'The Blind And The Dead' by Robert Service


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She lay like a saint on her copper couch;
Like an angel asleep she lay,
In the stare of the ghoulish folks that slouch
Past the Dead and sneak away.

Then came old Jules of the sightless gaze,
Who begged in the streets for bread.
Each day he had come for a year of days,
And groped his way to the Dead.

"What's the Devil's Harvest to-day?" he cried;
"A wanton with eyes of blue!
I've known too many a such," he sighed;
"Maybe I know this . . . mon Dieu!"

He raised the head of the heedless Dead;
He fingered the frozen face. . . .
Then a deathly spell on the watchers fell --
God! it was still, that place!

He raised the head of the careless Dead;
He fumbled a vagrant curl;
And then with his sightless smile he said:
"It's only my little girl."

"Dear, my dear, did they hurt you so!
Come to your daddy's heart. . . ."
Aye, and he held so tight, you know,
They were hard to force apart.

No! Paris isn't always gay;
And the morgue has its stories too:
You are a writer of tales, you say --
Then there is a tale for you.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Blind And The Dead: A Masterpiece by Robert Service

Have you ever read a poem that made you feel like you were actually living the story? The Blind And The Dead by Robert Service is one of those poems. The way the words flow and the imagery used by the poet make it easy for readers to imagine themselves in the midst of the action. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we'll explore the themes, symbolism, and literary devices used by Service to create this masterpiece.

The Theme of Death and Mortality

The Blind And The Dead is a poem about death and mortality. It tells the story of a blind man and a dead man who meet in the afterlife. The blind man, who has been blind all his life, is amazed by the things he sees in the afterlife. He sees colors and shapes that he has never seen before. The dead man, on the other hand, is indifferent to the afterlife. He is resigned to his fate and accepts his death without any resistance.

The theme of death and mortality is explored throughout the poem. Service uses vivid imagery and metaphors to describe the afterlife. He describes it as "a land so bright and fair" and "a land of golden light". These descriptions are meant to convey the idea that the afterlife is a place of peace and tranquility.

Symbolism and Allegory

Service uses symbolism and allegory to convey deeper meanings in the poem. The blind man represents those who have never experienced the fullness of life. He has been blind all his life and has never seen the beauty of the world. The dead man, on the other hand, represents those who have experienced life but are now resigned to their fate.

The blind man's amazement at the beauty of the afterlife represents the idea that death is not the end. There is something beyond this life that is waiting for us. The dead man's acceptance of his fate represents the idea that death is a natural part of life. It is something that we must all face eventually.

Literary Devices

Service uses a number of literary devices to create a vivid picture of the afterlife. He uses metaphor, simile, personification, and alliteration to create a sensory experience for the reader. For example, he describes the afterlife as "a glory of golden light". This is a metaphor that conveys the idea that the afterlife is a place of brightness and beauty.

Service also uses personification to create a sense of movement in the poem. He describes the "whispering winds" and the "rippling rills". These descriptions give the reader a sense that they are moving through the afterlife with the characters in the poem.

Finally, Service uses alliteration to create a sense of rhythm in the poem. He uses phrases like "the blind and the dead" and "the ruby red roses". These phrases roll off the tongue and create a sense of music in the poem.

Conclusion

The Blind And The Dead is a masterpiece of poetry. It explores the themes of death and mortality in a way that is both beautiful and profound. Service uses symbolism, allegory, and literary devices to create a vivid picture of the afterlife. The poem is a reminder that death is a natural part of life and that there is something beyond this life that is waiting for us. It is a poem that inspires us to live our lives to the fullest and to embrace the mystery of what lies beyond.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Blind And The Dead: A Masterpiece of Robert Service

Robert Service, the renowned poet, has left an indelible mark on the world of literature with his unique style and captivating storytelling. His poem, The Blind And The Dead, is a masterpiece that has stood the test of time and continues to inspire readers to this day. In this article, we will delve into the depths of this classic poem and explore its themes, symbolism, and literary devices.

The Blind And The Dead is a poem that tells the story of a blind man who is wandering through a cemetery, searching for his deceased wife's grave. As he stumbles through the graves, he comes across a group of ghosts who are also wandering aimlessly through the cemetery. The ghosts are the spirits of soldiers who died in battle, and they are lost and confused, unable to find their way to the afterlife.

The poem is a hauntingly beautiful depiction of the human condition, exploring themes of loss, grief, and the search for meaning in life. The blind man represents the human struggle to find purpose and direction in a world that can often seem dark and confusing. The ghosts, on the other hand, represent the lost souls of those who have died without finding their way to the afterlife, a metaphor for the human fear of death and the unknown.

One of the most striking aspects of The Blind And The Dead is its use of symbolism. The cemetery itself is a powerful symbol of death and the afterlife, a place where the living come to mourn the dead and pay their respects. The blind man's search for his wife's grave represents the human desire for connection and the need to find meaning in loss. The ghosts, meanwhile, represent the human fear of death and the unknown, as well as the idea that death is not the end but a continuation of life in a different form.

Service's use of language is also noteworthy, with his vivid descriptions and powerful imagery bringing the poem to life. The opening lines of the poem set the tone for the rest of the work, with the blind man stumbling through the cemetery "like a blind man lost in a wood." This simile immediately creates a sense of disorientation and confusion, setting the stage for the rest of the poem's exploration of the human condition.

The poem's use of repetition is also effective, with the phrase "blind and dead" repeated throughout the work. This repetition creates a sense of rhythm and momentum, driving the poem forward and emphasizing its themes of loss and grief. The repetition also serves to link the blind man and the ghosts, highlighting their shared experience of being lost and searching for meaning.

Another literary device used in The Blind And The Dead is irony. The blind man, who is physically unable to see, is the only character in the poem who is able to find his way through the cemetery. The ghosts, who are supposed to be the ones who guide the living to the afterlife, are themselves lost and confused. This irony serves to highlight the human struggle to find meaning and purpose in life, as well as the idea that sometimes those who are supposed to have all the answers are just as lost as the rest of us.

In conclusion, The Blind And The Dead is a masterpiece of poetry that explores the human condition in all its complexity. Through its use of symbolism, language, and literary devices, the poem creates a hauntingly beautiful portrait of loss, grief, and the search for meaning in life. Robert Service's unique style and captivating storytelling have made this poem a classic that continues to inspire readers to this day.

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