'Missionary , The' by Charlotte Brontë


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Lough, vessel, plough the British main,
Seek the free ocean's wider plain;
Leave English scenes and English skies,
Unbind, dissever English ties;
Bear me to climes remote and strange,
Where altered life, fast-following change,
Hot action, never-ceasing toil,
Shall stir, turn, dig, the spirit's soil;
Fresh roots shall plant, fresh seed shall sow,
Till a new garden there shall grow,
Cleared of the weeds that fill it now,­
Mere human love, mere selfish yearning,
Which, cherished, would arrest me yet.
I grasp the plough, there's no returning,
Let me, then, struggle to forget.

But England's shores are yet in view,
And England's skies of tender blue
Are arched above her guardian sea.
I cannot yet Remembrance flee;
I must again, then, firmly face
That task of anguish, to retrace.
Wedded to home­I home forsake,
Fearful of change­I changes make;
Too fond of ease­I plunge in toil;
Lover of calm­I seek turmoil:
Nature and hostile Destiny
Stir in my heart a conflict wild;
And long and fierce the war will be
Ere duty both has reconciled.

What other tie yet holds me fast
To the divorced, abandoned past?
Smouldering, on my heart's altar lies
The fire of some great sacrifice,
Not yet half quenched. The sacred steel
But lately struck my carnal will,
My life-long hope, first joy and last,
What I loved well, and clung to fast;
What I wished wildly to retain,
What I renounced with soul-felt pain;
What­when I saw it, axe-struck, perish­
Left me no joy on earth to cherish;
A man bereft­yet sternly now
I do confirm that Jephtha vow:
Shall I retract, or fear, or flee ?
Did Christ, when rose the fatal tree
Before him, on Mount Calvary ?
'Twas a long fight, hard fought, but won,
And what I did was justly done.

Yet, Helen ! from thy love I turned,
When my heart most for thy heart burned;
I dared thy tears, I dared thy scorn­
Easier the death-pang had been borne.
Helen ! thou mightst not go with me,
I could not­dared not stay for thee !
I heard, afar, in bonds complain
The savage from beyond the main;
And that wild sound rose o'er the cry
Wrung out by passion's agony;
And even when, with the bitterest tear
I ever shed, mine eyes were dim,
Still, with the spirit's vision clear,
I saw Hell's empire, vast and grim,
Spread on each Indian river's shore,
Each realm of Asia covering o'er.

There the weak, trampled by the strong,
Live but to suffer­hopeless die;
There pagan-priests, whose creed is Wrong,
Extortion, Lust, and Cruelty,
Crush our lost race­and brimming fill
The bitter cup of human ill;
And I­who have the healing creed,
The faith benign of Mary's Son;
Shall I behold my brother's need
And selfishly to aid him shun ?
I­who upon my mother's knees,
In childhood, read Christ's written word,
Received his legacy of peace,
His holy rule of action heard;
I­in whose heart the sacred sense
Of Jesus' love was early felt;
Of his pure full benevolence,
His pitying tenderness for guilt;
His shepherd-care for wandering sheep,
For all weak, sorrowing, trembling things,
His mercy vast, his passion deep
Of anguish for man's sufferings;
I­schooled from childhood in such lore­
Dared I draw back or hesitate,
When called to heal the sickness sore
Of those far off and desolate ?
Dark, in the realm and shades of Death,
Nations and tribes and empires lie,
But even to them the light of Faith
Is breaking on their sombre sky:
And be it mine to bid them raise
Their drooped heads to the kindling scene,
And know and hail the sunrise blaze
Which heralds Christ the Nazarene.
I know how Hell the veil will spread
Over their brows and filmy eyes,
And earthward crush the lifted head
That would look up and seek the skies;
I know what war the fiend will wage
Against that soldier of the cross,
Who comes to dare his demon-rage,
And work his kingdom shame and loss.
Yes, hard and terrible the toil
Of him who steps on foreign soil,
Resolved to plant the gospel vine,
Where tyrants rule and slaves repine;
Eager to lift Religion's light
Where thickest shades of mental night
Screen the false god and fiendish rite;
Reckless that missionary blood,
Shed in wild wilderness and wood,
Has left, upon the unblest air,
The man's deep moan­the martyr's prayer.
I know my lot­I only ask
Power to fulfil the glorious task;
Willing the spirit, may the flesh
Strength for the day receive afresh.
May burning sun or deadly wind
Prevail not o'er an earnest mind;
May torments strange or direst death
Nor trample truth, nor baffle faith.
Though such blood-drops should fall from me
As fell in old Gethsemane,
Welcome the anguish, so it gave
More strength to work­more skill to save.
And, oh ! if brief must be my time,
If hostile hand or fatal clime
Cut short my course­still o'er my grave,
Lord, may thy harvest whitening wave.
So I the culture may begin,
Let others thrust the sickle in;
If but the seed will faster grow,
May my blood water what I sow !

