'Loving in truth' - A Sonnet of Sir Philip Sidney : Summary and interpretation.

'Loving in Truth' ( From Astrophel and Stella)

                                                 

Sir Philip Sidney

  

"Loving in truth, and fain in verse my love to show,

That she, dear she, might take some pleasure of my pain,—

Pleasure might cause her read, reading might make her know,

Knowledge might pity win, and pity grace obtain". 

                                                                        ( Line 1-4 )

    

  The candid confession of the poet-lover is that his love for his beloved (here for Penelope Devereux) is true and  honest. He gladly wants to show his love through his poetry. He believes that his sweetheart would read his poem and must take some pleasure for the painful situation of the poet. Actually, the pain of the poet proves that he still loves her even after  separation and it would please the lady-love. The pleasure will inspire the beloved to read more. The more she read, the more will she know about the poet's state of mind. More knowledge would make her more kind and from this kindness would emanate long coveted favour of the beloved. 

"I sought fit words to paint the blackest face of woe;

Studying inventions fine her wits to entertain,

Oft turning others' leaves, to see if thence would flow

Some fresh and fruitful showers upon my sunburn'd brain."

                                                                           ( Line 5-8 )

        

   For painting (in his poem) the black or uninspiring picture of his woeful situation the poet is finding appropriate words which are not immediately available. He thinks that study may provide him with fine imagination (invention)to entertain his beloved. So, he  is frequently turning the leaves of poetry books of  other poets. He is hopeful that this endeavor would flow some   'fresh and fruitful showers' of imagination to the unproductive (sunburned) brain of the poet and it would help him in writing poems.

"But words came halting forth, wanting invention's stay;

Invention, Nature's child, fled step-dame Study's blows;

And others' feet still seem'd but strangers in my way." 

                                                                    ( Line  9 - 11 )

    The poet  realizes that some words he can collect from others' poetry, but these are not adequate in number and are not steady. The 'feet' ( line of poems ) of the other poets look like the strangers to the way of writing .Naturally these words are not useful to write poem that would entertain his disappointed love.Actually, imagination is the product of nature, it come in natural way in the mind of the poet. The created or cultivated imagination by study is like a step mother's love to her step-child which is not natural. Poetry is the natural flow of feelings.

"Thus great with child to speak and helpless in my throes,

 Biting my truant pen, beating myself for spite,

"Fool," said my Muse to me, "look in thy heart, and write." 

                                                                        ( Line 12-14 ) 

    The poet's condition is like that of a pregnant lady in throes (labour pain). He is full of ideas and he has much to say but he can not express. The pen has become truant; as if, flying from him. The poet bites his pen and  beating his brain idly for expression. He is in a spirit of vexation for his failure. At that critical moment the Muse (goddess of poetry or divine inspiration) appears and calls him fool for his such activities. She advises the poet to look to his heart and write poem. What would come from the core of his heart would be perfect poetry. Borrowed feeling and imagination can not be the source of poetry.

Explanation: 

"That she, dear she, might take some pleasure of my pain."

The poet says that his beloved would be pleased as he is in some painful situation. It doesn't mean that the poet's comment is some wrong or the beloved of the poet is a cruel lady.Deep love on the part of the beloved is inherent in the thinking of the poet. Actually, the beloved Penelope is now the mistress of some other person. The poet can not forget his beloved till now,though there is the least or no chance to have her. His fathomless pain for Penelope is the proof of his eternal love for her. Such a knowledge and feeling uplift the position of Penelope in the reign of love and evaluate her love as unforgettable , a rare and higher sort of love. Quite naturally, the beloved would take pleasure of this situation.

      

"A portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" of James Joyce -- Aesthetic Theory, Epiphany and symbols.

Aesthetic Theory

Introduction : The term 'Aesthetic' is related to art and beauty, very sensitive in the field of art. Aesthetic is based on a very good taste and an elegant style adopted by a person or group of persons in a society or in the  cultural field. In Joyce's novel "A portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" we come across some great aesthetic temperament and growth of an artist. The aesthetic enquiries in the mind of the protagonist  Stephen have taken the form of  theory which is known as the Aesthetic Theory of Stephen. The fifth and the final chapter of the novel is devoted to the formation of aesthetic theory of Stephen.This theory is disclosed  by Stephen to his friend Lynch.

