'The Mermaid' by Alfred Lord Tennyson
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IWho would be
A mermaid fair,
Singing alone,
Combing her hair
Under the sea,
In a golden curl
With a comb of pearl,
On a throne?III would be a mermaid fair;
I would sing to myself the whole of the day;
With a comb of pearl I would comb my hair;
And still as I comb'd I would sing and say,
'Who is it loves me? who loves not me?'
I would comb my hair till my ringlets would fallLow adown, low adown,
From under my starry sea-bud crownLow adown and around,
And I should look like a fountain of goldSpringing aloneWith a shrill inner soundOver the throneIn the midst of the hall;
Till that great sea-snake under the sea
From his coiled sleeps in the central deeps
Would slowly trail himself sevenfold
Round the hall where I sate, and look in at the gate
With his large calm eyes for the love of me.
And all the mermen under the sea
Would feel their immortality
Die in their hearts for the love of me.IIIBut at night I would wander away, away,I would fling on each side my low-flowing locks,
And lightly vault from the throne and playWith the mermen in and out of the rocks;
We would run to and fro, and hide and seek,On the broad sea-wolds in the crimson shells,
Whose silvery spikes are nighest the sea.
But if any came near I would call and shriek,
And adown the steep like a wave I would leapFrom the diamond-ledges that jut from the dells;
For I would not be kiss'd by all who would list
Of the bold merry mermen under the sea.
They would sue me, and woo me, and flatter me,
In the purple twilights under the sea;
But the king of them all would carry me,
Woo me, and win me, and marry me,
In the branching jaspers under the sea.
Then all the dry-pied things that be
In the hueless mosses under the sea
Would curl round my silver feet silently,
All looking up for the love of me.
And if I should carol aloud, from aloft
All things that are forked, and horned, and soft
Would lean out from the hollow sphere of the sea,
All looking down for the love of me.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Seductive Power of the Mermaid in Tennyson's Poem
When we think of mermaids, we tend to think of them as alluring, seductive creatures that lure sailors to their doom with their enchanting voices and beauty. In Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem, "The Mermaid," this seductive power is explored in depth as the speaker of the poem falls under the spell of the mermaid's song.
At first glance, the poem seems to be a simple narrative of a man who sees a mermaid and is entranced by her beauty and song. However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that there are deeper themes at play here. The poem explores the power of love, the dangers of obsession, and the nature of beauty and desire.
The Power of Love
One of the central themes of the poem is the power of love. The speaker is drawn to the mermaid not only because of her beauty, but also because of the deep emotional connection he feels with her. He is not just entranced by her physical appearance, but by the way she makes him feel.
The speaker describes the mermaid's song as "wild and sweet" and "full of strange power." He is unable to resist the pull of the song, and as he listens to it, he feels himself falling deeper and deeper in love with the mermaid. He describes his feelings as "a madness" and "a fever," showing the intensity of his emotions.
This theme of the power of love is not just limited to the speaker's feelings towards the mermaid. It is also present in the mermaid's own emotions. The speaker describes her as being "half human" and having "human tears." This suggests that she too is capable of feeling love, and that her seductive powers are not just a means to an end, but a genuine expression of her emotions.
The Dangers of Obsession
While the love between the speaker and the mermaid is powerful, it is also dangerous. The speaker becomes so obsessed with the mermaid that he is willing to risk his own life in order to be with her. He imagines himself "leaping down into the sea" to be with her, even though he knows that he cannot survive underwater.
This obsession is a common theme in literature, particularly in stories about love and desire. The speaker's obsession with the mermaid is not healthy or rational, but it is understandable. He is so taken with her that he is willing to give up everything, including his own life, to be with her.
This danger is also present in the mermaid's own seductive powers. She is able to lure sailors to their deaths with her song, showing the destructive power of desire when it is not tempered by reason.
The Nature of Beauty and Desire
Another important theme in the poem is the nature of beauty and desire. The speaker is drawn to the mermaid not only because of her physical beauty, but because of the emotions that she evokes in him. He is not just attracted to her body, but to her soul.
This theme is also reflected in the mermaid's own beauty. The speaker describes her as having "hair like seaweed" and a "voice like a lute." These descriptions show that her beauty is not conventional or traditional, but rather something unique and otherworldly. It is not simply a matter of physical appearance, but a combination of different elements, including her voice and her demeanor.
