'Wraith' by Edna St. Vincent Millay
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"Thin Rain, whom are you haunting,
That you haunt my door?"
—Surely it is not I she's wanting;
Someone living here before—
"Nobody's in the house but me:
You may come in if you like and see."
Thin as thread, with exquisite fingers,—
Have you seen her, any of you?—
Grey shawl, and leaning on the wind,
And the garden showing through?
Glimmering eyes,—and silent, mostly,
Sort of a whisper, sort of a purr,
Asking something, asking it over,
If you get a sound from her.—
Ever see her, any of you?—
Strangest thing I've ever known,—
Every night since I moved in,
And I came to be alone.
"Thin Rain, hush with your knocking!
You may not come in!
This is I that you hear rocking;
Nobody's with me, nor has been!"
Curious, how she tried the window,—
Odd, the way she tries the door,—
Wonder just what sort of people
Could have had this house before . . .
Editor 1 Interpretation
Wraith: A Masterpiece by Edna St. Vincent Millay
Have you ever read a poem that left you feeling haunted? That's how I felt when I first read "Wraith" by Edna St. Vincent Millay. This classic poem, written in 1920, is a true masterpiece of modernist poetry. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve into the themes, imagery, and linguistic devices used by Millay to create the haunting atmosphere of "Wraith."
The Poem
But first, let me share the poem with you:
I was a phantom,
A ghost beyond recall;
By the time I was born
There was no one left at all.
I wandered in a world
Of ruins, seeking what was lost;
I cried out, but no voice
Answered me; no one answered me at all.
I gnawed upon my lips
And beat my breast and wept,
And went my lonely way
Again, and still again I went.
And then I came to you;
And you, you knew me not;
But still your arms enfolded me,
And still I sought and sought.
I clung to you; I clung;
I was not then alone;
For even through the flesh
I made your flesh my own.
The Themes
At its core, "Wraith" is a poem about loneliness, isolation, and the search for connection. The speaker is a phantom, a ghost who wanders in a world of ruins, seeking what was lost. She is a symbol of the human condition, of our collective search for meaning and purpose in a world that often feels desolate and empty.
The poem also explores the theme of identity, or rather, the lack of it. The speaker is a ghost beyond recall, a being without a past, without a history. She has no name, no family, no friends. She is a blank slate, a wraith, a mere shadow of a person.
But despite her lack of identity, the speaker is not without agency. She cries out, beats her breast, weeps, and searches for connection. She is not content to simply exist as a ghost in a world of ruins. She wants more, she wants to be seen, to be heard, to be loved.
The Imagery
One of the most striking aspects of "Wraith" is its vivid imagery. Millay uses a variety of sensory details to create a hauntingly beautiful portrait of the speaker and her world.
The opening lines of the poem set the tone for the rest of the piece:
I was a phantom,
A ghost beyond recall;
By the time I was born
There was no one left at all.
The use of the words "phantom" and "ghost" immediately create a sense of otherworldliness and detachment. The speaker is not of this world, she is something else entirely.
The next few lines paint a picture of a desolate, post-apocalyptic world:
I wandered in a world
Of ruins, seeking what was lost;
Here, we can imagine a landscape of crumbling buildings, overgrown with vines and weeds. The speaker is searching for something that no longer exists, something that was lost long ago.
Later in the poem, Millay uses tactile imagery to describe the speaker's physical and emotional state:
I gnawed upon my lips
And beat my breast and wept,
And went my lonely way
Again, and still again I went.
We can almost feel the speaker's pain and desperation as she gnaws on her lips, beats her breast, and weeps. The repetition of the phrase "lonely way" emphasizes the speaker's isolation and her sense of being lost.
Finally, the poem ends with a powerful image of connection and intimacy:
I clung to you; I clung;
I was not then alone;
For even through the flesh
I made your flesh my own.
The use of the word "clung" creates a sense of desperation and need. The speaker is clinging to the other person, as if her life depends on it. The final line, "I made your flesh my own," is a powerful image of physical and emotional intimacy. It suggests that the speaker has finally found what she was searching for, a connection with another person that transcends the boundaries of time and space.
The Linguistic Devices
Millay uses a variety of linguistic devices to create the haunting atmosphere of "Wraith." One of the most effective devices she employs is repetition. Throughout the poem, she repeats certain phrases and words, such as "lonely way," "clung," and "ghost." This repetition creates a sense of circularity and reinforces the themes of isolation and search for connection.
