'Bavarian Gentians' by D.H. Lawrence
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Not every man has gentians in his house
in Soft September, at slow, Sad Michaelmas.
Bavarian gentians, big and dark, only dark
darkening the daytime torchlike with the smoking blueness of Pluto's
gloom,
ribbed and torchlike, with their blaze of darkness spread blue
down flattening into points, flattened under the sweep of white day
torch-flower of the blue-smoking darkness, Pluto's dark-blue daze,
black lamps from the halls of Dis, burning dark blue,
giving off darkness, blue darkness, as Demeter's pale lamps give off
light,
lead me then, lead me the way.
Reach me a gentian, give me a torch
let me guide myself with the blue, forked torch of this flower
down the darker and darker stairs, where blue is darkened on blueness.
even where Persephone goes, just now, from the frosted September
to the sightless realm where darkness was awake upon the dark
and Persephone herself is but a voice
or a darkness invisible enfolded in the deeper dark
of the arms Plutonic, and pierced with the passion of dense gloom,
among the splendor of torches of darkness, shedding darkness on the
lost bride and groom.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Bavarian Gentians by D.H. Lawrence: A Masterpiece of Descriptive Poetry
Bavarian Gentians is a poem by D.H. Lawrence, written in 1924, that describes the beauty and power of nature, as well as the transience of life. This poem is considered a masterpiece of descriptive poetry and a prime example of Lawrence's existentialist philosophy. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will analyze the poem's structure, language, imagery, and symbolism, and explore its possible meanings and interpretations.
The Structure of Bavarian Gentians
The poem Bavarian Gentians consists of three stanzas, each with eight lines, and is written in free verse, meaning it does not follow a specific rhyme or meter. This structure gives the poem a fluidity and spontaneity that mirrors the natural world it describes. The lack of a fixed pattern also allows Lawrence to emphasize certain words and phrases through repetition and variation, creating a musical effect that enhances the poem's emotional impact.
The first stanza introduces the setting and the flowers that are the poem's subject. Lawrence uses vivid and specific language to paint a picture of the Bavarian Alps, with their "purple glow" and "shadowy cliffs." He then describes the gentians, which are "blue" and "cold," and seem to reflect the mountains' "power and depth." This contrast between the warm, glowing mountains and the cold, blue flowers creates a sense of tension that runs throughout the poem.
The second stanza expands on the gentians' beauty and fragility, describing them as "icy, silvery" and "pure." Lawrence also introduces the idea of their transience, as they "fade, and are gone." Here, the gentians become a symbol of life's fleetingness and the human desire to hold onto beauty and meaning in the face of death and oblivion.
The final stanza brings these themes together in a powerful image of the gentians as "dead soldiers" lying on the ground. Lawrence juxtaposes this image with the still-beautiful mountains, suggesting a kind of cosmic indifference to human struggles and aspirations. The final lines, with their repetition of "And yet," suggest both a sense of wonder at the gentians' beauty and a lament for their passing.
The Language and Imagery of Bavarian Gentians
One of the defining features of Bavarian Gentians is its rich and precise language, which brings the natural world to life in vivid detail. Lawrence uses a range of techniques to achieve this effect, from alliteration and assonance to metaphor and personification. For example, in the first stanza, he describes the gentians as "blue" and "cold," and the mountains as having a "purple glow" and "shadowy cliffs." These descriptions not only create a sense of visual beauty but also suggest a deeper emotional resonance, as if the natural world has a life and will of its own.
Another key element of the poem is its use of metaphor and symbolism. The gentians, for example, can be seen as a symbol of the human desire for beauty and meaning, as well as a reminder of life's fleetingness. The mountains, with their "power and depth," can be seen as a symbol of the larger forces that shape human existence, both physical and spiritual. The image of the "dead soldiers" in the final stanza can be seen as a metaphor for the human condition, where all our struggles and achievements ultimately lead to death and oblivion.
The Interpretation of Bavarian Gentians
Bavarian Gentians has been the subject of many interpretations and debates among literary critics and readers. Some have seen it as a celebration of the natural world and human creativity, while others have seen it as a dark and pessimistic meditation on the transience of life. There are also those who see the poem as a manifesto of Lawrence's own existentialist philosophy, which emphasizes the individual's struggle to find meaning and purpose in a seemingly indifferent universe.
One possible interpretation of Bavarian Gentians is that it represents Lawrence's rejection of traditional religious and moral values in favor of a more existentialist worldview. The gentians, with their beauty and transience, can be seen as a symbol of the human condition, where we are all "fading" and "gone" in the end. The mountains, with their power and depth, can be seen as a symbol of the larger forces that shape our lives, whether physical, social, or spiritual. The image of the "dead soldiers" can be seen as a metaphor for the futility of human struggle and the ultimate victory of death over life.