Pity and Fear/Terror : Aristotle has introduced the terms 'pity' and 'fear' in structure of a tragedy but these terms are left undefined by Aristotle. Stephen tries hands to define the terms'pity' and 'fear' and begins his aesthetic theory.He says that 'pity' is something that unites one's mind with the sufferers and ' fear' unites it with secret cause. Both the 'pity' and 'fear' (terror) arrest the mind. Both of these are the phases of the 'tragic emotion'.

What is art ? :  Art is the expression of human creative skill,the manifestation of creative activity. Art, according to Stephen , may be proper or improper. The art which excites desire or loathing are improper art. The feelings excited by improper art are kinetic. For example, the porno-graphical  art excites desire and didactic art excites loathing, so both are improper art.Proper art is just the opposite. Feeling aroused by proper art is static. We know, the mind with aesthetic emotion is raised above desire and loathing and in that state mind becomes static. Aesthetic art which is non-kinetic and non-physical is proper art.  

Defination of Beauty : Stephen explains that a thing is called beautiful when its perception pleases a mind. To him good is that towards which the appetite inclines. Following the line of Aquinas Stephen mentions three qualities of universal beauty : 'Integritas' or wholeness, 'Consonantia' or harmony and 'Claritas' or radiance. 'Integritas'  means apprehending something as one and as complete.  'Consonantia' means apprehending something as a thing that is complex, multiple, separable and made up of its parts. 'Claritas'  deals with the whatness of something. This noble quality is experienced by the artist when the aesthetic image is first formulated in his imagination. Stephen says, if any aesthetic work contains integritas, consonantia and claritas, it will appeal to every normal reader as being beautiful.

Mode of communication : In  aesthetic theory  Stephen has said about the mode of communication. The image of beauty in the mind of an artist can be expressed in three forms : lyrical, epical and dramatic. The artist chooses the form 'lyrical' which is the "simplest verbal venture of an instant of emotion".  As it is the projection of the artist himself, his views  or his experiences, it is evidently subjective. The epical form emerges  out to the lyrical. In it the artist presents an image "in immediate relation to himself and to others". It is not subjective like lyrical art. In the dramatic form the image is presented in close relation to others. The personality of artist remains invisible. it is totally impersonal or objective.

Conclusion : Stephen concluded his aesthetic theory  by emphasizing  the artist's objectivity. The personality of the artist, he said, should refine itself out of existence, should impersonalize itself. The artist is " like the God of creation and remains within or behind or beyond or above his art" ; he remains invisible.

Epiphany

        Epiphany means 'manifestation'. Epiphany is a religious term which refers to the Magi who came to see the "babe in manger, but they saw more than the baby, the son of God, Jesus Christ. In  "A portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" of James Joyce Epiphany signifies the moment when a man experiences a sudden spiritual manifestation. Epiphany means the revelation of divinity to mortal beings. 

         The spiritual development of Stephen is presented through epiphany in  "A portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" of James Joyce. At the end of each chapter we witness the manifestation. For example we may cite Stephen's vision of " the hawk like man flying 

sunward above the sea"

"Cradle song " of Sarojini Naidu -- A brief discussion.

Introduction : The "Cradle  song " of Sarojini Naidu is a lullaby, a sort of song which is sung to a child so that the melody, tune and  rhythm of the song make the child sleep. It is usually sung by mother or other nearest person who is very intimate and close to the child. A lullaby is generally composed on the familiar natural atmosphere where the 'Flora' plays  a vital role. Sometimes a lullaby centers round the fear provoking elements and agents like rubber , ghost or supernatural atmosphere. However, a lullaby is a very powerful instrument  that has immense  impact  on the child. Though the songs are composed for comforting the children, these are of much literary values and these songs have made a prestigious place in the arena of literature.

