'Despondency' by Anne Brontë


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I have gone backward in the work,
The labour has not sped,
Drowsy and dark my spirit lies,
Heavy and dull as lead.
How can I rouse my sinking soul
From such a lethargy?
How can I break these iron chains,
And set my spirit free?

There have been times when I have mourned,
In anguish o'er the past;
And raised my suppliant hands on high,
While tears fell thick and fast,

And prayed to have my sins forgiven
With such a fervent zeal,
An earnest grief --- a strong desire
That now I cannot feel!

And vowed to trample on my sins,
And called on Heaven to aid
My spirit in her firm resolves
And hear the vows I made.

And I have felt so full of love,
So strong in spirit then,
As if my heart would never cool
Or wander back again.

And yet, alas! how many times
My feet have gone astray,
How oft have I forgot my God,
How greatly fallen away!

My sins increase, my love grows cold,
And Hope within me dies,
And Faith itself is wavering now,
O how shall I arise!

I cannot weep but I can pray,
Then let me not despair;
Lord Jesus, save me lest I die,
And hear a wretch's prayer.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Poetry, Despondency by Anne Brontë: A Deep Dive into Emotion and Society

When one thinks of the Brontë sisters, usually it’s Charlotte and Emily that come to mind. But let’s not forget about the youngest sister, Anne, who was also a talented writer in her own right. Her poetry, in particular, reveals a lot about her inner thoughts and emotions. In this essay, I will be focusing on one of her most well-known poems, “Despondency,” and analyzing its themes and literary devices. Are you ready to take a journey through the mind of Anne Brontë?

A Brief Overview of “Despondency”

Before we get into the nitty-gritty details, let’s first give a brief summary of the poem. “Despondency” is a sonnet, which means it has 14 lines and follows a specific rhyme scheme. It was likely written in the mid-1840s, when Anne was in her early 20s. The poem is a meditation on the feeling of despair and hopelessness, and how it can consume a person’s entire being. It’s a deeply personal and emotional piece, but it also touches on broader societal issues such as poverty and injustice.

The Theme of Despair

The most obvious theme of “Despondency” is, of course, despair. Anne paints a bleak picture of her mental state, using vivid and visceral imagery to convey the depth of her misery. For example, in the first quatrain (the first four lines), she writes:

I have gone backward in the work of life —
From child to youth — from youth to infancy,
And feelingly I sigh for the lost strife
Of manhood's better years, unblest by thee.

Here, Anne is lamenting the fact that she feels like she’s regressing in life, rather than progressing. This is a common feeling among those who struggle with depression or other mental illnesses – the sense that they’re not moving forward in the way that they should be. Anne also uses the word “sigh” to describe her emotions, which gives the impression that this is a heavy and burdensome feeling.

In the second quatrain, Anne continues to explore the idea of being trapped in a state of despair:

They know not how to make my heart rejoice —
They know not how — these dreams of love and fame —
Oh, sweet delusions! — but ye cannot voice
The dreary void and weariness of shame.

Here, Anne is acknowledging that there are things in life that should bring her happiness, such as love and fame, but they’re not able to penetrate the wall of despair that she’s built around herself. She again uses emotive language, with words like “dreary” and “weariness” creating a sense of exhaustion and hopelessness.

Finally, in the third quatrain and the couplet (the last two lines), Anne brings the themes of despair and societal injustice together:

They tell me, ‘Thou art too unsocial,
And too severe thy thoughts and deeds must be:
Thou art alone, and nought is compatible
With thy lone mind but dreary poverty.’
Yet, to my soul, this dreary poverty
Brings back the days of its nativity.

Anne is being told that her attitude is too negative, and that she needs to be more social and positive in order to succeed in life. But she rejects this advice, arguing that poverty is the natural state of her soul. This is a powerful statement about the cyclical nature of despair – it can be both a cause and a result of poverty, and it’s not something that can be easily overcome.

