'A Wish' by Matthew Arnold
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I ask not that my bed of death
From bands of greedy heirs be free;
For these besiege the latest breath
Of fortune's favoured sons, not me.
I ask not each kind soul to keep
Tearless, when of my death he hears;
Let those who will, if any, weep!
There are worse plagues on earth than tears.
I ask but that my death may find
The freedom to my life denied;
Ask but the folly of mankind,
Then, at last, to quit my side.
Spare me the whispering, crowded room,
The friends who come, and gape, and go;
The ceremonious air of gloom -
All which makes death a hideous show!
Nor bring, to see me cease to live,
Some doctor full of phrase and fame,
To shake his sapient head and give
The ill he cannot cure a name.
Nor fetch, to take the accustomed toll
Of the poor sinner bound for death,
His brother doctor of the soul,
To canvass with official breath
The future and its viewless things -
That undiscovered mystery
Which one who feels death's winnowing wings
Must need read clearer, sure, than he!
Bring none of these; but let me be,
While all around in silence lies,
Moved to the window near, and see
Once more before my dying eyes
Bathed in the sacred dew of morn
The wide aerial landscape spread -
The world which was ere I was born,
The world which lasts when I am dead.
Which never was the friend of one,
Nor promised love it could not give,
But lit for all its generous sun,
And lived itself, and made us live.
There let me gaze, till I become
In soul with what I gaze on wed!
To feel the universe my home;
To have before my mind -instead
Of the sick-room, the mortal strife,
The turmoil for a little breath -
The pure eternal course of life,
Not human combatings with death.
Thus feeling, gazing, let me grow
Composed, refreshed, ennobled, clear;
Then willing let my spirit go
To work or wait elsewhere or here!
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Wish by Matthew Arnold: A Masterpiece of Romantic Poetry
When it comes to romantic poetry, Matthew Arnold's "A Wish" is a masterpiece worth exploring. This poem, which tells the story of a speaker who wishes to escape the mundane realities of life and find solace in nature, is often regarded as one of Arnold's finest works. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deeper into the themes, symbols, and literary techniques used in "A Wish," and examine how they contribute to the poem's overall meaning and impact on the reader.
Overview of the Poem
"A Wish" is a fourteen-line poem written in iambic pentameter, with a rhyme scheme of ABBA, ABBA, CDCD, EE. The poem is divided into two quatrains and a sestet, with the final two lines serving as a couplet. The speaker begins by expressing their desire to escape the "dull confines of city walls" and find peace in the natural world. They long to be surrounded by the "sylvan charm" of the woods and the "rippling waters" of a stream. In the second quatrain, the speaker acknowledges that their wish may never come true, and that they may be destined to live out their days in the city. However, they still hold out hope that one day they will find the "greenwood's heart" and be able to "rest awhile." The final sestet serves as a meditation on the idea of finding peace in nature, and the couplet closes the poem with a simple wish: "O, to be free—free as the mountain air."
Themes
At its core, "A Wish" is a poem about the human desire for escape and freedom. The speaker longs to break free from the constraints of city life and find solace in nature. This theme of escape and freedom is a common motif in romantic poetry, and is often associated with the idea of the sublime—the feeling of being overwhelmed by the beauty and power of the natural world. For the speaker in "A Wish," the sublime is not just a feeling, but a destination—the greenwood's heart, where they can finally find peace and rest.
Another important theme in the poem is the contrast between the natural and the man-made. The speaker describes the city as a place of "dull confines," where the "ceaseless hum of men" drowns out the sounds of nature. In contrast, the natural world is depicted as a place of beauty and harmony, where the "rippling waters" and "sylvan charm" create a sense of peace and tranquility. This theme of the natural vs. the man-made is a common one in romantic poetry, and reflects the romantic ideal of returning to a simpler, more natural way of life.
Symbols
Throughout "A Wish," Arnold uses a number of symbols to reinforce the poem's themes and ideas. One of the most prominent symbols is the greenwood's heart—the place where the speaker hopes to find peace and rest. This symbol represents the idea of escape and freedom, and serves as a metaphor for the sublime. The greenwood's heart is not just a physical location, but a state of mind—the place where the speaker can find inner peace and transcend the mundane realities of life.