   Stanza - 1  

  From groves of spice,  

 O'er  fields of rice, 

 Athwart the lotus-stream, 

 I bring for you,

A glint with  dew 

A  little lovely dream.

Summary : The lullaby is about a beautiful dream that the child will have before sleeping. It is not an ordinary dream and it will be enriched with different  sweet smell and bright colours. The mother says that she will bring different lovely things from different fields which are  enriched and decorated by Nature. The mother will, as if, fly over the rice field, will cross the streams full of beautiful lotus and  will reach the groves of spices (most probably cardamom and cinnamon) to fetch the sweet fragrance for the dream of the child.  The  lovely dream will shine with due drops.

Stanza - 2 

  

Sweet , shut your eyes,

The wild fire-flies

Dance through the fairy neem ;

From the poppy-bole

For you I stole

A  little lovely dream.

Summary : In this stanza we find another type of dream and it will be brought from the familiar neem tree which the child has probably seen. This tree is the abode of fairies and numberless of 'fire-flies' or glow-worms have been dancing around the neem tree throughout the night. The sweetheart is said to close his/her eyes and to perceive  the dream land. The mother will bring a dream from the poppy bole which has sleep inducing property. 

Stanza - 3 

Dear eyes, good-night,

In golden light

The stars around you gleam ;

On you I press

With soft caress

A  little lovely dream.

Summary : From the expression 'good-night' it is clear that the child is asleep. The starry sky diffuses a sort of golden light which has made the atmosphere a dreamland. The mother caresses her darling and leaves him/her in the custody of the dream.

Sir Thomas Wyatt has dealt with 'Love' in a unique way in his Sonnet " Farewell Love and all thy Laws for ever "

  

 

  A few words about the poet  Sir Thomas Wyatt.

        Beside being a famous English poet  Sir Thomas Wyatt held several diplomatic positions in the service of Henry VIII. He introduced and practiced the Italian or Petrarchan  Sonnet form in English and also the terza rima,  three-line stanza form or tercet with the rhyme scheme aba bcb cdc ded and so on.  Once he visited Italy where got the idea of Petrarchan  Sonnet and  was inspired to write in this form. However this poem "Farewell love and all thy laws forever" is a Petrarchan  Sonnet with some variation.

  

   Line - 1 to 4

  Farewell love and all thy laws forever;

  Thy baited hooks shall tangle me no more.

   Senec and Plato call me from thy lore

  To perfect wealth, my wit for to endeavour."

  

  Summary : The speaker- poet bids farewell to his beloved  or love personified and all the complicated rules of love ( sensuous and romantic love ). Love is like a hook attached with some bait that deceives the lovers but it would not be able to capture the poet now as he is determined to bid love adieu. He is inspired now by the theory of rationality of Senec (Lucius Annaeus Seneca), a Roman philosopher, and divine love of Plato, Greek philosopher. His present state of mind would develop and make perfect his mind's well-being and his wit.

 

  Line - 5 to 8

"In blind error when I did persever,

  Thy sharp repulse, that pricketh aye so sore,

   Hath taught me to set in trifles no store

   And scape forth, since liberty is lever."   

  

 Summary : The poet-lover confesses that once he was blind, devoid of judgement,  persevered for love and made the error of falling in romantic love. He was badly rejected by his lady love which did sting him, made sore in mind (pained him much). His experience has taught him that he should not give so much value to the trifle things like love, he should escape from it as liberty is preferable. Love binds one from all sides and snatches liberty.

    

  Line - 9 to 12

  "Therefore farewell; go trouble younger hearts

   And in me claim no more authority.

  With idle youth go use thy property

   And thereon spend thy many brittle darts," 

  

  Summary: Having this realization the speaker bids love farewell and makes her free to be attached with other lovers who are young in age and wisdom. Love is requested to claim no right/authority to the poet. He further requests  the love to project her charm before the idle youths who have no noble mission in life except falling in love. She should spend the fine and fragile arrows of Cupid ( God of love ) to  those love-monger young generations.

   

   Line - 13  to 14

  " For hitherto though I have lost all my time,

   Me lusteth no lenger rotten boughs to climb."  