Literary Devices in “Despondency”

Now that we’ve explored the main themes of “Despondency,” let’s turn our attention to the literary devices that Anne uses to convey those themes. One of the most striking features of the poem is its use of enjambment – that is, when a line of poetry doesn’t end where a sentence or clause ends. This creates a sense of flow and continuity, as if the thoughts and emotions are spilling out of Anne’s mind without any interruption. For example, in the first quatrain, the line “From child to youth — from youth to infancy,” doesn’t end until the next line starts. This creates a sense of confusion and disorientation, which mirrors Anne’s own sense of being lost and adrift in life.

Another literary device that Anne uses effectively is repetition. She repeats the word “dreary” twice in the second quatrain, which emphasizes the feeling of weariness and hopelessness that she’s trying to convey. She also repeats the word “alone” in the third quatrain, which emphasizes the isolation and loneliness that can come with despair.

Anne also uses metaphor and symbolism to convey her emotions. For example, she compares her mental state to a “dreary void,” which creates a sense of emptiness and isolation. She also writes about the “lost strife / Of manhood’s better years,” which can be interpreted as a metaphor for lost potential or unfulfilled dreams.

Conclusion

In conclusion, “Despondency” is a powerful and moving poem that explores the theme of despair in a deeply personal and emotional way. Anne Brontë uses a variety of literary devices, including enjambment, repetition, metaphor, and symbolism, to convey her inner thoughts and emotions. The poem also touches on broader societal issues such as poverty and injustice, which adds an additional layer of depth and meaning. Overall, “Despondency” is a testament to Anne’s talent as a poet, and to her ability to express complex emotions in a way that resonates with readers across the centuries.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Despondency: A Masterpiece of Anne Brontë

Anne Brontë, one of the most celebrated poets of the Victorian era, is known for her exceptional ability to capture the essence of human emotions in her works. Her poem, Poetry Despondency, is a classic example of her talent. The poem is a reflection of the poet's own struggles with depression and despair, and it is a powerful expression of the human condition.

The poem begins with the lines, "There are some moments in the life of man, / When he is neither happy nor sad." These lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a meditation on the nature of despair and the human experience of it. The poet goes on to describe the feeling of being lost and alone, of feeling like there is no hope for the future. She writes, "The world seems dark and dreary, / And life a weary load."

The poem is a powerful expression of the human experience of despair. The poet captures the feeling of hopelessness and the sense of being trapped in a dark and lonely place. She writes, "The heart is sick and weary, / And the soul is sore oppressed." These lines convey the depth of the poet's despair and the sense of being overwhelmed by the weight of her emotions.

The poem is also a reflection on the nature of poetry itself. The poet writes, "And then the poet's voice is hushed, / And his lyre is unstrung." These lines suggest that even the poet, who is supposed to be able to capture the beauty and meaning of life in her words, is sometimes unable to find the words to express her own emotions. The poem is a reminder that even the most talented and gifted among us can struggle with despair and the sense of being lost.

Despite the darkness and despair that permeate the poem, there is also a sense of hope and resilience. The poet writes, "But soon the clouds will pass away, / And the sun will shine again." These lines suggest that even in the darkest moments, there is always the possibility of hope and renewal. The poem is a reminder that even when we feel lost and alone, there is always the possibility of finding our way back to the light.

The poem is also a reflection on the power of art to heal and inspire. The poet writes, "And the poet's heart will beat once more, / And his lyre will sound again." These lines suggest that even when the poet is unable to find the words to express her own emotions, she can still find solace and inspiration in the beauty of art. The poem is a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is always the possibility of finding beauty and meaning in the world around us.

In conclusion, Poetry Despondency is a masterpiece of Anne Brontë's poetry. The poem is a powerful expression of the human experience of despair and the sense of being lost and alone. It is also a reflection on the nature of poetry itself and the power of art to heal and inspire. Despite the darkness and despair that permeate the poem, there is also a sense of hope and resilience. The poem is a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is always the possibility of finding our way back to the light.

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