'The Excesses Of God' by Robinson Jeffers
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Selected PoemsIs it not by his high superfluousness we know
Our God? For to be equal a need
Is natural, animal, mineral: but to fling
Rainbows over the rain
And beauty above the moon, and secret rainbows
On the domes of deep sea-shells,
And make the necessary embrace of breeding
Beautiful also as fire,
Not even the weeds to multiply without blossom
Nor the birds without music:
There is the great humaneness at the heart of things,
The extravagant kindness, the fountain
Humanity can understand, and would flow likewise
If power and desire were perch-mates.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Excesses Of God: A Literary Analysis
When it comes to Robinson Jeffers' The Excesses Of God, it's easy to get lost in the beauty of the language and forget the depth and complexity of the themes. This poem is a masterpiece of modern poetry, and as such, it deserves a close analysis that not only highlights its literary techniques but also explores its philosophical underpinnings. In this essay, I will provide a thorough literary criticism and interpretation of The Excesses Of God.
Poem Overview
The Excesses Of God is a poem that deals with the paradoxical relationship between nature and divinity. Jeffers opens the poem with a vivid description of the natural world:
"Is it not by his high superfluousness we know
Our God? For to equal a need
Is natural, animal, mineral:
But to fling rainbows over the rain
And beauty above the moon, and secret rainbows
On the domes of deep sea-shells,
And make the necessary embrace of breeding
Beautiful also as fire,
Not even the weeds to multiply without blossom
Nor the birds without music:
There is the great humaneness at the heart of things,
The extravagant kindness, the fountain
Humanity can understand,
And would flow likewise
If power and desire were perch-mates."
The first stanza sets the tone for the entire poem. Jeffers is fascinated by the "superfluousness" of God's creation. He marvels at the fact that God has created a world that is not only functional but also beautiful. Jeffers believes that it is precisely in the excesses of God that we find evidence of his existence.
The second stanza of the poem takes a darker turn. Jeffers describes the destruction that humans have wrought on the natural world:
"‘Seeker of truth, follow no path:
All paths lead where truth is here.’
See the ash swirling backward into the sky!
See the flame searing backward!
Through corridors of darkness
The deafening hurricane,
Thundering, lashes
Our houses to strew our streets with;
The hoarse roar
Echoes timeless through wildernesses of sorrow
As a death-rattle or the sun’s eclipse."
Here, Jeffers contrasts the beauty and harmony of the natural world with the chaos and destruction that humans have introduced. He uses powerful images of hurricanes, flames, and death to convey the sense of devastation that humans have caused.
The final stanza of the poem concludes with a reflection on the paradoxical nature of God:
"But to have done instead of not doing
This is not vanity,
To have, with decency, knocked
That a Blunt should open
To confess himself; or, with the stranger,
To smile in understanding
Sufficient at the mutual horrors of the animal kingdom
To secret delight.
To be conscious of the beauty of flowers,
And to be conscious of death;
To be conscious of the beauty of sea-beds
And of the slow wonder fleeting from them;
To be conscious of the wonder and the marvel of myself,
And then to be conscious of the archaic
I and the bird-headed companion
Following behind me in the wilderness,
Where there is no wilderness,
But only a shore,
A shore we have reached by a miracle,
Of mechanical and mineral forces
Evoking the abyss."
In this stanza, Jeffers explores the idea that God is both benevolent and indifferent. He suggests that God is capable of creating a world of great beauty and wonder, but also of allowing humans to destroy it. Jeffers ends the poem by emphasizing the idea that humans are just one small part of a vast and mysterious universe.
Literary Analysis
Jeffers' use of language in The Excesses Of God is both beautiful and precise. He employs a range of literary techniques to convey his ideas and to create a mood of wonder and awe. One of the most striking features of the poem is its use of imagery. Jeffers uses powerful images of rainbows, sea-shells, hurricanes, and flames to convey the beauty and destructiveness of nature. These images are not only visually stunning but also convey a sense of the sublime.
Another technique that Jeffers uses in the poem is repetition. The phrase "the great humaneness at the heart of things" is repeated twice, emphasizing the idea that there is a fundamental goodness at the core of the universe. Jeffers also repeats the phrase "to be conscious of" several times, emphasizing the idea that consciousness itself is a source of wonder.
Jeffers' use of metaphor is also noteworthy. He describes God as "high superfluousness" and "extravagant kindness," suggesting that God's creation is both excessive and generous. He also describes humans as "mutual horrors of the animal kingdom," emphasizing their destructive tendencies.