  

   Summary : The poet says that he has wasted much valuable time in the love-game and  emphatically declares that he has no mind to devote to love, even for a  single second, as making love, to him now, is like the climbing on a rotten branch of a tree which may break any time and bring about the sad ruin of the climber, here the lover.  

   

   Word Notes:  Thy - your , Baited hooks - the hooks attached with piece of food (bait ) for catching fish, Tangle - capture/arrest, Lore - field of knowledge, Wealth - mind's develop ment, Error - the mistake that can not be corrected, persever - persevere/working hard, Repulse - refusal, Aye - all, Sore - wound, Scape - escape, Lever - preferable, Authority - right, Property - charm, Brittle darts - fine arrows, Lusteth - want, No lenger - no longer, Bough - branch of tree. 

 

A brief study on the poem "My Last Duchess" written by Robert Browning.

Introduction: 

 "My Last Duchess" of Robert Browning is a fine dramatic monologue. The poem was first published in 'Dramatic Lyrics' with the title "Italy" in the year1842 and this title is changed to "My Last Duchess : Ferrara" in 1849  . In 1862 this poem was included in Dramatic Romances.There is much probability that the Duke in the poem is Alfanso II, the fifth Duke of Ferrara. The Duchess of the poem is probably Lucrezia who died at the age of 17 , three years after marriage. It is suspected that this Duchess was poisoned to death.Soon after her death the Duke started searching for another Duchess. The negotiation for the hand of Barbara,daughter of Ferdinand-I and the niece of the Count of Tyrol,  was started very soon. The result of it is the creation of this poem "My Last Duchess".

Summary of the poem :  The last Duchess is painted, as if alive , on the wall and the Duke is showing that rare painting by  Fra Pandolf to the envoy of the Count whose daughter is being negotiated for the next marriage. Now the Duke is drawing a pen-picture of the last Duchess. He says that the last Duchess was of very amiable and pliable disposition. The slightest praise of her beauty caused the spot  of joy on her cheeks. She was made glad easily, impressed quickly by others, whoever he may be. She made no difference between the little gift given by others  and the priceless gifts by the Duke. " --- she ranked / My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name / With anybody's gift.". 

     The Duke became jealous, could not tolerate this sort of foolish  behaviour that was below her dignity. He could not tell his disliking to  her directly because to complain thus was below the dignity and rank of a Duke. The Duke boastfully says that one day he gave commands and 'all smile stopped together'. Actually, the Duke arranged to murder his last Duchess. This was the sad end of such a lifeful and cheerful lady.

   Now the Duke asks the envoy to go down stair for further talking. He expects  that the Count would not deny the amount of  handsome dowry in this marriage, though the rich dowry is not the principal object in this marriage.At last another painting,the statue of Neptune, carved by Claus of Innsbruck,  is showed by the Duke.

Dramatic Monologue :  "My Last Duchess" is a dramatic monologue. What is  monologue ? If dialogue is the conversation between two persons, monologue would be the utterance of  one. The listeners must be there, but they would not interfere, they are merely listeners. Dramatic monologue is a sort of poem in which a person (single one) utters the entire poem in a specific situation before a person where the latter would function  as merely the listener. This poem is written and organized in such a manner that in course of the speaking the speaker unknowingly reveals his character.

         In  "My Last Duchess" the Duke makes it clear that he did not tolerate the 'openness' of the last Duchess and her cordial behaviour to others, her ever smiling face. He was compelled to give order for murdering  her. The Duke seems to declare that wife is an asset of the husband and he only would be the idol of worship for the Duchess. He actually wants to give a fore knowledge of his character to the would be Duchess. He also fails to hide his greed for dowry. In this way the Duke unknowingly throws some light on his temperament and discloses his character. Naturally,  "My Last Duchess" is labeled as a perfect Dramatic Monologue.

