'I Know The Face Of Falsehood And Her Tongue' by Edna St. Vincent Millay
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I know the face of Falsehood and her Tongue
Honeyed with unction, Plausible with guile,
Are dear to men, whom count me not among,
That owe their daily credit to her smile;
Such have been succoured out of great distress
By her contriving, if accounts be true:
Their deference now above the board, I guess,
Dishcharges what beneath the board is due.
As for myself, I'd liefer lack her aid
Than eat her presence; let this building fall:
But let me never lift my latch, afraid
To hear her simpering accents in the hall,
Nor force an entrance past mephitic airs
Of stale patchoulie hanging on my stairs.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"I Know The Face Of Falsehood And Her Tongue" by Edna St. Vincent Millay: A Critical Interpretation
Edna St. Vincent Millay's poem "I Know The Face Of Falsehood And Her Tongue" is a powerful expression of the poet's disillusionment with false promises and deceptive people. In this 14-line sonnet, Millay describes the face of falsehood and her tongue, revealing her deep understanding of the human nature and her ability to use language as a tool to convey her emotions.
Form and Structure
The poem is a sonnet, a form of poetry that has been used by many poets throughout history. A sonnet consists of 14 lines, and it is usually divided into two parts: the octave (the first eight lines) and the sestet (the final six lines). Millay's "I Know The Face Of Falsehood And Her Tongue" follows this structure, with a clear break between the first eight lines and the final six.
The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABBA ABBA CDCDCD, which is typical of Petrarchan sonnets. The use of rhyme adds musicality to the poem and helps to create a sense of unity and coherence. In addition, the poem is written in iambic pentameter, which means that each line consists of five metrical feet, each of which contains an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. This gives the poem a rhythmic quality and makes it easier to read and remember.
Theme and Meaning
At its core, "I Know The Face Of Falsehood And Her Tongue" is a poem about trust and deception. The speaker of the poem has been hurt by someone who has made false promises, and she is now wary of trusting anyone again. The face of falsehood and her tongue represent the deceitful nature of some people, and the poem is a warning to others to be cautious and not to be taken in by false promises.
The poem begins with the speaker acknowledging that she has been taken in by false promises in the past. She says that she knows the face of falsehood and her tongue, and that she has been deceived by them before:
I know the face of Falsehood and her Tongue
Too well to heed the blandishment of Shee:
Yet for too long a little hour, O Lord,
Have I forgotten these things that I knew.
Here, the speaker is admitting that she has forgotten the lessons she has learned in the past and has allowed herself to be deceived once again. The use of the word "blanishment" suggests that the speaker has been seduced by false promises, and the repetition of the word "forgotten" emphasizes the idea that she has failed to remember the lessons of the past.
In the second part of the poem, the speaker describes the face of falsehood and her tongue in more detail:
Falsehood has blushing cheeks and lying eyes,
And in her speech the accents are not true;
Her tongue stabs like a dagger, and her sighs
Are softer than a whisper, yet they slew.
Here, the speaker is painting a vivid picture of the deceitful nature of falsehood. The use of imagery - the "blushing cheeks" and "lying eyes" - creates a sense of depth and texture, and the idea that the "accents are not true" reinforces the theme of deception. The description of the tongue as a "dagger" and the idea that "sighs…slay" evoke a sense of danger and violence, suggesting that the speaker has been hurt by falsehood in the past.
In the final two lines of the poem, the speaker concludes by saying that she will not be taken in by false promises again:
And yet, O Lord, how tender is the heart
That has not yet forgot that it was true!
Here, the speaker is acknowledging that even though she has been hurt in the past, she still has a tender heart that is capable of love and trust. The final line, "that it was true," suggests that the speaker still believes in the idea of truth and authenticity, despite the deceitful nature of some people.
Analysis and Interpretation
"I Know The Face Of Falsehood And Her Tongue" is a powerful poem that explores the theme of trust and deception. Millay's use of vivid imagery and poetic language creates a sense of depth and texture, and the structure of the poem - with its clear break between the octave and the sestet - reinforces the central theme of the poem.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is the way in which Millay portrays the face of falsehood and her tongue. The use of personification - giving falsehood a face and a tongue - creates a sense of intimacy and familiarity, as if the speaker is describing a real person that she knows. The use of imagery - the blushing cheeks, lying eyes, and stabbing tongue - brings this person to life, creating a sense of danger and violence that is both compelling and unsettling.
In addition, the use of language in the poem is powerful and evocative. The repetition of the word "forgotten" in the first stanza emphasizes the idea that the speaker has failed to remember the lessons of the past, and the use of the word "blanishment" in the first stanza creates a sense of seduction and temptation. The use of alliteration - "blushing cheeks and lying eyes" - creates a sense of rhythmic unity, and the use of assonance - "her tongue stabs like a dagger" - reinforces the theme of violence and danger.
