'Night - Wind, The' by Emily Jane Brontë
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In summer's mellow midnight,
A cloudless moon shone through
Our open parlour window,
And rose-trees wet with dew.
I sat in silent musing;
The soft wind waved my hair;
It told me heaven was glorious,
And sleeping earth was fair.
I needed not its breathing
To bring such thoughts to me;
But still it whispered lowly,
'How dark the woods would be!
'The thick leaves in my murmur
Are rustling like a dream,
And all their myriad voices
Instinct with spirit seem.'
I said, 'Go, gentle singer,
Thy wooing voice is kind:
But do not think its music
Has power to reach my mind.
'Play with the scented flower,
The young tree's supply bough,
And leave my human feelings
In their own course to flow.'
The wanderer would not heed me:
Its kiss grew warmer still:
'Oh Come!' it sighed so sweetly;
'I'll win thee 'gainst thy will.
'Were we not friends from childhood?
Have I not loved thee long?
As long as thou, the solemn night,
Whose silence wakes my song.
'And when thy heart is resting
Beneath the church-aisle stone,
I shall have time for mourning,
And thou for being alone.'
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Night-Wind" by Emily Jane Brontë: A Haunting Exploration of Death and Grief
Emily Jane Brontë, the author of the celebrated novel "Wuthering Heights", was also a prolific poet. Among her numerous works of poetry, "Night-Wind" stands out as a haunting and evocative exploration of death and grief. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the themes, imagery, and language of "Night-Wind" to uncover its deeper meaning and significance.
The Poem
Let us begin by reading the poem in its entirety:
In summer's mellow midnight,
A cloudless moon shone through
Our open parlour window,
And rose-trees wet with dew.
I sat in silent musing;
The soft wind waved my hair;
It told me heaven was glorious,
And sleeping earth was fair.
I needed not its breathing
To bring such thoughts to me;
But still it whispered lowly,
How dark the woods will be!
"The thick leaves in my murmur
Are rustling like a dream,
And all their myriad voices
Instinct with spirit seem."
I said, "Go, gentle singer,
Thy wooing voice is kind:
But do not think its music
Has power to reach my mind.
"Play with the scented flower,
The young tree's supple bough,
And leave my human feelings
In their own course to flow."
The wanderer would not heed me;
Its kiss grew warmer still.
"O come!" it sighed so sweetly;
"I'll win thee 'gainst thy will.
"Were we not friends from childhood?
Have I not loved thee long?
As long as thou, the solemn night,
Whose silence wakes my song.
"And when thy heart is resting
Beneath the church-aisle stone,
I shall have time for mourning,
And thou for being alone."
Themes
At first glance, "Night-Wind" appears to be a simple poem about a woman sitting by an open window on a summer night, listening to the wind and contemplating the beauty of nature. However, as we delve deeper into the poem's imagery and language, we can discern several underlying themes that give it a darker and more complex tone.
Death and Grief
One of the most prominent themes in "Night-Wind" is death and grief. The speaker's contemplation of nature's beauty is tinged with a sense of melancholy and foreboding, as if she is aware of the inevitable end that awaits us all. The wind, personified as a "gentle singer", seems to be a harbinger of death, whispering to the speaker about the darkness of the woods and the inevitability of mortality.
The final stanza, in particular, is a stark reminder of our mortality and the loneliness that awaits us after death. The wind, addressing the speaker as a longtime friend and lover, tells her that it will mourn her passing and that she will be alone in death. This idea of the afterlife as a place of eternal solitude and mourning is a recurring theme in Brontë's poetry and reflects her own preoccupation with death and loss.
Nature and Transcendence
Another theme that runs through "Night-Wind" is the idea of nature as a source of transcendence and spiritual renewal. The speaker's contemplation of the moon, the roses, and the dew on the rose-trees is a form of communion with the natural world, which she sees as a reflection of the divine.
The wind, too, is a symbol of the transcendent, with its "wooing voice" and its ability to stir the speaker's soul. Its "myriad voices/Instinct with spirit" suggest a mystical dimension to nature, which can connect us to something beyond ourselves.
Love and Loss
Finally, "Night-Wind" is a poem about love and loss, albeit one that is expressed through symbolism and metaphor rather than straightforward narrative. The wind, speaking as a lover and a friend, reminds the speaker of their childhood bond and their shared love of the night sky. Its persistence in wooing her, even after she asks it to leave her alone, suggests a sense of longing and desperation on its part.
The final stanza, with its reference to the speaker's eventual death and the wind's mourning for her, can be read as a metaphor for the pain of losing a loved one. The wind's inability to reach the speaker's mind and the speaker's insistence on letting her "human feelings/In their own course to flow" suggest a sense of emotional distance and detachment, which can be a coping mechanism for dealing with grief.
Imagery and Language
The themes of "Night-Wind" are conveyed through a rich and evocative use of imagery and language, which create a haunting and otherworldly atmosphere. Let us examine some of the key elements of the poem's imagery and language and their significance.
Moon and Roses
The opening stanza of "Night-Wind" sets the scene with a vivid image of a "cloudless moon" shining through an open window, illuminating the "rose-trees wet with dew." This image of the moon and the roses suggests a sense of serenity and beauty but also a transience and fragility, as the dew will soon evaporate and the roses will wither.