Finally, Jeffers' use of form is also significant. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which has a different mood and tone. The first stanza is a celebration of the beauty and excess of God's creation, the second is a lament for the destruction that humans have caused, and the third is a reflection on the paradoxical nature of God. By dividing the poem into stanzas, Jeffers creates a sense of movement and progression that adds to the poem's overall impact.
Interpretation
The Excesses Of God is a complex and multi-layered poem that can be interpreted in a number of ways. One way to read the poem is as a meditation on the relationship between nature and divinity. Jeffers suggests that the beauty and excesses of the natural world are evidence of God's existence. He also suggests that humans have a responsibility to care for and protect the natural world.
Another way to read the poem is as a critique of human civilization. Jeffers suggests that humans have become disconnected from the natural world and have caused great harm as a result. He also suggests that humans are capable of great cruelty and destruction, and that they need to be more conscious of their impact on the world.
Finally, The Excesses Of God can be read as a reflection on the paradoxical nature of divinity. Jeffers suggests that God is both benevolent and indifferent, capable of creating a world of great beauty and wonder, but also of allowing humans to destroy it. He also suggests that we are just one small part of a vast and mysterious universe, and that our place in the world is both insignificant and awe-inspiring.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Robinson Jeffers' The Excesses Of God is a masterpiece of modern poetry. It is a poem that celebrates the beauty and excess of the natural world, while also lamenting the destruction that humans have caused. Jeffers uses a range of literary techniques to convey his ideas, including imagery, repetition, metaphor, and form. The poem can be interpreted in a number of ways, including as a meditation on the relationship between nature and divinity, a critique of human civilization, and a reflection on the paradoxical nature of divinity. Whatever interpretation one chooses, it is clear that The Excesses Of God is a profound and thought-provoking work of literature that continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Excesses of God: A Poetic Masterpiece by Robinson Jeffers
Robinson Jeffers, an American poet, wrote a poem titled "The Excesses of God" in 1938. This poem is considered one of his most famous works and is a masterpiece of modernist poetry. The poem is a reflection on the nature of God and the universe, and it explores the idea that God is both benevolent and destructive. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail.
The poem begins with the lines, "Is it not by his high superfluousness we know / Our God?" These lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, as they suggest that God's excesses are what make him recognizable to us. The word "superfluousness" implies that God is not necessary, but rather, he is an excess, a luxury. This idea is further reinforced in the next line, "For to equal a need / Is to diminish the givers." Here, Jeffers suggests that if God were only a necessity, he would be diminished in our eyes. It is his excesses that make him great.
The poem then goes on to describe some of God's excesses. Jeffers writes, "Excess of love, / To bewildering intensity, and excess of hate, / For the commonest object / And Thee." Here, Jeffers suggests that God's love and hate are both excessive. His love is so intense that it is bewildering, and his hate is directed even at the most common objects and at God himself. This idea of God's excesses is further explored in the next stanza.
Jeffers writes, "And a beautiful / Terrible, craziness in the soul; / And silence." Here, Jeffers suggests that God's excesses include a beautiful and terrible craziness in the soul, as well as silence. The idea of a beautiful and terrible craziness in the soul suggests that God is both creative and destructive. He is capable of great beauty, but also great destruction. The idea of silence suggests that God is beyond our understanding, and that there are things about him that we cannot know.
The poem then goes on to describe the universe and our place in it. Jeffers writes, "The world rolls under the long thrust of his heel; / Over the dead / The living walk his heel." Here, Jeffers suggests that God is in control of the universe, and that we are all subject to his will. The idea of the world rolling under the long thrust of his heel suggests that God is powerful and in control. The idea of the living walking over the dead suggests that we are all mortal, and that we will all eventually die.
The poem then goes on to describe the beauty of the natural world. Jeffers writes, "But let him speak of the sun and moon, and the stars, / And the clouds and sea, and the hills and the woods; / His speech plunges like a sword into a crowd." Here, Jeffers suggests that God's creation is beautiful and awe-inspiring. His speech about the natural world is like a sword that cuts through the noise of everyday life and reminds us of the beauty of the world around us.
The poem then ends with the lines, "And the poet lifts his pen to write, / And the soldier sheaths his sword." Here, Jeffers suggests that the poet and the soldier are both inspired by God's excesses. The poet is inspired to write about the beauty of the natural world, while the soldier is inspired to fight for what he believes in. Both are inspired by God's excesses, and both are necessary in their own way.
In conclusion, "The Excesses of God" is a masterpiece of modernist poetry. It explores the idea that God is both benevolent and destructive, and that his excesses are what make him great. The poem is a reflection on the nature of God and the universe, and it reminds us of the beauty of the natural world. It is a powerful and inspiring work of art that continues to resonate with readers today.
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