the creation of man, he finds that he has given him everything he needs except one thing: rest. God deliberately withholds this gift, knowing that if man were completely content, he would cease to strive and grow.

The poem then moves on to describe the various gifts that God has given to man: strength, beauty, wisdom, and honor. But despite all these blessings, man remains restless and dissatisfied. He longs for something more, something that will give him the peace and contentment he craves.

It is at this point that the poem introduces the image of the pulley. God, seeing that man is still restless, decides to use a pulley to draw him closer to himself. The pulley represents God's grace, which is constantly drawing us towards him, even when we are unaware of it.

But the pulley also represents the tension between God's love and our human desires. As the poem says, "Yet let him keep the rest, / But keep them with repining restlessness." In other words, God will give us everything we need, but he will also keep us restless, so that we will always be striving towards him.

The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. It describes the moment when man finally reaches the end of his journey, and is drawn up to God by the pulley. But even in this moment of ultimate fulfillment, there is still a sense of restlessness and longing. The poem ends with the haunting image of the pulley still drawing us upwards, towards an infinite and unknowable God.

So what does all this mean? At its heart, "The Pulley" is a poem about the human condition. It acknowledges the fact that we are all restless and dissatisfied, always searching for something more. But it also suggests that this restlessness is not a flaw, but a necessary part of our nature. It is what drives us to seek out God, and to strive for something greater than ourselves.

But the poem also suggests that this search for God is not a one-way street. It is not just a matter of us reaching out to God, but of God reaching out to us as well. The pulley represents God's grace, which is constantly drawing us towards him, even when we are unaware of it. And even when we do finally reach God, there is still a sense of restlessness and longing, as we are drawn ever closer to an infinite and unknowable God.

In this sense, "The Pulley" is a poem about the paradoxical nature of faith. It acknowledges the fact that faith is not a matter of achieving perfect contentment or certainty, but of living with a sense of restlessness and longing. It is a recognition that our human desires will always be in tension with God's love and grace, and that this tension is not something to be feared or avoided, but embraced.

Overall, "The Pulley" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that speaks to the deepest longings of the human heart. It reminds us that we are all restless and dissatisfied, but that this restlessness is not a flaw, but a necessary part of our nature. And it suggests that even in our moments of greatest fulfillment, there is still a sense of longing and restlessness, as we are drawn ever closer to an infinite and unknowable God.

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