The theme of desire is also explored in the poem. The speaker is consumed by his desire for the mermaid, to the point where he is willing to risk everything to be with her. This desire is not just physical, but emotional as well. He longs to be with her not just for the physical pleasure, but for the emotional connection that he feels with her.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Mermaid" is a powerful exploration of the seductive power of desire and the dangers of obsession. Through the story of the speaker's love for the mermaid, Tennyson explores themes of love, obsession, beauty, and desire, showing the complex and often contradictory nature of human emotions. The poem is a haunting and beautiful work of literature that continues to captivate readers to this day.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Mermaid: A Classic Poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson
Alfred Lord Tennyson is one of the most celebrated poets of the Victorian era. His works are known for their lyrical beauty, vivid imagery, and emotional depth. Among his many famous poems, "The Mermaid" stands out as a masterpiece of romantic poetry. This classic poem tells the story of a mermaid who falls in love with a human and longs to be with him on land. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and symbolism of "The Mermaid" and examine how Tennyson uses language to create a powerful and haunting poem.
The poem begins with a description of the mermaid's world, a place of "coral caves" and "sea-maids' groves." Tennyson's use of alliteration and assonance creates a musical quality to the language, which sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The mermaid is described as a "wild sea-maid," and her beauty is compared to that of a "pearl" and a "rose." The imagery of the sea and the mermaid's beauty are central to the poem's themes of love and longing.
The mermaid's desire for the human world is expressed in the lines, "I would dwell in some golden town, / With streets of silver and walls of down." This longing for a different life is a common theme in romantic poetry, and Tennyson captures it beautifully in "The Mermaid." The mermaid's desire for the human world is not just about material possessions but also about the human experience of love and companionship.
The mermaid's love for the human is expressed in the lines, "I loved a youth, and he loved me." This love is forbidden, as the mermaid is a creature of the sea and the youth is a human. The mermaid's love for the youth is described as "wild" and "passionate," and Tennyson's use of language creates a sense of urgency and intensity. The mermaid's love for the youth is not just physical but also emotional, and she longs to be with him on land.
The mermaid's desire to be with the youth on land is expressed in the lines, "I would lie in the sweet fresh grass, / And have a long rest there." This desire for a different life is a common theme in romantic poetry, and Tennyson captures it beautifully in "The Mermaid." The mermaid's desire for the human world is not just about material possessions but also about the human experience of love and companionship.
The mermaid's longing for the human world is expressed in the lines, "I would gladly change my state, / To be with my true love." This longing is a central theme of the poem, and Tennyson's use of language creates a sense of longing and desire. The mermaid's desire to be with the human is not just physical but also emotional, and she longs to be with him on land.
The mermaid's longing for the human world is also expressed in the lines, "I would be a mermaid fair; / I would sing to myself the whole of the day." This desire to be a mermaid fair is a symbol of the mermaid's desire to be with the human. The mermaid's desire to sing to herself the whole of the day is a symbol of her desire for companionship and love.
The mermaid's longing for the human world is expressed in the lines, "I would sit on the rocks, / And watch the waves that rise and fall." This longing is a central theme of the poem, and Tennyson's use of language creates a sense of longing and desire. The mermaid's desire to be with the human is not just physical but also emotional, and she longs to be with him on land.
The mermaid's longing for the human world is also expressed in the lines, "I would sing to myself when the moon shone bright / On the silver waves, and the gleaming sand." This desire to sing to herself when the moon shone bright is a symbol of the mermaid's desire for companionship and love. The moon is a symbol of love and romance, and the mermaid's desire to sing to herself is a symbol of her desire for companionship and love.
The mermaid's longing for the human world is expressed in the lines, "I would sing to my own true love / With a voice that should be tender and gay." This longing is a central theme of the poem, and Tennyson's use of language creates a sense of longing and desire. The mermaid's desire to be with the human is not just physical but also emotional, and she longs to be with him on land.
The mermaid's longing for the human world is also expressed in the lines, "I would make him a bed / Of the finest down." This desire to make him a bed of the finest down is a symbol of the mermaid's desire for companionship and love. The bed is a symbol of comfort and intimacy, and the mermaid's desire to make him a bed is a symbol of her desire for companionship and love.
The mermaid's longing for the human world is expressed in the lines, "I would bear him away / To my crystal palace." This longing is a central theme of the poem, and Tennyson's use of language creates a sense of longing and desire. The mermaid's desire to be with the human is not just physical but also emotional, and she longs to be with him on land.
The mermaid's longing for the human world is also expressed in the lines, "And we'd sit in the sapphire throne, / And should love with the love of the angels above." This desire to sit in the sapphire throne is a symbol of the mermaid's desire for companionship and love. The throne is a symbol of power and authority, and the mermaid's desire to sit in the throne is a symbol of her desire for companionship and love.
In conclusion, "The Mermaid" is a classic poem that explores the themes of love and longing. Tennyson's use of language creates a sense of urgency and intensity, and his vivid imagery captures the beauty of the sea and the mermaid's longing for the human world. The mermaid's desire for companionship and love is expressed through symbols such as the bed, the throne, and the moon. "The Mermaid" is a haunting and powerful poem that continues to captivate readers today.
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