'The Voices' by Rainer Maria Rilke


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The rich and fortunate do well to keep silent,
for no one cares to know who and what they are.
But those in need must reveal themselves,
must say: I am blind,
or: I'm on the verge of going blind,
or: nothing goes well with me on earth,
or: I have a sickly child,
or: I have little to hold me together...

And chances are this is not nearly enough.

And because people try to ignore them as they
pass by them: these unfortunate ones have to sing!

And at times one hears some excellent singing!

Of course, people differ in their tastes: some would
prefer to listen to choirs of boy-castrati.

But God himself comes often and stays long,
when the castrati's singing disturbs Him.


Translated by Albert Ernest Flemming

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Voices: A Reflection on Love and the Human Condition

Rainer Maria Rilke was a poet who wrote about the human experience in a way that was both profound and beautiful. His poem, The Voices, is a testament to his ability to capture the complexities and nuances of the human condition. This poem is a reflection on the nature of love, and how it shapes our perceptions of ourselves and the world around us.

Analysis of The Voices

The Voices is a poem that is both haunting and beautiful. It is a meditation on the nature of love, and how it can be both a blessing and a curse. The speaker of the poem is wrestling with his own feelings of love and desire, and he is struggling to come to terms with the power that these emotions have over him.

The poem is structured in a series of six stanzas, each of which is comprised of four lines. The stanzas are written in free verse, without a strict rhyme or meter scheme. This gives the poem a sense of fluidity and movement, which mirrors the way that love can ebb and flow in our lives.

The opening stanza sets the tone for the entire poem. It begins with the speaker hearing voices, which he describes as "whispers" and "sighs." These voices are the voices of his own internal struggle, as he tries to reconcile his feelings of love with the realities of his life. The second stanza continues this theme, as the speaker describes how the voices "hiss and rustle" like leaves in the wind.

As the poem progresses, the speaker becomes more and more consumed by his own desires. He becomes obsessed with the idea of love, and he is unable to escape from the voices that are whispering to him. In the third stanza, he describes how the voices "clamor and clang" in his head, like the sound of bells ringing in his ears.

The fourth stanza is the turning point of the poem. It is here that the speaker begins to realize the full weight of his own emotions. He describes how the world around him is consumed by a "great stillness," as if everything has come to a halt. This stillness is a reflection of the way that his own desires have paralyzed him, leaving him unable to move forward.

The final two stanzas of the poem are a reflection on the nature of love itself. The speaker realizes that love is both a blessing and a curse, and that it can bring both joy and pain. He describes how love can "burn and freeze" at the same time, and how it can be both a source of light and darkness.

Interpretation of The Voices

The Voices is a poem that speaks to the human condition in a profound way. It is a meditation on the nature of love, and how it shapes our perceptions of ourselves and the world around us. The poem is written in a style that is both haunting and beautiful, using imagery and metaphor to convey the complexities of the human experience.

The voices that the speaker hears in the poem are a reflection of the internal struggle that we all face when it comes to love. We all want to be loved, and we all want to experience the joy and happiness that comes with being in love. But at the same time, we are all afraid of the pain and suffering that love can bring.

The stillness that the speaker describes in the fourth stanza is a powerful metaphor for the way that love can paralyze us. When we are consumed by our own desires, we can become so obsessed with them that we are unable to move forward. We become trapped in our own minds, unable to escape the voices that are whispering to us.

The final two stanzas of the poem are a reflection on the duality of love itself. Love can be both a blessing and a curse, and it can bring both joy and pain. It is a force that can burn and freeze at the same time, and it can be both a source of light and darkness.

Overall, The Voices is a powerful meditation on the nature of love and the human condition. It speaks to our deepest fears and desires, and it reminds us that we are all struggling to come to terms with our own emotions. It is a poem that will resonate with anyone who has ever been in love, and it is a testament to Rainer Maria Rilke's ability to capture the complexities of the human experience in his writing.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Voices: A Poem of Inner Conflict and Self-Discovery

Rainer Maria Rilke's "The Voices" is a poem that explores the inner conflict and self-discovery of the speaker. The poem is a journey of the speaker's mind, as he struggles to understand the different voices that speak to him. The poem is a reflection of the human condition, as we all struggle to understand our own thoughts and emotions.

The poem begins with the speaker hearing voices that are not his own. The voices are described as "strange" and "alien," and they seem to be coming from outside of the speaker. The speaker is confused and frightened by these voices, as he cannot understand what they are saying. The voices are described as "whispers," which suggests that they are not loud or clear, but rather faint and difficult to hear.

As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to understand the voices. He realizes that they are not coming from outside of him, but rather from within. The voices are a part of him, and they represent different aspects of his personality. The speaker describes the voices as "the voices of my own soul," which suggests that they are a reflection of his inner self.

The different voices that the speaker hears represent different aspects of his personality. There is the voice of reason, which tells him to be cautious and careful. There is the voice of passion, which urges him to take risks and follow his heart. There is the voice of doubt, which questions his decisions and makes him second-guess himself. And there is the voice of faith, which gives him hope and encourages him to keep going.

The speaker is torn between these different voices, as they all seem to be pulling him in different directions. He is unsure of which voice to listen to, and he feels lost and confused. The poem is a reflection of the human condition, as we all struggle to understand our own thoughts and emotions.

The poem is also a reflection of the struggle between the head and the heart. The voice of reason represents the head, while the voice of passion represents the heart. The speaker is torn between these two forces, as he tries to find a balance between them. The poem suggests that there is no easy answer to this struggle, and that we must find our own way through it.

The poem is also a reflection of the struggle between faith and doubt. The voice of faith represents belief and hope, while the voice of doubt represents skepticism and uncertainty. The speaker is torn between these two forces, as he tries to find a way to believe in himself and his abilities. The poem suggests that we must have faith in ourselves, even when we are filled with doubt.

The poem is written in free verse, which gives it a sense of spontaneity and freedom. The poem is not constrained by a strict rhyme scheme or meter, which allows the speaker to express himself freely. The poem is also filled with vivid imagery, which helps to bring the different voices to life. The poem is a journey of the mind, as the speaker struggles to understand the different voices that speak to him.

In conclusion, Rainer Maria Rilke's "The Voices" is a poem that explores the inner conflict and self-discovery of the speaker. The poem is a reflection of the human condition, as we all struggle to understand our own thoughts and emotions. The poem is a journey of the mind, as the speaker struggles to understand the different voices that speak to him. The poem is a reminder that we must have faith in ourselves, even when we are filled with doubt. The poem is a beautiful and powerful expression of the human experience, and it is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the complexities of the human soul.

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