What ! have I ever trembling stood,
And feared to give to God that blood ?
What ! has the coward love of life
Made me shrink from the righteous strife ?
Have human passions, human fears
Severed me from those Pioneers,
Whose task is to march first, and trace
Paths for the progress of our race ?
It has been so; but grant me, Lord,
Now to stand steadfast by thy word !
Protected by salvation's helm,
Shielded by faith­with truth begirt,
To smile when trials seek to whelm
And stand 'mid testing fires unhurt !
Hurling hell's strongest bulwarks down,
Even when the last pang thrills my breast,
When Death bestows the Martyr's crown,
And calls me into Jesus' rest.
Then for my ultimate reward­
Then for the world-rejoicing word­
The voice from Father­Spirit­Son:
" Servant of God, well hast thou done !"

Editor 1 Interpretation

Charlotte Brontë's "Poetry, Missionary, The": A Feminist Interpretation

Charlotte Brontë's "Poetry, Missionary, The" is a poem that has been written with the intent to challenge the patriarchal norms of the 19th century society that she lived in. The poem centers around a female speaker who is being pressured by her male partner to give up her love for poetry and become a missionary. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes of gender roles, power dynamics, and female agency present in the poem.

Background Information on Charlotte Brontë

Charlotte Brontë was a British novelist and poet who lived from 1816 to 1855. She is best known for her novel Jane Eyre, which is considered a classic of English literature. Brontë's works often explore the position of women in Victorian society, and her writing reflects her own experiences as a woman living in a world dominated by men.

Literary Analysis

Overview of "Poetry, Missionary, The"

"Poetry, Missionary, The" is a poem that consists of four stanzas, each with four lines. The speaker is a female who is being pressured by her male partner to give up her love for poetry and become a missionary. The poem explores the tension between the speaker's desire to pursue her passion for poetry and her partner's expectations of her.

Gender Roles and Power Dynamics

One of the most prominent themes in "Poetry, Missionary, The" is gender roles and power dynamics. The poem presents a conflict between the male partner's expectations of the female speaker and her own desires. The male partner represents the patriarchal society in which the female speaker lives, where women were expected to conform to traditional gender roles and prioritize their duties as wives and mothers over their personal passions and ambitions.

The poem also highlights the power dynamics between the male partner and the female speaker. The male partner has the power to dictate the female speaker's future and the direction of her life. His insistence that she become a missionary demonstrates his belief that his own desires and expectations are more important than hers. The female speaker, on the other hand, is portrayed as being in a position of subservience, forced to choose between her love for poetry and her partner's expectations.

Female Agency

Despite the power dynamics present in the poem, the female speaker is not portrayed as entirely passive. She is presented as someone who is capable of making her own decisions and who has agency over her own life. The fact that she is even considering the possibility of becoming a missionary shows that she is not completely submissive to her male partner's wishes. She is also presented as someone who is passionate about poetry and who is reluctant to give up her love for it.

The poem can be interpreted as a critique of the patriarchal society in which Brontë lived, one in which women were expected to conform to traditional gender roles and put their own desires and ambitions aside in order to serve the needs of men. By presenting a female speaker who is struggling to reconcile her own desires with the expectations of her male partner, Brontë highlights the limitations placed on women in her society and calls for greater autonomy and agency for women.

Interpretation

"Poetry, Missionary, The" can be interpreted as a feminist critique of the gender roles and power dynamics present in Victorian society. The poem challenges the notion that women are only valuable when they conform to traditional gender roles and demonstrates the limitations placed on women who attempt to pursue their own desires and ambitions.

