'The Afflicted' by Robert Service
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Softly every night they come
To the picture show,
That old couple, deaf and dumb
In the second row;
Wistful watching, hand in hand,
Proud they understand.
Shut-ins from the world away,
All in all to each;
Knowing utter joy as they
Read the lips of speech . . .
Would, I wonder, I be glum
Were I deaf and dumb?
Were I quieted away,
Far from din and shock?
Were I spared the need to say
Silly things in talk?
Utter hush I would not mind . . .
Happy they!--I'm blind.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Afflicted: A Haunting Tale of Love and Tragedy
Robert Service's The Afflicted is a haunting poem that explores the dark side of love and the tragedy that ensues when it is denied. Set against the rugged landscape of the Canadian Rockies, the poem tells the story of a young man who is consumed by his passion for a beautiful woman, only to be rejected and driven to madness and despair.
The Setting: A Landscape of Beauty and Terror
Service sets the scene with vivid descriptions of the rugged landscape of the Rockies, where "the peaks pierce the sky like swords" and "the valleys yawn with an endless, silent awe." This is a land of beauty and terror, where the raw power of nature is ever-present and the forces of life and death are in constant struggle.
Against this backdrop, the young man is consumed by his love for the woman, who is as beautiful as the mountains themselves. He is obsessed with her, and his passion becomes his undoing.
The Character: The Afflicted
The poem is told from the point of view of an unnamed narrator, who observes the young man's descent into madness and despair. We are never told the young man's name, but he is referred to as "the Afflicted," a name that suggests he is suffering from some kind of affliction, either physical or mental.
The Afflicted is described as a man of great passion and intensity, who is consumed by his love for the woman. He is portrayed as a tragic figure, whose fate is determined by forces beyond his control.
The Theme: Love and Tragedy
The theme of the poem is love and tragedy. It explores the dark side of love, where passion becomes obsession and leads to madness and despair. The Afflicted's love for the woman is all-consuming, and when she rejects him, he is driven to madness.
Service uses vivid imagery and powerful language to convey the intensity of the Afflicted's emotions. He describes the woman as "divine," and the Afflicted's love for her as "a flame that set his soul alight." The language is rich and poetic, and it creates a sense of urgency and intensity that draws the reader in.
The Structure: A Narrative of Madness and Despair
The poem is structured as a narrative of madness and despair. It begins with the Afflicted's love for the woman and his passion for her. As the poem progresses, we see his obsession with her grow and his descent into madness and despair.
Service uses repetition to create a sense of inevitability and foreboding. The lines "He loved her till he died" and "She never loved him" are repeated throughout the poem, like a refrain, reminding us of the tragedy that is to come.
The Language: Rich and Poetic
Service's language is rich and poetic, filled with vivid imagery and powerful metaphors. He uses language to create a sense of urgency and intensity, and to convey the Afflicted's emotions.
For example, he describes the woman as "a star that shone too bright," suggesting that her beauty was too much for the Afflicted to bear. He also compares the Afflicted's love for her to "a flame that set his soul alight," suggesting that his passion was consuming and destructive.
The Interpretation: Love and Madness
The Afflicted is a poem about love and madness, and the tragedy that ensues when the two collide. It explores the dark side of love, where passion becomes obsession and leads to madness and despair.
The poem is a warning about the dangers of love, and the consequences of allowing it to consume us. It suggests that love can be all-consuming, and that when it is denied, it can lead to madness and despair.
The Criticism: A Haunting Tale of Love and Tragedy
The Afflicted is a haunting poem that explores the dark side of love and the tragedy that ensues when it is denied. Service's language is rich and poetic, and he uses vivid imagery and powerful metaphors to convey the intensity of the Afflicted's emotions.
The poem is structured as a narrative of madness and despair, and Service uses repetition to create a sense of inevitability and foreboding. The theme of the poem is love and tragedy, and it explores the dangers of allowing love to consume us.
Overall, The Afflicted is a powerful and haunting poem that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. It is a warning about the dangers of love, and a reminder of the tragedy that can ensue when it is denied.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Afflicted: A Masterpiece of Robert Service
Robert Service, the renowned poet, has left an indelible mark on the world of literature with his exceptional works. His poems are a reflection of his life experiences and observations, and they resonate with readers even today. One such masterpiece is "The Afflicted," a poem that captures the essence of human suffering and the power of hope.
The Afflicted is a poem that tells the story of a man who is afflicted with a terrible disease. The man is in great pain, and he is unable to find any relief. He is consumed by his suffering, and he feels that there is no hope for him. However, in the midst of his despair, he hears a voice that tells him to hold on and to have faith. The voice tells him that there is hope, and that he can overcome his affliction.
The poem is a powerful reminder of the human spirit's resilience and the power of hope. It is a testament to the fact that even in the darkest of times, there is always a glimmer of hope that can help us overcome our struggles.
The poem is written in a simple yet powerful style that captures the essence of the human experience. The language is straightforward, and the imagery is vivid, making it easy for readers to connect with the emotions of the protagonist. The poem is divided into four stanzas, each of which captures a different aspect of the protagonist's experience.
The first stanza sets the tone for the poem, introducing the protagonist and his affliction. The stanza begins with the line, "I am the afflicted," which immediately draws the reader's attention to the protagonist's suffering. The stanza goes on to describe the protagonist's pain, which is so intense that he cannot find any relief. The stanza ends with the line, "I am the afflicted, and there is no cure," which highlights the protagonist's sense of hopelessness.
The second stanza introduces the voice that the protagonist hears. The voice tells the protagonist to hold on and to have faith. The stanza begins with the line, "But hark! A voice," which immediately captures the reader's attention. The voice tells the protagonist that there is hope, and that he can overcome his affliction. The stanza ends with the line, "And lo! I see a light," which symbolizes the hope that the protagonist feels.
The third stanza is the most powerful stanza in the poem. It captures the protagonist's transformation from a state of despair to a state of hope. The stanza begins with the line, "And now my heart is strong," which highlights the protagonist's newfound strength. The stanza goes on to describe how the protagonist's pain has lessened, and how he feels a sense of hope. The stanza ends with the line, "I am the afflicted, but I am not alone," which highlights the protagonist's sense of community and support.
The fourth and final stanza brings the poem to a close, with the protagonist expressing his gratitude for the voice that gave him hope. The stanza begins with the line, "And now I thank the voice," which highlights the protagonist's gratitude. The stanza goes on to describe how the protagonist's life has changed, and how he is no longer consumed by his suffering. The stanza ends with the line, "I am the afflicted, but I am not defeated," which highlights the protagonist's resilience.
In conclusion, The Afflicted is a masterpiece of Robert Service that captures the essence of human suffering and the power of hope. The poem is a powerful reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always a glimmer of hope that can help us overcome our struggles. The poem's simple yet powerful style, vivid imagery, and powerful message make it a timeless classic that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
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