     A dramatic monologue generally begins abruptly and there is no exception in this poem as it also begins abruptly: "That's my last Duchess painted on the wall." This poem is argumentative. The Duke has raised some arguments regarding the behaviour of the Duchess. Why would she equate his gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name  with anybody's trifle gift ? Why would she smile when anybody other than the Duke passed ? The Duke knew many other things but he did not blame and condemn her because this would be unbecoming for the  rank of a Duke :" --- I choose/Never to stoop."  All these jointly confirm the validity of "My Last Duchess" as dramatic monologue. 

A brief discussion about "Chaitanya" -- A poem written by Arun Kolatkar

About the poet:

Arun Kolatkar who was born in Kolhapur in Maharashtra was a famous Indian English poet as well as an artist of repute. He was a bilingual poet as he wrote poems both in English and in Marathi,his mother tongue. His "Jejuri" , a well-known collection of poems, is praised in high term by the poets and critics like Nissim Ezekiel and Salman Rushdie and bagged him the Commonwealth poetry Prize. The poem "Chaitanya" is included in the collection  "Jejuri".

The poem  "Chaitanya" 

come off it

said chaitanya to a stone 

in stone language

wipe the red paint off your face

i don't think the colour suits you

i mean what's wrong 

with being just a plain stone

i'll still bring you flowers 

you like the flowers of zendu

don't you 

i like them too.

    

Summary & Interpretation: Sree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (Chaitanya) , the Avatar of Bengal in India is the speaker here and he addresses  a deity made of stone in a very simple and casual manner but in 'stone language'. It is  'stone language' as it is only understood by the stone image of god, it is ineffective to the ordinary human beings.He requests the deity to be detached from him/her present state  of manifestation.

 

Once again he requests the deity to wipe off the red colour , the vermilion , from his/her face as the red colour does not fit the stone, it is unbecoming to the deity. It would look better if the deity becomes a 'plain stone ', not besmeared with vermilion. No wrong is found by Chaitanya if the stone image becomes a plain stone. A plain stone would rather become appropriate and acceptable universally.

 

Chaitanya promises the stone deity that he would still bring him/her beautiful flowers, the 'zendu' flower, no matter whether the stone is being besmeared with vermilion or not . He likes  'zendu' flower and god too would like the  'zendu' flower.

The stone is not the ordinary stone, it stands for the deity. The so-called image of a deity which is made glossy with oil and vermilion come to the mind. This stone-deity is worshiped by common people as the living god. Here we find the objection of Chaitanya. The red colour or the vermilion is used as an essential element of worshiping of one or more commu -nity. We find only the touch of religious rites in besmearing of vermilion on the stone deity. All these are paganism. 

       First  Chaitanya requests the stone-image to "wipe the red paint" and then says in interrogative form what is the wrong if the image becomes a plain stone. A plain stone-image would be more becoming , more meaningful and more dignified. We know that Chaitanya was the 'Avtar of Love' (Premabatar) and love (Prem) is the only way to reach to God, as he said. No religious rite and aids are necessary for gaining God's grace. For this, Chaitanya says, it is not wrong with being just a plain stone without vermilion. So far we  know vermilion is a worshiping  material particularly to Hindu. If the stone-image is thoroughly besmeared with vermilion the people of other religious faith and creed may avoid the image as their own. Chaitanya disliked any caste and creed barrier among people and he embraced everyone irrespective of shape, complexion, caste, creed and race. The way of religion was very simple and straight to him and he preached the same to his followers.

 

It may be that the stone-image in not merely a stone to Chaitanya because he visualized the living god in image , in all material existence. For this mental state and devotion he utters in this poem : " you like the flowers of zendu / don't you"  Actually Chaitanya  finds living God in the stone.  

Summary of the poem " To the pupils of Hindu College " written by Henry Louis Vivian Derozio.

_{Introduction :}

_{Henry Louis Vivian Derozio, popularly known as Derozio, may be regarded as the first Indian English poet. This young poet lived a very brief life, only 22 years, but he achieved a very brilliant career. Derozio was a teacher of Hindu College which is now known as the Presidency College.India's first intellectual club,  the 'Academic Association', was founded by Derozio. In his very brief poetic career Derozio published two volumes of poetry one of which is entitled as "Poems" (1827). "To the pupils of the Hindu college" is a sonnet and it occurs in the volume "Poems". Derozio’s heart-felt and impassioned expression regarding  his students of Hindu College is quite explicit in this sonnet.}

Summary of the poem :

 Line 1 to  6

Expanding like petals of young flowers

I watch the gentle opening of your minds.

