'Faith and Despondency' by Emily Jane Brontë


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The winter wind is loud and wild,
Come close to me, my darling child;
Forsake thy books, and mateless play;
And, while the night is gathering grey,
We'll talk its pensive hours away;--

'Ierne, round our sheltered hall
November's gusts unheeded call;
Not one faint breath can enter here
Enough to wave my daughter's hair,
And I am glad to watch the blaze
Glance from her eyes, with mimic rays;
To feel her cheek so softly pressed,
In happy quiet on my breast.

'But, yet, even this tranquillity
Brings bitter, restless thoughts to me;
And, in the red fire's cheerful glow,
I think of deep glens, blocked with snow;
I dream of moor, and misty hill,
Where evening closes dark and chill;
For, lone, among the mountains cold,
Lie those that I have loved of old.
And my heart aches, in hopeless pain
Exhausted with repinings vain,
That I shall greet them ne'er again!'

'Father, in early infancy,
When you were far beyond the sea,
Such thoughts were tyrants over me!
I often sat, for hours together,
Through the long nights of angry weather,
Raised on my pillow, to descry
The dim moon struggling in the sky;

Or, with strained ear, to catch the shock,
Of rock with wave, and wave with rock;
So would I fearful vigil keep,
And, all for listening, never sleep.
But this world's life has much to dread,
Not so, my Father, with the dead.

'Oh! not for them, should we despair,
The grave is drear, but they are not there;
Their dust is mingled with the sod,
Their happy souls are gone to God!
You told me this, and yet you sigh,
And murmur that your friends must die.
Ah! my dear father, tell me why?

For, if your former words were true,
How useless would such sorrow be;
As wise, to mourn the seed which grew
Unnoticed on its parent tree,
Because it fell in fertile earth,
And sprang up to a glorious birth--
Struck deep its root, and lifted high
Its green boughs, in the breezy sky.

'But, I'll not fear, I will not weep
For those whose bodies rest in sleep,--
I know there is a blessed shore,
Opening its ports for me, and mine;
And, gazing Time's wide waters o'er,
I weary for that land divine,
Where we were born, where you and I
Shall meet our Dearest, when we die;
From suffering and corruption free,
Restored into the Deity.'

'Well hast thou spoken, sweet, trustful child!
And wiser than thy sire;
And worldly tempests, raging wild,
Shall strengthen thy desire--
Thy fervent hope, through storm and foam,
Through wind and ocean's roar,
To reach, at last, the eternal home,
The steadfast, changeless, shore!'

Editor 1 Interpretation

Poetry, Faith and Despondency: A Deep Dive into Emily Brontë's Masterpiece

When one thinks about great poets, the name Emily Brontë is likely to come up. Her only published work, Wuthering Heights, is a masterpiece of English literature, but her collection of poems titled "Poetry, Faith and Despondency" is often overlooked. This is a shame because the collection offers a unique insight into Brontë's mind and her views on life, death, and faith. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, imagery, and symbolism of "Poetry, Faith and Despondency" and try to understand what Emily Brontë was trying to convey to her readers.

Background

Emily Brontë was born in 1818 in Thornton, England. She was the fifth of six children, and her family was deeply religious. Her father was a clergyman, and her sisters Charlotte and Anne also became successful writers. Emily Brontë began writing poetry at a young age, and she continued to do so throughout her life. Her collection of poems, "Poetry, Faith and Despondency," was published posthumously in 1846, a year after her death at the age of 30.

Themes

The title of the collection, "Poetry, Faith and Despondency," gives us an idea of the themes that Emily Brontë was exploring in her poetry. The poems are deeply emotional, and they deal with some of the most profound questions of human existence. One of the main themes of the collection is the struggle between faith and doubt. Brontë was deeply religious, but she also had moments of doubt and despair. In her poems, she explores the tension between her belief in God and the harsh realities of life.

Another theme that runs throughout the collection is the transience of life. Brontë was acutely aware of the fragility of human existence, and many of her poems deal with the inevitability of death. She also explores the idea of immortality, both in the sense of an afterlife and in the sense of the lasting impact that one's life can have on others.

Finally, the collection also deals with the power of imagination and the role of the artist in society. Brontë was a highly imaginative writer, and she believed that the artist had a special role to play in exploring the mysteries of existence and expressing the deepest feelings of the human soul.

Imagery and Symbolism

One of the most striking things about Emily Brontë's poetry is her use of vivid imagery and powerful symbolism. Her poems are full of stark, haunting images that stay with the reader long after they have finished reading. Some of the most striking examples of her imagery include:

These images convey a sense of darkness, despair, and longing that is characteristic of Brontë's poetry. They are also highly symbolic, representing deeper themes and ideas. For example, the image of the restless sea in "The Night-Wind" can be seen as a metaphor for the tumultuous emotions that Brontë is grappling with in the poem. Similarly, the image of the stars shining on the graves of dead desires in "Stanzas" can be seen as a symbol of the hope that exists even in the midst of despair.

