'Impression Du Matin' by Oscar Wilde


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The Thames nocturne of blue and gold
Changed to a Harmony in grey:
A barge with ochre-coloured hay
Dropt from the wharf: and chill and cold

The yellow fog came creeping down
The bridges, till the houses' walls
Seemed changed to shadows, and S. Paul's
Loomed like a bubble o'er the town.

Then suddenly arose the clang
Of waking life; the streets were stirred
With country waggons: and a bird
Flew to the glistening roofs and sang.

But one pale woman all alone,
The daylight kissing her wan hair,
Loitered beneath the gas lamps' flare,
With lips of flame and heart of stone.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Impression Du Matin: A Masterpiece of Sensory Imagery

When it comes to Oscar Wilde, most people think of his plays or his witty epigrams. However, Wilde was also a talented poet, and "Impression Du Matin" is one of his best-known poems. Written in 1881, it captures the melancholy beauty of a foggy morning in London. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the themes, imagery, and language of this remarkable poem.

The Scene: A City Wrapped in Fog

Before delving into the poem itself, it's worth considering the context in which it was written. London in the late 19th century was a city of contrasts. On one hand, it was the heart of the British Empire, a bustling metropolis of commerce and culture. On the other hand, it was plagued by poverty, pollution, and social injustice. The fog that often blanketed the city only added to its mysterious and sometimes ominous atmosphere.

"Impression Du Matin" captures this sense of ambiguity and complexity. The poem's speaker is walking through the city on a foggy morning, and the opening lines immediately set the scene:

The Thames nocturne of blue and gold Changed to a harmony in grey: A barge with ochre-coloured hay Dropt from the wharf: and chill and cold The yellow fog came creeping down

Already, we can see the interplay of colors and contrasts that will define the poem. The blue and gold of the river are replaced by the grey of the fog, and the vibrant ochre of the barge is muted by the cold and dampness of the morning. The fog, too, is both beautiful and eerie, creeping down like a silent predator.

Themes of Loss, Transience, and Beauty

As the poem unfolds, the speaker's thoughts turn to the transience of life and the inevitability of loss. He sees a "face in the crowd" that reminds him of someone he used to know, but the memory is fleeting and bittersweet:

And out of the misty eastern cave Of foggy London the day came Wearing a face of dank despair, Of wrathful, pitiless unrest.

And her eyes were sadly sweet As the eyes of a doomed deer Whose heart has felt the fatal spear.

The "face in the crowd" is like a ghost from the past, a reminder of a time that can never be recaptured. The imagery of the "doomed deer" is particularly poignant, suggesting a sense of helplessness in the face of fate. The speaker is acutely aware of the passing of time and the fragility of human existence.

This theme of loss and transience is reinforced throughout the poem. The speaker sees "wrecks" of houses and "shadows" of trees, and he notes the "dead leaves" floating on the river. Even the "yellow smoke" rising from the chimneys seems to suggest decay and decline. And yet, in the midst of all this impermanence, the speaker finds beauty:

The blue and silver palace of the moon Moved in the wake of the moving wave; Silent as a dream the ship went on And the dead were at her helm.

The cold winds of the morning Swam through the bounding sea, And trampled the wave and broke its back As beasts are in a menagerie.

The moon, the ship, and the sea are all symbols of beauty and mystery, even as they suggest the passage of time and the inevitability of death. The final lines, in which the winds "trample the wave and break its back," are both violent and hauntingly beautiful.

Sensory Imagery and Symbolism

One of the most striking aspects of "Impression Du Matin" is its use of sensory imagery. Wilde creates a vivid and evocative picture of the city in all its moods and nuances. The fog is described as "yellow," "creeping," and "obscure," while the river is "blue and gold." The barge with its "ochre-coloured hay" and the ship with its "silver palace of the moon" are both carefully rendered with an eye for detail.

Wilde also uses a number of symbols throughout the poem. The river, for example, can be seen as a metaphor for the passage of time, while the ship and the moon suggest mystery and beauty. The "face in the crowd" is a symbol of lost love or missed opportunities. The dead at the helm of the ship are perhaps a symbol of the inevitability of death, even in the midst of life.

Language and Style

Wilde's language in "Impression Du Matin" is both lyrical and precise. He uses alliteration and repetition to create a sense of musicality, as in the lines:

A barge with ochre-coloured hay Dropt from the wharf: and chill and cold

The repetition of "and" and the alliteration of "ochre-coloured" and "chill and cold" create a rhythmic effect that is both pleasing to the ear and evocative of the scene.

