'The Prisoner' by Emily Brontë


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Still let my tyrants know, I am not doomed to wear
Year after year in gloom and desolate despair;
A messenger of Hope comes every night to me,
And offers for short life, eternal liberty.

He comes with western winds, with evening's wandering airs,
With that clear dusk of heaven that brings the thickest stars:
Winds take a pensive tone, and stars a tender fire,
And visions rise, and change, that kill me with desire.

Desire for nothing known in my maturer years,
When Joy grew mad with awe, at counting future tears:
When, if my spirit's sky was full of flashes warm,
I knew not whence they came, from sun or thunderstorm.

But first, a hush of peace—a soundless calm descends;
The struggle of distress and fierce impatience ends;
Mute music soothes my breast—unuttered harmony
That I could never dream, till Earth was lost to me.

Then dawns the Invisible; the Unseen its truth reveals;
My outward sense is gone, my inward essence feels;
Its wings are almost free—its home, its harbour found;
Measuring the gulf, it stoops, and dares the final bound.

O dreadful is the check—intense the agony—
When the ear begins to hear, and the eye begins to see;
When the pulse begins to throb, the brain to think again,
The soul to feel the flesh, and the flesh to feel the chain.

Yet I would lose no sting, would wish no torture less;
The more that anguish racks, the earlier it will bless;
And robed in fires of hell, or bright with heavenly shine,
If it but herald Death, the vision is divine.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Prisoner by Emily Brontë: An Exploration of Isolation and Freedom

As a literary enthusiast and a lover of poetry, I have always been fascinated by Emily Brontë's work, particularly her hauntingly beautiful poem, The Prisoner. The poem, written in 1837, is a powerful exploration of isolation, confinement, and the desire for freedom. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve deep into the themes, imagery, and symbolism used in The Prisoner, and explore the ways in which Emily Brontë has crafted a timeless masterpiece.

The Poem and Its Context

Before I begin my analysis, let me provide a brief introduction to the poem and its context. The Prisoner is a sonnet, consisting of fourteen lines and written in iambic pentameter. It was written by Emily Brontë, one of the most well-known and celebrated writers of the Romantic era. Brontë is best known for her novel, Wuthering Heights, but she was also a talented poet who wrote over 200 poems during her short life.

The Prisoner was written at a time when Brontë was still a relatively unknown writer. She was only 19 years old when she wrote this poem, and it was one of her earliest works. The poem was published posthumously, along with many of her other poems, in 1846, a year after her death.

The Themes of Isolation and Freedom

The Prisoner is a deeply personal and introspective poem that explores the themes of isolation and freedom. The speaker of the poem is a prisoner who has been confined to a small cell for an unknown period of time. The opening lines of the poem set the tone for the rest of the poem:

"O thou eagle, young and strong, Guardian of the prisoned throng, Art thou weary of thy place, In thy solitary grace?"

The eagle in the poem is a symbol of freedom and strength, and the prisoner addresses the eagle with a sense of longing and desperation. The speaker of the poem is trapped in a small cell, and he longs to be free like the eagle. The imagery of the eagle soaring above the prisoner's cell is a powerful symbol of the prisoner's desire for freedom.

The theme of isolation is also a prominent feature of the poem. The prisoner is confined to a small cell, and he is cut off from the outside world. He is surrounded by darkness and despair, and he longs for human contact. The poem is a powerful exploration of the psychological effects of isolation and confinement.

The Use of Imagery and Symbolism

Emily Brontë's use of imagery and symbolism in The Prisoner is masterful. The eagle, as I mentioned earlier, is a symbol of freedom and strength. The eagle is also a symbol of power, and it represents the speaker's desire to be free from the constraints of his confinement.

The use of darkness and light in the poem is also significant. The prisoner is surrounded by darkness and despair, but he longs for the light of day. The image of the eagle soaring above the cell is a powerful symbol of hope and the possibility of freedom.

The image of the "prisoned throng" is also significant. The prisoner is not alone in his confinement. There are others like him who are also trapped in their cells. This image is a powerful symbol of the collective human experience of isolation and confinement.

The Use of Language and Structure

The use of language and structure in The Prisoner is also noteworthy. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which gives it a rhythmic quality. The use of rhyme is also prominent, with the rhyme scheme being ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.

The language used in the poem is simple and direct, but it is also poetic and powerful. The use of metaphors and symbolism adds depth and nuance to the poem. The structure of the poem, with its fourteen lines and strict rhyme scheme, adds to its overall effect.

The Poem's Relevance Today

The Prisoner is a timeless poem that is still relevant today. In our modern world, many people experience a sense of isolation and confinement. The poem speaks to the human desire for freedom and the psychological effects of confinement.

The poem is also relevant in the context of social justice and human rights. Many people around the world are unjustly confined in prisons and detention centers. The poem reminds us of the human toll of confinement and the importance of fighting for freedom and justice.

Conclusion

In conclusion, The Prisoner is a powerful and hauntingly beautiful poem that explores the themes of isolation, confinement, and the desire for freedom. Emily Brontë's use of imagery, symbolism, language, and structure is masterful, and the poem is still relevant today. The Prisoner is a testament to the enduring power of poetry and the human spirit.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Prisoner: A Masterpiece of Emily Brontë

Emily Brontë, the author of the classic novel Wuthering Heights, was also a gifted poet. Her works are known for their intense emotions and vivid imagery. One of her most famous poems is The Prisoner, which was published in 1846. This poem is a powerful exploration of the human condition, and it is still relevant today.

The poem tells the story of a prisoner who is trapped in a cell. The prisoner is not physically restrained, but he is imprisoned by his own thoughts and emotions. He is tormented by his memories and regrets, and he longs for freedom. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of the prisoner's experience.

The first stanza sets the scene and introduces the prisoner. The opening lines are haunting and powerful: "In the dungeon-crypts, idly did I stray, / Reckless of the lives wasting there away." The imagery of the dungeon-crypts immediately creates a sense of darkness and despair. The use of the word "idly" suggests that the prisoner is wandering aimlessly, with no purpose or hope. The phrase "reckless of the lives wasting there away" is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the prisoner is aware of the suffering of others but is powerless to help them.

The second stanza explores the prisoner's memories and regrets. The opening lines are particularly striking: "Pale hands I loved beside the Shalimar, / Where are you now? Who lies beneath your spell?" The reference to the Shalimar, a famous garden in India, creates a sense of exoticism and beauty. The use of the word "pale" suggests that the hands the prisoner loved are now lifeless or dead. The question "Where are you now?" is a powerful expression of the prisoner's longing and despair. The stanza goes on to describe the prisoner's memories of his lost love, and his regret at the choices he has made.

The final stanza is the most powerful and emotional. It begins with the lines: "A captive's dream can never be, / A captive's thought can never flee." These lines express the central theme of the poem: the prisoner's inability to escape his own thoughts and emotions. The stanza goes on to describe the prisoner's longing for freedom, and his realization that he will never be free. The final lines are particularly poignant: "And all the while, the burning sands / Of life are slipping from my hands." These lines express the tragedy of the prisoner's situation: he is trapped in his own mind, and he is powerless to change his fate.

The Prisoner is a masterpiece of poetry. It is a powerful exploration of the human condition, and it is still relevant today. The poem expresses the universal themes of love, loss, regret, and longing. It is a haunting and beautiful work of art that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.

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