Another interpretation of the poem is that it represents Lawrence's attempt to find meaning and beauty in a world that seems indifferent to human concerns. The gentians, with their icy purity and silver glow, can be seen as a reminder of the beauty that exists even in the bleakest of landscapes. The mountains, with their majestic presence, can be seen as a source of inspiration and wonder, even in the face of human mortality. The image of the "dead soldiers" can be seen as a reminder that even in death, there is a kind of beauty and dignity that transcends human limitations.
A third interpretation of the poem is that it represents Lawrence's critique of modern civilization and its alienation from nature. The gentians, with their cold and blue color, can be seen as a symbol of the natural world that has been tamed and exploited by human civilization. The mountains, with their purple glow and shadowy cliffs, can be seen as a reminder of the wild and mysterious forces that still exist beyond the confines of human society. The image of the "dead soldiers" can be seen as a condemnation of war and its destruction of life and beauty.
Conclusion
Bavarian Gentians is a poem of great beauty, power, and complexity, that has inspired many interpretations and debates. Its structure, language, imagery, and symbolism all contribute to its emotional impact and philosophical depth. Whether seen as a celebration of nature, a meditation on mortality, a critique of modern society, or a manifesto of existentialist philosophy, the poem remains a masterpiece of descriptive poetry and a testament to Lawrence's literary genius.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Bavarian Gentians: A Masterpiece of D.H. Lawrence
D.H. Lawrence, the renowned English poet, novelist, and playwright, is known for his unique style of writing that reflects his deep understanding of human emotions and nature. One of his most celebrated poems, Bavarian Gentians, is a masterpiece that captures the essence of life and death, love and loss, and the beauty of nature. In this article, we will delve into the poem's meaning, symbolism, and literary devices to understand why it is considered a classic.
The poem Bavarian Gentians was written in 1923 and was published in the collection of poems titled "Last Poems" after Lawrence's death in 1930. The poem is a tribute to the beauty of nature and the fleeting nature of life. It is a reflection on the inevitability of death and the transience of all things, including love and beauty.
The poem begins with the speaker describing the beauty of the Bavarian Gentians, a type of blue flower that grows in the Bavarian Alps. The speaker marvels at the beauty of the flowers, describing them as "blue-blue-blue" and "like veins in a marble statue." The repetition of the word "blue" emphasizes the intensity of the color and the speaker's admiration for the flowers.
The speaker then reflects on the transience of beauty and how it is fleeting like the flowers themselves. He says, "And they blaze and are gone, they blaze and are gone." This repetition of the phrase "they blaze and are gone" emphasizes the ephemeral nature of beauty and how it is here one moment and gone the next.
The speaker then turns his attention to the inevitability of death and how it is a natural part of life. He says, "But O, my heart, my heart! / They were such a little, wild bouquet / Of bright, blue flowers, you bound to me / And now, you wander down the lane / Memory, memory, turn your face to the moon / And let its love-light shine on you." The speaker's heart is filled with sorrow at the loss of the flowers, which he sees as a metaphor for the loss of life and love. He urges his heart to turn to the moon, a symbol of eternity and the afterlife, and find solace in its love-light.
The poem is filled with symbolism that adds depth and meaning to the speaker's reflections on life and death. The Bavarian Gentians, for example, are a symbol of beauty and transience. They represent the fleeting nature of life and how even the most beautiful things are here one moment and gone the next. The moon, on the other hand, is a symbol of eternity and the afterlife. It represents the idea that even though life is fleeting, there is something beyond it that is eternal.
The poem also makes use of several literary devices that add to its beauty and depth. The repetition of the phrase "they blaze and are gone" emphasizes the transience of beauty and the inevitability of death. The use of alliteration, such as "little, wild bouquet," adds to the poem's musicality and beauty. The use of enjambment, where a sentence or phrase continues onto the next line, creates a sense of flow and continuity that mirrors the continuity of life and death.
In conclusion, Bavarian Gentians is a masterpiece of D.H. Lawrence that captures the essence of life and death, love and loss, and the beauty of nature. The poem is a reflection on the inevitability of death and the transience of all things, including love and beauty. It is a reminder that even though life is fleeting, there is something beyond it that is eternal. The poem's use of symbolism and literary devices adds to its beauty and depth, making it a classic that will continue to be admired and studied for generations to come.
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