Wilde's use of metaphor and simile is also noteworthy. The "face in the crowd" is compared to a "doomed deer," while the wind is described as "trampling the wave" like beasts in a menagerie. These images are both striking and effective, helping to convey the mood and meaning of the poem.

Conclusion: A Masterpiece of Victorian Poetry

"Impression Du Matin" is a remarkable poem that captures the beauty and mystery of a foggy morning in London. Through vivid sensory imagery, powerful symbols, and lyrical language, Wilde creates a haunting portrait of a city that is both beautiful and tragic. The themes of loss, transience, and beauty are woven together in a way that is both poignant and memorable. This poem is a masterpiece of Victorian poetry and a testament to Wilde's talent as a writer.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Impression Du Matin: A Masterpiece by Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde, the renowned Irish poet, playwright, and novelist, is known for his exceptional literary works that have stood the test of time. One of his most celebrated poems is Impression Du Matin, which was first published in 1881. The poem is a beautiful portrayal of the morning scene in Paris, and it captures the essence of the city's beauty and melancholy. In this article, we will delve into the poem's meaning, structure, and literary devices used by Wilde to create a masterpiece.

The poem begins with a vivid description of the morning scene in Paris. Wilde uses sensory imagery to create a picture of the city's beauty. He writes, "The Thames nocturne of blue and gold / Changed to a harmony in grey: / A barge with ochre-coloured hay / Dropt from the wharf: and chill and cold / The yellow fog came creeping down." The use of colours such as blue, gold, grey, and yellow, creates a visual image of the scene. The Thames nocturne of blue and gold is a reference to the famous painting by James McNeill Whistler, which depicts the Thames River at night. Wilde's use of this reference shows his appreciation for art and his ability to draw inspiration from it.

The second stanza of the poem shifts the focus from the city's beauty to its melancholy. Wilde writes, "The drooping willow-branches stirred / In the uneasy morning wind, / And the grey mist on the river's face / A ghostly sail did follow and chase, / As the water-mill went round and round." The use of words such as "uneasy," "ghostly," and "chase" creates a sense of unease and melancholy. The image of the ghostly sail following and chasing the water-mill creates a haunting image that stays with the reader.

The third stanza of the poem brings in a human element. Wilde writes, "From the houses, walls and windows, / Parasols and umbrellas / Drifted to the ground like flowers; / The smoke ascended in a tower, / Lazily oridly." The use of the word "parasols" and "umbrellas" creates an image of people going about their daily lives. The smoke ascending lazily or idly shows the slow pace of life in Paris. The use of the word "flowers" to describe the parasols and umbrellas creates a sense of beauty and fragility.

The fourth and final stanza of the poem brings the focus back to the city's beauty. Wilde writes, "The ringing bells / Of the church of St. Jacques de la Boucherie / Tripping across the upland swells, / Were tangled in blue sky and white sun-lights; / And the fisherman with his lamp / And spear / About the same thing did appear / As his own shadow, on the misty lamp." The use of words such as "ringing bells," "blue sky," and "white sun-lights" creates a sense of beauty and serenity. The image of the fisherman with his lamp and spear creates a sense of mystery and intrigue.

The structure of the poem is in four stanzas, each with five lines. The poem follows a regular rhyme scheme of ABABA. The use of regular rhyme scheme and structure creates a sense of order and balance in the poem. The poem's structure also reflects the slow pace of life in Paris, with each stanza building on the previous one to create a complete picture of the morning scene.

Wilde uses several literary devices in the poem to create a masterpiece. One of the most prominent literary devices used in the poem is imagery. Wilde uses sensory imagery to create a vivid picture of the morning scene in Paris. The use of colours, sounds, and visual images creates a sense of beauty and melancholy that stays with the reader.

Another literary device used in the poem is alliteration. Wilde uses alliteration to create a sense of rhythm and musicality in the poem. For example, in the first stanza, Wilde writes, "The Thames nocturne of blue and gold / Changed to a harmony in grey." The use of the words "Thames," "nocturne," "blue," and "gold" creates a sense of musicality that adds to the poem's beauty.

Wilde also uses personification in the poem. For example, in the second stanza, Wilde writes, "The grey mist on the river's face / A ghostly sail did follow and chase." The use of personification creates a sense of mystery and intrigue that adds to the poem's beauty.

In conclusion, Impression Du Matin is a masterpiece by Oscar Wilde that captures the essence of the morning scene in Paris. The poem's use of sensory imagery, regular rhyme scheme, and literary devices such as alliteration and personification create a sense of beauty and melancholy that stays with the reader. Wilde's ability to draw inspiration from art and his appreciation for beauty is evident in this poem. Impression Du Matin is a testament to Wilde's exceptional literary skills and his ability to create a masterpiece that stands the test of time.

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