And the sweet loosening of the spell that binds,

Your intellectual energies and powers,

That stretch (like young birds in soft summer hours)

Their wings, to try their strength, 

Summary :  Derozio ,the teacher of the Hindu College, a keen observer , has not missed to watch the gentle efflorescence of the minds of his students. He has compared such opening with the expanding of the petals of young flowers. The students are naturally endowed  with strength of intellect and powers of mind which are bound and influenced by the orthodoxy, traditionalism and conservative values, but the poet watches that such spell or the influence of orthodoxy and conservativeness has been slackened gradually. As the young birds, releasing themselves from the spell of the cold Winter,  spread  out their wings in summer time and try their strength by flying up in the sky, the young pupils are also expanded mentally, emotionally and intellectually with compact positive energy. The students of this age try to prove their inner qualities, their ethics and the values as human beings.  

Line 6 to 10

O, how the winds

Of circumstances and freshening April showers

Of early knowledge and unnumbered kinds

Of new perceptions shed their influence;

And how you worship truth's omnipotence.

Summary : The teacher-poet has watched that  his pupils are not in mental rest at such age, their minds are always disturbed  by the winds of different changes. Their early knowledge that they have acquired makes their minds fresh as  the shower of April freshens every earthly  things and beings. Not only that, numberless new and different kinds of perceptions peep into their minds and exerts their irresistible influence which makes the students restless. Whatever it may be, the pupils adhere to the way of truth, they worship the truth because they know the omnipotence of the truth. No superstition, no irrational idea and belief, can make their intellect and mind blur and take away from truth.

Line 11 to 14

What joyance rains upon me, when l see

Fame in the mirror of futurity,

Weaving the chaplets you have yet to gain,

Ah then, l feel I have not lived in vain.

Summary : In the mirror of time (futurity) the poet visualizes the fame of his students. He can clearly see in imagination that  the fame of his pupils is just weaving  the chaplet which they must gain in near future. Joy comes  upon the poet like thick rain. Such condition of poet’s mind brings him to a new realm of fulfillment and he thinks that all his endeavours  for nurturing the students  have become  useful and successful. It takes him to the conclusion that he  has not lived in vain and his mission as the architect of  the student and the nation is successful beyond doubt.    

Images in the poem :

In the first stanza we find two  fine images  : one is the 'petals of flower' image  and the other is the 'wings of bird' image. In the lap of nature we witness the gentle opening of petals of the young flowers.The tight structured buds loose in a slow degree and  expand into full-bloomed structure - a complete flower ready to offer beauty and fragrance . Similar in the way the tender minds of the students open gently, casting aside the spell of traditionalism and conservatism. Idealism replaces the narrow thinking. Their minds make places for new values and promises. This is the formative moments of future citizens of the motherland.   

The 'wings of bird' image is very much appropriate and adhering to the opening of the minds of the students.In natural atmosphere we see the young birds are shrunk in the cold Winter and deter from their normal activities. When the Summer comes those birds, in the soft summer warmth, release themselves from the spell of the Winter and spread their wings, try to fly and prove their strength. Likewise, the students release their intellectual energies from the spell of cold tradition. The new ideas which they acquire through observation serve as the warmth of soft Summer. Now they do not suffer from the lack of knowledge and experience. The pall of wrong ideas which were formed firmly is dispersed and the student step on the new horizon of truth and beauty. As the wings help a bird to fly from the low ground and hover in the fresh air, the knowledge supports a student to fly to the authentic ideal  atmosphere, far from the so-called and age-old values. 

Poet's Feeling : The poem  "To the pupils of the Hindu college" was composed in such a time when India was on the threshold of cultural renaissance influenced by the new ideas from the West.