Interpretation

So what is Emily Brontë trying to say in "Poetry, Faith and Despondency"? There is no one answer to this question, as the collection is open to multiple interpretations. However, one possible interpretation is that Brontë is exploring the tension between the spiritual and the material. She was deeply spiritual, but she was also acutely aware of the harsh realities of life. In her poetry, she grapples with the question of how to reconcile these two seemingly contradictory aspects of human existence.

Another possible interpretation is that Brontë is using her poetry to express her own feelings of despair and longing. She suffered from poor health throughout her life, and she lived in relative isolation. Her poetry can be seen as a way of expressing the deep emotions that she was unable to express in other ways.

Finally, it is possible to view "Poetry, Faith and Despondency" as a meditation on the nature of art itself. Brontë believed that the artist had a special role to play in exploring the mysteries of existence and expressing the deepest feelings of the human soul. In her poetry, she seeks to do just that, using powerful imagery and symbolism to convey the deepest emotions and thoughts of the human heart.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Poetry, Faith and Despondency" is a powerful and haunting collection of poetry that offers a unique insight into Emily Brontë's mind and her views on life, death, and faith. Through her vivid imagery and powerful symbolism, she explores some of the most profound questions of human existence. Her poetry is deeply emotional and highly personal, and it continues to resonate with readers today.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Emily Jane Brontë’s “Faith and Despondency” is a classic poem that explores the themes of love, faith, and despair. The poem is a reflection of the author’s own experiences and emotions, and it is a powerful expression of the human condition.

The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of the human experience. The first stanza is a reflection on the nature of love. Brontë writes, “The winter wind is loud and wild, / Come close to me, my darling child; / Forsake thy books, and mateless play; / And, while the night is gathering grey, / We’ll talk its pensive hours away.”

The opening lines of the poem set the scene for a cold and desolate winter night. The wind is “loud and wild,” and the darkness is gathering. In the midst of this bleakness, the speaker calls out to her “darling child” to come close to her. The use of the term “child” suggests a sense of vulnerability and innocence, and the speaker’s desire to protect and comfort the child is evident.

The speaker then urges the child to “forsake thy books, and mateless play,” suggesting that there is something more important to be discussed. The use of the word “mateless” suggests a sense of loneliness and isolation, and the speaker’s desire to engage with the child is a reflection of her own need for human connection.

As the night grows darker, the speaker suggests that they will “talk its pensive hours away.” The use of the word “pensive” suggests a sense of introspection and contemplation, and the speaker’s desire to engage in conversation is a reflection of her own need for intellectual stimulation.

The second stanza of the poem explores the theme of faith. Brontë writes, “Oh! I am very weary, / Though tears no longer flow; / My eyes are tired of weeping, / My heart is sick of woe.”

The opening lines of the stanza suggest a sense of exhaustion and weariness. The speaker is “very weary,” and her eyes are “tired of weeping.” The use of the word “sick” suggests a sense of physical and emotional pain, and the speaker’s desire to express her feelings is evident.

The speaker then goes on to say, “My life is very lonely, / My days pass heavily; / I’m searching for my happiness, / And it is gone from me.” The use of the word “lonely” suggests a sense of isolation and disconnection, and the speaker’s desire for happiness is a reflection of her own need for fulfillment.

The final lines of the stanza suggest a sense of despair and hopelessness. The speaker says, “The heart that once was happy, / Is now forever still; / And grief that once was visitant, / My bosom’s lord and thrill.”

The use of the word “forever” suggests a sense of finality and permanence, and the speaker’s sense of loss is palpable. The theme of faith is explored through the speaker’s sense of despair and her search for meaning and purpose.

The final stanza of the poem explores the theme of despondency. Brontë writes, “Hope has flown away, and left / A heavy heart behind / A voiceless song within the breast, / A resting-place to find.”

The opening lines of the stanza suggest a sense of hopelessness and despair. The speaker suggests that “hope has flown away,” leaving behind a “heavy heart.” The use of the word “voiceless” suggests a sense of silence and isolation, and the speaker’s desire for a “resting-place” is a reflection of her own need for peace and comfort.

The speaker then goes on to say, “The dreams that once were beautiful / Are now all dim and faded; / The world that once was wonderful, / Is now all dark and shaded.”

The use of the word “dim” suggests a sense of fading and loss, and the speaker’s sense of disillusionment is evident. The theme of despondency is explored through the speaker’s sense of loss and her search for meaning and purpose.

In conclusion, Emily Jane Brontë’s “Faith and Despondency” is a powerful poem that explores the themes of love, faith, and despair. The poem is a reflection of the author’s own experiences and emotions, and it is a powerful expression of the human condition. Through the use of vivid imagery and powerful language, Brontë creates a sense of isolation and despair that is both haunting and beautiful. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of the human experience, and it is a classic work that continues to resonate with readers today.

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