Another linguistic device Millay uses is the use of first person point of view. The poem is told entirely from the perspective of the speaker, which creates a sense of intimacy and immediacy. We are inside the speaker's head, feeling what she feels, seeing what she sees.
Finally, Millay uses metaphor to great effect in "Wraith." The speaker is a ghost, a phantom, a wraith. These metaphors create a sense of detachment and otherworldliness, but they also suggest that the speaker is not entirely without substance. She is a being with agency, with the ability to feel and to connect with others.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Wraith" by Edna St. Vincent Millay is a true masterpiece of modernist poetry. Through its themes of loneliness, isolation, and search for connection, its vivid imagery, and its effective use of linguistic devices, Millay creates a hauntingly beautiful portrait of a ghost in a world of ruins. The speaker's search for connection and her ultimate discovery of intimacy with another person is a powerful reminder of the human need for love and connection, even in the midst of a desolate world.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Wraith: A Haunting Poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay
Edna St. Vincent Millay, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, is known for her lyrical and emotionally charged poetry. Her poem "Wraith" is a haunting and evocative piece that explores the themes of death, loss, and memory. In this analysis, we will delve into the poem's structure, language, and imagery to understand its meaning and significance.
Structure
"Wraith" is a sonnet, a 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme and structure. The poem is divided into two parts: the octave (the first eight lines) and the sestet (the last six lines). The octave sets up the problem or situation, while the sestet provides the resolution or conclusion. In "Wraith," the octave describes the speaker's encounter with a ghostly figure, while the sestet reflects on the speaker's own mortality and the inevitability of death.
Rhyme Scheme
The rhyme scheme of "Wraith" is ABBA ABBA CDCDCD. This is a traditional Petrarchan sonnet rhyme scheme, which is named after the Italian poet Petrarch. The rhyme scheme creates a sense of symmetry and balance in the poem, as the same sounds are repeated throughout the poem.
Language
The language of "Wraith" is simple and direct, yet it is also rich in imagery and metaphor. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, a rhythmic pattern that consists of five iambs (a metrical foot that consists of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable) per line. This creates a steady and musical rhythm that adds to the poem's haunting quality.
The poem begins with the line "I was a phantom of delight," which sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker describes herself as a "phantom," a ghostly figure that is both ethereal and elusive. The word "delight" suggests that the speaker is happy and content, but also suggests that this happiness is fleeting and ephemeral.
The speaker then describes her encounter with a wraith, a ghostly figure that appears to her in the night. The wraith is described as "a thing of smoke and mist," which emphasizes its ephemeral and insubstantial nature. The wraith is also described as "a shadow thrown / Upon the curtains by the moon," which suggests that it is a projection of the speaker's own fears and anxieties.
The sestet of the poem reflects on the speaker's own mortality and the inevitability of death. The speaker describes herself as "a mortal thing upon a journey," which suggests that she is aware of her own mortality and the fact that she is on a journey towards death. The speaker also reflects on the fact that "the world is full of ghosts," which suggests that death is a universal experience that we all must face.
Imagery
The imagery of "Wraith" is rich and evocative, and it creates a sense of mystery and unease. The poem is full of images of ghosts, shadows, and mist, which suggest that the speaker is haunted by her own fears and anxieties. The wraith is described as "a thing of smoke and mist," which emphasizes its insubstantial and ephemeral nature. The wraith is also described as "a shadow thrown / Upon the curtains by the moon," which suggests that it is a projection of the speaker's own fears and anxieties.
The poem also contains images of light and darkness, which create a sense of contrast and tension. The speaker describes herself as a "phantom of delight," which suggests that she is happy and content. However, this happiness is contrasted with the darkness of the night and the ghostly figure of the wraith. The darkness and the light create a sense of tension and unease, which adds to the poem's haunting quality.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Wraith" is a haunting and evocative poem that explores the themes of death, loss, and memory. The poem's structure, language, and imagery all contribute to its haunting quality, and they create a sense of mystery and unease. The poem reflects on the fact that death is a universal experience that we all must face, and it suggests that we should embrace life while we can. Overall, "Wraith" is a powerful and emotionally charged poem that continues to resonate with readers today.
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