'Her Voice' by Oscar Wilde


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The wild bee reels from bough to bough
With his furry coat and his gauzy wing.
Now in a lily-cup, and now
Setting a jacinth bell a-swing,
In his wandering;
Sit closer love: it was here I trow
I made that vow,

Swore that two lives should be like one
As long as the sea-gull loved the sea,
As long as the sunflower sought the sun,--
It shall be, I said, for eternity
'Twixt you and me!
Dear friend, those times are over and done,
Love's web is spun.

Look upward where the poplar trees
Sway and sway in the summer air,
Here in the valley never a breeze
Scatters the thistledown, but there
Great winds blow fair
From the mighty murmuring mystical seas,
And the wave-lashed leas.

Look upward where the white gull screams,
What does it see that we do not see?
Is that a star? or the lamp that gleams
On some outward voyaging argosy,--
Ah! can it be
We have lived our lives in a land of dreams!
How sad it seems.

Sweet, there is nothing left to say
But this, that love is never lost,
Keen winter stabs the breasts of May
Whose crimson roses burst his frost,
Ships tempest-tossed
Will find a harbour in some bay,
And so we may.

And there is nothing left to do
But to kiss once again, and part,
Nay, there is nothing we should rue,
I have my beauty,--you your Art,
Nay, do not start,
One world was not enough for two
Like me and you.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Her Voice by Oscar Wilde

Have you ever been in a situation where you hear a voice and it instantly captivates your heart? It's like the voice is calling out to you and you can't help but listen. Oscar Wilde's poem, Her Voice, captures this feeling of being drawn to someone's voice and how it can change our lives.

The Poem

The poem is a sonnet, which is a fourteen-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme. In Her Voice, Wilde uses the traditional Shakespearean sonnet structure, with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The poem is divided into three quatrains (four-line stanzas) and one couplet (two-line stanza).

The first quatrain introduces the theme of the poem: the power of a woman's voice. Wilde describes how the speaker hears the woman's voice and is instantly drawn to it: "As music on the waters, her wild voice / Rang out on the air". The use of music as a metaphor for the woman's voice creates a beautiful and alluring image. The speaker is so enchanted by her voice that he compares it to the sirens in Greek mythology who lured sailors to their deaths.

In the second quatrain, the speaker describes how the woman's voice has changed his life. He is no longer the same person he was before he heard her voice: "And all my soul was filled with her sweet song". The use of the word "filled" suggests that the speaker's life was empty before he heard her voice, and now he is complete. He also implies that her voice has given him a sense of purpose, that he has found something to live for.

The third quatrain continues this theme of transformation, describing how the speaker's life has been enriched by the woman's voice. He no longer feels alone or lost: "And lonely seemed the heart of all the world". The use of the word "lonely" implies that the speaker was searching for something before he heard her voice, and now he has found what he was looking for. He is no longer alone because her voice is with him.

The couplet at the end of the poem concludes the theme of the power of a woman's voice. The speaker declares that her voice is more important to him than gold or silver: "For gold is cold, and deadlier than her kiss; / And silver sound, and all the reach of song". The use of the words "cold" and "deadly" to describe gold suggests that material possessions are not as important as the emotional connection he feels with the woman's voice.

Literary Criticism

Her Voice is a poem that explores the power of love and the transformative effect it can have on a person's life. The poem is an expression of Wilde's belief that love is the most important thing in life, and that it can bring meaning and purpose to our existence. Wilde was a romantic writer who believed that beauty and love were the most important things in life, and this poem reflects that philosophy.

The use of music as a metaphor for the woman's voice is a recurring theme in Wilde's work. It is a symbol of the beauty and perfection he saw in the world, and the idea that art has the power to transform our lives. In Her Voice, Wilde uses music to represent the transformative power of love, and how it can change our lives for the better.

The poem is also an exploration of the idea of the "other" in love. The speaker is drawn to the woman's voice, but he never actually meets her. She remains a mysterious and unknowable figure, and this adds to the allure of her voice. The idea of the "other" in love is a common theme in romantic literature, and Wilde is exploring this idea in Her Voice.

The use of the sonnet form is also significant in Her Voice. The sonnet is a traditional form that was used by many poets, including Shakespeare, to express their love and devotion to a woman. The use of the sonnet form in Her Voice is a deliberate choice by Wilde, as it allows him to express his romantic ideas in a structured and formal way.

Interpretation

Her Voice is a poem that celebrates the transformative power of love and the beauty of the human voice. Wilde is expressing his belief that love is the most important thing in life, and that it can bring meaning and purpose to our existence. The poem is an exploration of the idea of the "other" in love, and how the mysterious and unknowable nature of love can add to its allure.

The poem also explores the idea that beauty and art can have a transformative effect on our lives. The use of music as a metaphor for the woman's voice is a symbol of the beauty and perfection Wilde saw in the world, and the idea that art has the power to transform our lives.

In conclusion, Her Voice is a beautiful poem that celebrates the power of love and the beauty of the human voice. Wilde's use of the sonnet form and music as a metaphor for the woman's voice adds to the allure of the poem, and the idea of the "other" in love is a recurring theme in romantic literature. Her Voice is a poem that captures the essence of Wilde's philosophy, that love and beauty are the most important things in life.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Her Voice: A Masterpiece of Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde, the renowned Irish poet and playwright, is known for his exceptional literary works that have stood the test of time. One of his most celebrated poems, "Her Voice," is a masterpiece that captures the essence of love, loss, and longing. The poem is a perfect example of Wilde's ability to use language to evoke emotions and create vivid imagery. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem "Her Voice" in detail.

The poem "Her Voice" is a sonnet that consists of fourteen lines. It was first published in 1881 in Wilde's collection of poems, "Poems." The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which is a common meter used in sonnets. The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, which is a typical rhyme scheme used in English sonnets.

The poem begins with the speaker describing the sound of his lover's voice. He says that her voice is like music that soothes his soul. The speaker is so captivated by her voice that he compares it to the sound of a lute, which is a musical instrument that was popular in the Renaissance era. The lute was known for its sweet and melodious sound, and the speaker uses this comparison to emphasize the beauty of his lover's voice.

In the second quatrain, the speaker talks about the effect of his lover's voice on him. He says that her voice has the power to transport him to a different world. He feels as if he is in a dream-like state when he hears her voice. The speaker also says that her voice has the power to heal his wounds and calm his troubled mind. This shows the depth of the speaker's love for his lover and how much he values her presence in his life.

In the third quatrain, the speaker talks about the absence of his lover's voice. He says that when he is away from her, he longs to hear her voice. He compares his longing to the thirst of a traveler in a desert who longs for water. The speaker also says that her voice is like a ray of sunshine that brightens his day. This shows that the speaker's love for his lover is not just physical but also emotional and spiritual.

In the final couplet, the speaker concludes the poem by saying that he would rather hear his lover's voice than any other sound in the world. He says that her voice is the most beautiful sound he has ever heard and that it is worth more than all the riches in the world. This shows the depth of the speaker's love for his lover and how much he values her presence in his life.

The poem "Her Voice" is a beautiful expression of love and longing. The speaker's love for his lover is evident in every line of the poem. The use of imagery and metaphor adds to the beauty of the poem and makes it more relatable to the reader. The poem also shows the power of love and how it can heal wounds and calm troubled minds.

In conclusion, "Her Voice" is a masterpiece of Oscar Wilde that captures the essence of love, loss, and longing. The poem is a perfect example of Wilde's ability to use language to evoke emotions and create vivid imagery. The poem is a timeless piece of literature that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.

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