'The Reckoning' by Robert Service
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It's fine to have a blow-out in a fancy restaurant,
With terrapin and canvas-back and all the wine you want;
To enjoy the flowers and music, watch the pretty women pass,
Smoke a choice cigar, and sip the wealthy water in your glass.
It's bully in a high-toned joint to eat and drink your fill,
But it's quite another matter when you
Pay the bill.
It's great to go out every night on fun or pleasure bent;
To wear your glad rags always and to never save a cent;
To drift along regardless, have a good time every trip;
To hit the high spots sometimes, and to let your chances slip;
To know you're acting foolish, yet to go on fooling still,
Till Nature calls a show-down, and you
Pay the bill.
Time has got a little bill -- get wise while yet you may,
For the debit side's increasing in a most alarming way;
The things you had no right to do, the things you should have done,
They're all put down; it's up to you to pay for every one.
So eat, drink and be merry, have a good time if you will,
But God help you when the time comes, and you
Foot the bill.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Reckoning: A Literary Masterpiece of Robert Service
Have you ever read a poem that transported you to a different time and place, where you could hear the echoes of the past and feel the emotions of the present? That's precisely what Robert Service's "The Reckoning" does. This classic poem is not just a narrative of a man's last moments but a poignant reflection of life, death, and our choices. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we'll delve into the rich themes, literary devices, and historical context that make "The Reckoning" a masterpiece.
The Historical and Literary Context
Before we delve into the poem, let's set the stage by exploring its historical and literary context. Robert Service was a Scottish-Canadian poet who gained fame for his ballads and poems about the Yukon Gold Rush. "The Reckoning" was published in his 1916 collection "Rhymes of a Red Cross Man," which is a tribute to the many soldiers he met while serving as a volunteer ambulance driver during World War I.
The poem's setting is the French countryside during World War I, where the protagonist, a Canadian soldier, is facing his final moments. The poem's historical context is crucial to understanding its themes of war, death, and redemption. The Great War was one of the deadliest conflicts in human history, with over 16 million people losing their lives. Service witnessed the horrors of war firsthand, and "The Reckoning" is his attempt to capture the emotions of soldiers facing death.
Service's literary style is heavily influenced by the Romantic poets, and "The Reckoning" is no exception. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, a common meter in traditional ballads. The rhyme scheme is ABABCDCD, which creates a sense of musicality and rhythm. Service's use of vivid imagery, symbolism, and metaphors adds depth to the poem and elevates it from a simple narrative to a poem with universal themes.
The Poem's Themes
At its core, "The Reckoning" is a poem about death, redemption, and the choices we make in life. The poem's opening lines set the tone for the rest of the poem:
"It's in the bleak of November And all the hills are bare, And gray is the sky overhead And the earth is hard with frost to the feet, It's then that I must go to her, My love I shall meet, It's then that I shall reckon with The girl I used to cheat."
The protagonist is facing his final moments, and he's reflecting on his past mistakes. He knows that he's going to die, and he wants to make amends before he meets his love. The imagery of the "bleak November" and the "gray sky" create a sense of foreboding and melancholy. The frost on the ground is a metaphor for the protagonist's frozen heart, and he knows that he needs to confront his past mistakes before he can find redemption.
The poem's central theme is the reckoning, or the moment of truth when we confront our past actions. The protagonist is haunted by memories of his past infidelities and deceit. He knows that he needs to make amends, but he's not sure if it's too late. The lines "It's then that I shall reckon with / The girl I used to cheat" are a powerful reminder that our past actions have consequences, and we must face them before we can find peace.
The poem's other themes include love, sacrifice, and the futility of war. The protagonist's love for his partner is evident throughout the poem, and he wants to make amends before he dies. The lines "I'll ask her if she can forgive / And take me to her heart" show that the protagonist is seeking forgiveness and redemption.
The poem also touches on the futility of war and the sacrifices that soldiers make. The lines "I'm glad it's for England's sake / That I must pay the price" show that the protagonist is fighting for a cause greater than himself. However, the poem also hints at the senselessness of war and the toll it takes on soldiers. The lines "I wonder if God's still in heaven / And if there is a God / Why doesn't He do something / To stop this awful blood" show the protagonist's despair at the senseless violence.