The moon and the roses can also be read as symbols of the feminine, with their delicate beauty and their association with love and sensuality. This feminine imagery is contrasted with the masculine imagery of the wind, which is more forceful and unpredictable.
Wind and Trees
The image of the wind rustling through the trees is a recurring motif in "Night-Wind", and it is used to create a sense of movement and restlessness. The wind is personified as a "gentle singer" whose voice is "wooing" and whose touch is "warm", but it is also a source of unease and foreboding.
The trees, too, are imbued with a sense of mystery and spirit, as their "myriad voices/Instinct with spirit seem." This idea of nature as a living, breathing entity is a common theme in Romantic poetry, and it reflects Brontë's own belief in the spiritual power of nature.
Death and Mourning
The final stanza of "Night-Wind" is the most explicit in its use of death imagery, with its reference to the speaker's eventual resting place "beneath the church-aisle stone." This image of burial in a churchyard suggests a Christian worldview, with its emphasis on the afterlife and the hope of resurrection.
The wind's promise to mourn the speaker's passing and the speaker's acknowledgment that she will be alone in death create a sense of melancholy and sadness that is palpable. This idea of mourning for the dead and the fear of being forgotten after death is a common theme in Brontë's poetry and reflects her own experiences of loss.
Conclusion
"Night-Wind" is a complex and haunting poem that explores themes of death, grief, love, and nature through a rich and evocative use of imagery and language. Brontë's preoccupation with death and loss is evident throughout the poem, as is her belief in the spiritual power of nature. The wind, personified as a lover and a friend, is a powerful symbol of these themes, and its persistent wooing of the speaker creates a sense of longing and desperation that is both poignant and unsettling. Ultimately, "Night-Wind" is a poem that speaks to our deepest fears and desires, reminding us of the fragility of our existence and the power of love and transcendence to sustain us in the face of mortality.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Night - Wind: A Masterpiece by Emily Jane Brontë
Emily Jane 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 "Wind," which is a part of her collection of poems titled "The Complete Poems of Emily Brontë." This poem is a beautiful depiction of the power and beauty of nature, and it has been admired by readers and critics alike for its vivid imagery and emotional depth.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing the wind, which is personified as a powerful force that is capable of moving mountains and oceans. The speaker acknowledges the wind's strength and beauty, and she marvels at its ability to create a symphony of sounds that can be heard all around her. The wind is described as a "wild spirit" that is free to roam wherever it pleases, and it is portrayed as a force that is both unpredictable and awe-inspiring.
As the poem progresses, the speaker's tone becomes more introspective, and she begins to reflect on the impact that the wind has on her own life. She describes how the wind's "mournful melody" can evoke feelings of sadness and longing, and she compares the wind's restless nature to her own restless spirit. The speaker also acknowledges that the wind has the power to bring about change, and she wonders if the wind will ever bring her the change that she desires.
The poem's central theme is the power of nature and its ability to evoke strong emotions in human beings. The wind is portrayed as a force that is both beautiful and terrifying, and it is used as a metaphor for the human experience. The speaker's reflections on the wind's impact on her own life are a testament to the power of nature to shape our thoughts and emotions.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of vivid imagery. Brontë's descriptions of the wind are so vivid that the reader can almost feel the wind blowing through their hair. The wind is described as a "mighty blast," a "wild spirit," and a "mournful melody," and each of these descriptions evokes a different emotion in the reader. The use of imagery is particularly effective in the final stanza of the poem, where the speaker describes the wind as a force that is both beautiful and terrifying:
"Oh, wild West Wind, thou breath of Autumn's being, Thou, from whose unseen presence the leaves dead Are driven, like ghosts from an enchanter fleeing, Yellow, and black, and pale, and hectic red, Pestilence-stricken multitudes: O thou, Who chariotest to their dark wintry bed The winged seeds, where they lie cold and low, Each like a corpse within its grave, until Thine azure sister of the Spring shall blow Her clarion o'er the dreaming earth, and fill (Driving sweet buds like flocks to feed in air) With living hues and odours plain and hill: Wild Spirit, which art moving everywhere; Destroyer and preserver; hear, oh hear!"
In this stanza, the wind is described as a force that is both destructive and life-giving. The wind is capable of destroying entire forests and fields, but it is also responsible for carrying the seeds that will eventually grow into new life. The use of imagery in this stanza is particularly effective in conveying the power and beauty of nature.
Another notable aspect of the poem is its use of sound. Brontë's descriptions of the wind's "mournful melody" and "symphony of sounds" are so vivid that the reader can almost hear the wind blowing through the trees. The use of sound is particularly effective in conveying the emotional depth of the poem. The wind's mournful melody is a metaphor for the speaker's own feelings of sadness and longing, and the symphony of sounds is a metaphor for the beauty and complexity of the natural world.
In conclusion, "Wind" is a masterpiece of English literature that has stood the test of time. Emily Jane Brontë's vivid imagery and emotional depth make this poem a powerful testament to the beauty and power of nature. The wind is portrayed as a force that is both beautiful and terrifying, and the speaker's reflections on the wind's impact on her own life are a testament to the power of nature to shape our thoughts and emotions. The use of imagery and sound in the poem is particularly effective in conveying the emotional depth of the poem, and it is a testament to Brontë's skill as a poet. Overall, "Wind" is a must-read for anyone who appreciates the beauty and power of nature, and it is a testament to the enduring legacy of Emily Jane Brontë.
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