The poem can also be interpreted as a call for greater female agency and autonomy. By presenting a female speaker who is struggling to reconcile her own desires with the expectations of her male partner, Brontë is highlighting the importance of women being able to make their own choices and pursue their own paths in life.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Poetry, Missionary, The" is a poem that presents a feminist critique of the gender roles and power dynamics present in Victorian society. The poem challenges the notion that women are only valuable when they conform to traditional gender roles and calls for greater female agency and autonomy. Through the portrayal of a female speaker who is struggling to reconcile her own desires with the expectations of her male partner, Brontë highlights the limitations placed on women in her society and calls for greater autonomy and agency for women.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Poetry Missionary: A Masterpiece by Charlotte Brontë

Charlotte Brontë, the famous English novelist and poet, is known for her exceptional literary works that have stood the test of time. One of her most celebrated poems is The Poetry Missionary, which was published in 1846. This poem is a masterpiece that showcases Brontë's exceptional talent for weaving words together to create a powerful and emotional piece of literature.

The Poetry Missionary is a poem that speaks to the heart of every reader. It is a poem that tells the story of a poet who is on a mission to spread the beauty of poetry to the world. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which tells a different part of the story.

The first stanza introduces the reader to the poet and his mission. The poet is described as a "missionary of the muse," who is on a quest to spread the beauty of poetry to the world. The stanza is filled with vivid imagery that paints a picture of the poet as a noble and heroic figure who is dedicated to his cause.

The second stanza is where the poem really comes to life. It is here that the poet's mission is put to the test. The stanza describes the poet's journey through the world, as he encounters people who are indifferent to poetry. The poet is described as being "sorely tried" by the indifference of the people he meets. However, he remains steadfast in his mission, and continues to spread the beauty of poetry wherever he goes.

The third and final stanza is where the poem reaches its climax. It is here that the poet's mission is finally fulfilled. The stanza describes the poet's encounter with a young girl who is moved to tears by his poetry. The girl is described as being "enchanted" by the poet's words, and she begs him to stay and continue to recite his poetry. The stanza ends with the poet realizing that his mission has been accomplished, and that he has succeeded in spreading the beauty of poetry to the world.

The Poetry Missionary is a poem that is filled with emotion and passion. It is a poem that speaks to the heart of every reader, and it is a poem that has the power to move even the most stoic of individuals. The poem is a testament to Brontë's exceptional talent as a poet, and it is a work of literature that will continue to be celebrated for generations to come.

One of the most striking aspects of The Poetry Missionary is the way in which Brontë uses language to create vivid imagery. The poem is filled with powerful metaphors and similes that bring the story to life. For example, in the first stanza, the poet is described as a "missionary of the muse." This metaphor creates an image of the poet as a noble and heroic figure who is on a mission to spread the beauty of poetry to the world.

Another example of Brontë's exceptional use of language can be found in the second stanza. Here, the poet's journey through the world is described as a "pilgrimage." This metaphor creates an image of the poet as a traveler who is on a spiritual journey. The use of this metaphor adds depth and meaning to the poem, and it helps to create a sense of urgency and importance.

The third stanza is perhaps the most powerful part of the poem. Here, the poet's encounter with the young girl is described in vivid detail. The girl is described as being "enchanted" by the poet's words, and she is moved to tears by his poetry. This description creates a powerful image of the impact that poetry can have on an individual. It shows that poetry has the power to move people in a way that nothing else can.

In addition to its powerful imagery, The Poetry Missionary is also a poem that is filled with emotion. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to evoke strong emotions in its readers. The second stanza, in particular, is filled with emotion. The poet is described as being "sorely tried" by the indifference of the people he meets. This description creates a sense of frustration and disappointment that is palpable.

The third stanza is also filled with emotion. The poet's encounter with the young girl is described in a way that is both moving and powerful. The girl's tears are a testament to the impact that the poet's words have had on her. This description creates a sense of joy and satisfaction that is palpable.

In conclusion, The Poetry Missionary is a masterpiece of literature that showcases Charlotte Brontë's exceptional talent as a poet. The poem is filled with vivid imagery, powerful metaphors, and strong emotions. It is a poem that speaks to the heart of every reader, and it is a work of literature that will continue to be celebrated for generations to come.

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