Water is another important symbol in the poem. The "rippling waters" of the stream represent the purity and beauty of nature, and serve as a contrast to the polluted and noisy city. Water is also a symbol of life and renewal, and reflects the speaker's desire to find a new way of living—one that is closer to nature and free from the stresses and pressures of modern life.
Literary Techniques
Arnold uses a number of literary techniques in "A Wish" to create a sense of beauty and harmony. One of the most striking features of the poem is its use of imagery. The descriptions of the natural world—the "sylvan charm," the "rippling waters," the "mountain air"—are all vivid and evocative, and create a powerful sense of the sublime. The use of enjambment—the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next—also adds to the poem's sense of flow and harmony, creating a sense of movement that mirrors the movement of the natural world.
Another important literary technique in the poem is the use of repetition. The phrase "O, to be free" is repeated twice in the final sestet, emphasizing the speaker's desire for escape and freedom. This repetition also creates a sense of longing and yearning, and reinforces the poem's romantic themes.
Conclusion
In "A Wish," Matthew Arnold has created a powerful meditation on the human desire for freedom and escape. Through the use of vivid imagery, powerful symbols, and evocative language, Arnold has crafted a poem that captures the beauty and power of the natural world, and invites the reader to join the speaker in their quest for the sublime. Whether you are a lover of romantic poetry or simply a fan of great writing, "A Wish" is a poem that is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry has always been a medium of expression for the human soul. It is a way to convey our deepest emotions, thoughts, and desires. One such poem that captures the essence of human longing is "A Wish" by Matthew Arnold. This classic poem is a beautiful expression of the human desire for a better life, a life free from pain and suffering. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of this timeless piece of literature.
The poem begins with the speaker expressing his wish for a life free from pain and suffering. He longs for a life where he can be free from the worries of the world and live in peace. The speaker's desire for a better life is a universal theme that resonates with readers of all ages and backgrounds. We all long for a life free from pain and suffering, and this poem captures that desire perfectly.
The structure of the poem is simple yet effective. It consists of four stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, which gives the poem a musical quality. The simplicity of the structure allows the reader to focus on the message of the poem, which is the speaker's wish for a better life.
The language used in the poem is simple yet powerful. The speaker uses metaphors to convey his desire for a better life. He compares his life to a "weary pilgrimage" and a "long disease." These metaphors create a sense of longing and desperation in the reader. The speaker's use of language is effective in conveying his message and evoking emotions in the reader.
The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker expresses his desire for a life free from pain and suffering. He compares his life to a "weary pilgrimage" and wishes for a life where he can rest. The use of the word "weary" creates a sense of exhaustion in the reader, and the desire for rest is something that we can all relate to.
In the second stanza, the speaker expresses his desire for a life free from the worries of the world. He wishes for a life where he can be free from the "world's strife." The use of the word "strife" creates a sense of conflict and tension in the reader. The speaker's desire for a life free from conflict is something that we can all relate to.
The third stanza of the poem is the most powerful. The speaker expresses his desire for a life free from pain and suffering. He compares his life to a "long disease" and wishes for a life where he can be free from pain. The use of the word "disease" creates a sense of illness and suffering in the reader. The speaker's desire for a life free from pain is something that we can all relate to.
The final stanza of the poem is the most hopeful. The speaker expresses his desire for a life where he can be free from pain and suffering. He wishes for a life where he can "breathe the air of heaven." The use of the word "heaven" creates a sense of hope and optimism in the reader. The speaker's desire for a better life is something that we can all relate to, and the hope for a better future is something that we all share.
In conclusion, "A Wish" by Matthew Arnold is a timeless piece of literature that captures the essence of human longing. The poem's themes of desire for a better life, structure, and language are all effective in conveying the speaker's message. The poem's simplicity allows the reader to focus on the message of the poem, which is the speaker's wish for a better life. The use of metaphors and powerful language creates a sense of longing and desperation in the reader. The poem's final stanza is the most hopeful, and the speaker's desire for a better life is something that we can all relate to. "A Wish" is a beautiful expression of the human desire for a better life, and it is a poem that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
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