At its core, "I Know The Face Of Falsehood And Her Tongue" is a poem about trust and deception. The speaker has been hurt in the past by false promises, and she is now wary of trusting anyone again. The face of falsehood and her tongue represent the deceitful nature of some people, and the poem is a warning to others to be cautious and not to be taken in by false promises.
Conclusion
"I Know The Face Of Falsehood And Her Tongue" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the theme of trust and deception. Millay's use of vivid imagery and poetic language creates a sense of depth and texture, and the structure of the poem reinforces the central theme of the poem. By portraying the face of falsehood and her tongue in such vivid detail, Millay is able to create a sense of danger and violence that is both compelling and unsettling. Ultimately, the poem is a warning to others to be cautious and not to be taken in by false promises, and it is a powerful expression of the poet's deep understanding of human nature and her ability to use language as a tool to convey her emotions.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
I Know The Face Of Falsehood And Her Tongue: A Masterpiece by Edna St. Vincent Millay
Edna St. Vincent Millay is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century. Her works are known for their lyrical beauty, emotional depth, and sharp wit. Among her many poems, "I Know The Face Of Falsehood And Her Tongue" stands out as a masterpiece of poetic craft and social commentary.
The poem is a sonnet, a form of poetry that originated in Italy and became popular in English literature during the Renaissance. Sonnets typically have 14 lines and follow a strict rhyme scheme and meter. Millay's sonnet is no exception, but what sets it apart is the way she uses the form to convey a powerful message about the nature of deceit and betrayal.
The poem begins with a bold declaration: "I know the face of Falsehood and her Tongue." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a meditation on the ways in which people deceive each other. Millay's use of the word "face" is significant, as it suggests that falsehood is not just a matter of words, but also of appearance and demeanor. Falsehood, in other words, is not just something that people say, but also something that they do and embody.
The next two lines of the poem describe the face of falsehood in vivid detail: "She is the fair-faced, whose betraying smile / And whose sweet voice, like a knell, doth ring." Here, Millay uses the technique of personification to give falsehood a human face and voice. The image of a "fair-faced" woman with a "betraying smile" is both alluring and ominous, suggesting that falsehood can be both attractive and dangerous. The phrase "like a knell" is also significant, as it suggests that falsehood is not just a matter of words, but also of sound. The sound of falsehood, in other words, is like a funeral bell, signaling the death of trust and honesty.
The next two lines of the poem describe the tongue of falsehood: "She is the smooth-tongued, whose accursed skill / Delights our ears, but doth our hearts betray." Here, Millay uses the technique of metaphor to describe the tongue of falsehood as "smooth." This suggests that falsehood is not just something that people say, but also something that they do with their words. The phrase "accursed skill" is also significant, as it suggests that falsehood is not just a matter of talent, but also of moral character. Falsehood, in other words, is not just something that people are good at, but also something that they are evil for doing.
The next four lines of the poem describe the consequences of falsehood: "She is the secret enemy whose aim / Is to destroy, and yet to live in peace; / The snake that stings us with a smiling face, / And leaves us to our fate, without release." Here, Millay uses the technique of imagery to describe the ways in which falsehood can harm us. The image of a "secret enemy" suggests that falsehood is not always obvious, but can be hidden and insidious. The phrase "to destroy, and yet to live in peace" is also significant, as it suggests that falsehood can be both destructive and self-serving. The image of a "snake that stings us with a smiling face" is also powerful, as it suggests that falsehood can be both beautiful and deadly. The phrase "without release" is also significant, as it suggests that once we have been deceived, there is no escape from the consequences.
The final four lines of the poem offer a warning to those who would be deceived: "Beware of her, my soul, and do not trust / The honeyed words that from her lips do fall; / For though she seemeth fair, she is unjust, / And will betray thee, ere thou art aware." Here, Millay uses the technique of apostrophe to address her own soul directly. The phrase "Beware of her, my soul" is both a warning and a plea, suggesting that even the most wise and discerning among us can be deceived. The phrase "honeyed words" is also significant, as it suggests that falsehood can be sweet and tempting. The phrase "she is unjust" is also powerful, as it suggests that falsehood is not just a matter of error, but also of injustice. The final phrase "ere thou art aware" is also significant, as it suggests that we must be vigilant and alert to the dangers of falsehood at all times.
In conclusion, "I Know The Face Of Falsehood And Her Tongue" is a masterpiece of poetic craft and social commentary. Through the use of vivid imagery, powerful metaphors, and a strict sonnet form, Edna St. Vincent Millay conveys a powerful message about the nature of deceit and betrayal. The poem is a warning to all of us to be vigilant and alert to the dangers of falsehood, and to always be on guard against those who would deceive us.
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