The Poem's Literary Devices
"The Reckoning" is a masterclass in the use of literary devices to create a powerful narrative. Service's use of vivid imagery, symbolism, and metaphors elevates the poem from a simple narrative to a complex meditation on life and death.
One of the most powerful literary devices in the poem is symbolism. The "bleak November" is a symbol of the protagonist's impending death, and the "gray sky" symbolizes his despair. The frost on the ground is a metaphor for his frozen heart, and the "hard earth" represents the challenges he must overcome to find redemption.
Service also uses metaphors to add depth to the poem. The lines "It's then that I shall reckon with / The girl I used to cheat" are a metaphor for the protagonist's reckoning. The lines "I wonder if God's still in heaven / And if there is a God" are a metaphor for the protagonist's despair at the senseless violence of war.
Finally, Service's use of vivid imagery adds to the poem's emotional impact. The lines "My love's a rose by a castle wall / And now she blooms for me" create a beautiful image of the protagonist's love. The lines "I hear the call of bugles, / I see the marching men" create a vivid image of the war.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Reckoning" is a powerful and poignant poem that explores the themes of death, redemption, and the choices we make in life. Service's use of vivid imagery, symbolism, and metaphors adds depth to the poem and elevates it from a simple narrative to a complex meditation on life and death. The poem's historical and literary context adds to its emotional impact and makes it a timeless masterpiece. If you haven't read "The Reckoning" yet, I highly recommend it. It's a poem that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Reckoning: A Poem of Redemption and Justice
Robert Service’s The Reckoning is a classic poem that tells the story of a man who has lived a life of sin and recklessness, only to be confronted with the consequences of his actions in the end. The poem is a powerful meditation on the themes of redemption, justice, and the inevitability of consequences.
The poem begins with the narrator describing the protagonist, a man who has lived a life of debauchery and excess. The man is described as having “drunk and rioted and sinned” and having “lived like a beast in a sty”. The narrator paints a vivid picture of a man who has lived a life without regard for the consequences of his actions, and who has indulged in every vice imaginable.
However, the man’s recklessness catches up with him in the end. The poem describes how the man is confronted with the consequences of his actions, and how he is forced to face the reckoning for his sins. The man is described as being “hunted and harried and driven” and as being “caught in the trap he had laid”.
The poem then takes a turn, as the man begins to reflect on his life and the choices he has made. He realizes that he has lived a life without purpose or meaning, and that he has hurt many people along the way. He begins to feel remorse for his actions, and he begins to seek redemption for his sins.
The poem then takes on a more hopeful tone, as the man begins to make amends for his past. He begins to help others, and he begins to live a life of service and sacrifice. The poem describes how the man “worked and prayed and repented” and how he “lived like a saint in a cell”.
The poem ends with the man’s death, and with the narrator reflecting on the man’s life and the choices he made. The narrator describes how the man’s life was a “tale of a soul gone wrong” but how he was able to find redemption in the end. The poem ends with the narrator reflecting on the inevitability of consequences, and on the importance of living a life of purpose and meaning.
The Reckoning is a powerful poem that speaks to the human experience of sin, redemption, and justice. The poem is a reminder that our actions have consequences, and that we must take responsibility for the choices we make. It is also a reminder that it is never too late to seek redemption, and that we can always make amends for our past mistakes.
The poem is also a meditation on the themes of justice and the inevitability of consequences. The man in the poem is forced to face the consequences of his actions, and he is held accountable for his sins. The poem is a reminder that justice is an important part of the human experience, and that we must all be held accountable for our actions.
Finally, the poem is a reminder of the importance of living a life of purpose and meaning. The man in the poem realizes too late that he has lived a life without purpose or meaning, and that he has hurt many people along the way. The poem is a reminder that we must all strive to live a life of service and sacrifice, and that we must all seek to make a positive impact on the world around us.
In conclusion, The Reckoning is a classic poem that speaks to the human experience of sin, redemption, and justice. It is a powerful meditation on the themes of consequences, accountability, and the importance of living a life of purpose and meaning. The poem is a reminder that we must all take responsibility for our actions, and that we must all strive to make a positive impact on the world around us.
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