'They Flee From Me' by Sir Thomas Wyatt
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They flee from me that sometime did me seek
With naked foot, stalking in my chamber.
I have seen them gentle, tame, and meek,
That now are wild and do not remember
That sometime they put themself in danger
To take bread at my hand; and now they range,
Busily seeking with a continual change.
Thanked be fortune it hath been otherwise
Twenty times better; but once in special,
In thin array after a pleasant guise,
When her loose gown from her shoulders did fall,
And she me caught in her arms long and small;
Therewithall sweetly did me kiss
And softly said, "dear heart, how like you this?"
It was no dream: I lay broad waking.
But all is turned thorough my gentleness
Into a strange fashion of forsaking;
And I have leave to go of her goodness,
And she also, to use newfangleness.
But since that I so kindly am served
I would fain know what she hath deserved.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Criticism and Interpretation of Sir Thomas Wyatt's "They Flee From Me"
As a classic poem from the Renaissance period, Sir Thomas Wyatt's "They Flee From Me" has been interpreted and analyzed by countless literary scholars over the years. However, this poem's thematic ambiguity and rich imagery make it ripe for continued exploration and interpretation. In this literary criticism, we will examine the poem's language, structure, and recurring themes to gain a deeper understanding of its significance.
Background
Before we dive into the poem itself, it is important to understand the context in which it was written. Sir Thomas Wyatt was a prominent figure in the court of King Henry VIII and is known for introducing the sonnet form to English literature. He was a poet, diplomat, and courtier, and his poetry often reflects his tumultuous relationship with the king and the women in his life.
"They Flee From Me" was written in the late 1520s or early 1530s, during a time when Wyatt's position in the court was uncertain. The poem was likely written about a woman who had left his life, but the identity of the woman is unknown. This ambiguity, coupled with the poem's complex language and structure, has led to a wide variety of interpretations of its meaning.
Language and Structure
At first glance, "They Flee From Me" appears to be a straightforward love poem. The speaker reflects on a time when he was desired by women, but now they have all left him. However, upon closer examination, the poem's language and structure reveal a deeper complexity.
The poem is written in four stanzas of varying lengths, with an irregular rhyme scheme. The first three stanzas follow an ABABB pattern, while the final stanza has a different rhyme scheme of CDEDC. This irregularity helps to convey the speaker's sense of confusion and uncertainty. Additionally, the poem is written in iambic pentameter, a common poetic form in the Renaissance period.
The language of the poem is also rich with ambiguity and metaphor. For example, the first line, "They flee from me that sometime did me seek," could be interpreted in two different ways. It could mean that women who used to desire the speaker are now running away from him, or it could mean that women who used to seek his company are now avoiding him. This ambiguity is present throughout the poem, adding to the sense of confusion and uncertainty.
Themes
One of the recurring themes in "They Flee From Me" is the fleeting nature of love and desire. The speaker reflects on a time when he was desired by women, but now they have all left him. This sense of transience is conveyed through the imagery of birds, which are used to represent the women. In the second stanza, the speaker says, "I have seen them gentle, tame, and meek, / That now are wild and do not remember / That sometime they put themself in danger / To take bread at my hand." This imagery of wild birds who once trusted the speaker but now avoid him adds to the poem's sense of loss and confusion.
Another important theme in the poem is the power dynamic between men and women. The speaker feels as though he has lost control over the women in his life, and he longs to regain it. This is conveyed through the imagery of hunting, which is used to represent the speaker's desire to control the women. In the third stanza, the speaker says, "I have been merry in the hall, / I have laughed and so has she; / We have both been pleased, and all is said; / We have played for love and we have won." This language of hunting and conquest is juxtaposed with the image of the speaker and the woman playing together, blurring the lines between hunting and love.
Interpretation
The ambiguity and complexity of "They Flee From Me" make it ripe for interpretation, and scholars have proposed a wide variety of readings over the years. One common interpretation is that the poem is a commentary on the instability of courtly love in the Renaissance period. The speaker reflects on a time when he was desired by women but now feels as though he has lost control over them. This could be seen as a commentary on the power dynamics at play in courtly love, where men held all the power and women were often objectified.
Another interpretation is that the poem is a commentary on the speaker's own fear of losing control. The imagery of hunting and conquest could be seen as the speaker's attempt to regain control over the women in his life. However, the fact that the women are represented as birds suggests that they are wild and free, and cannot be tamed or controlled. This could be seen as a commentary on the futility of trying to control others.
Finally, some scholars have interpreted the poem as a commentary on the speaker's own guilt or shame. The fact that the women are fleeing from him suggests that he has done something to drive them away. The line "And since that time they follow me no more" could be interpreted as the speaker acknowledging his own responsibility for their departure. This interpretation adds a layer of complexity to the poem, suggesting that the speaker is not just a victim but also a perpetrator.
Conclusion
"They Flee From Me" is a complex and ambiguous poem that has been interpreted in a wide variety of ways over the years. The poem's language, structure, and recurring themes all contribute to its rich complexity, making it ripe for continued interpretation and analysis. Whether the poem is a commentary on courtly love, power dynamics, or personal guilt, one thing is clear: Sir Thomas Wyatt was a master poet who was able to convey complex ideas through his rich and ambiguous language.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry lovers, gather around! Today, we will delve into the world of classic poetry and explore the timeless masterpiece, "They Flee From Me" by Sir Thomas Wyatt. This poem is a perfect example of the beauty and complexity of Renaissance poetry, and we will analyze it in detail to understand its meaning and significance.
First, let's take a look at the poem itself:
They flee from me that sometime did me seek With naked foot, stalking in my chamber. I have seen them gentle, tame, and meek, That now are wild and do not remember That sometime they put themself in danger To take bread at my hand; and now they range, Busily seeking with a continual change.
Thanked be fortune it hath been otherwise Twenty times better; but once in special, In thin array after a pleasant guise, When her loose gown from her shoulders did fall, And she me caught in her arms long and small; Therewithall sweetly did me kiss And softly said, “Dear heart, how like you this?”
It was no dream: I lay broad waking. But all is turned thorough my gentleness Into a strange fashion of forsaking; And I have leave to go of her goodness, And she also, to use newfangleness. But since that I so kindly am served I would fain know what she hath deserved.
At first glance, the poem seems to be about a man who has lost the affection of a woman who once loved him. However, upon closer inspection, we can see that the poem is much more complex than that. The first stanza sets the scene, with the speaker lamenting the fact that those who once sought him out now avoid him. He describes them as "gentle, tame, and meek" but now they are "wild" and do not remember the times when they were in danger and he helped them. The imagery of "naked foot" and "stalking in my chamber" creates a sense of intimacy and vulnerability, as if the speaker is being invaded by these people who once sought him out.
The second stanza introduces a new character, a woman who is described as having caught the speaker in her arms and kissed him sweetly. This moment is described as "no dream" and the woman's words, "Dear heart, how like you this?" suggest that there is a deeper connection between them. However, the third stanza reveals that this moment of intimacy has been lost, and the speaker is now left with a sense of abandonment and confusion. He describes his own "gentleness" as having turned into a "strange fashion of forsaking" and he wonders what the woman has done to deserve this treatment.
So, what does this poem mean? On the surface, it seems to be about a man who has lost the affection of a woman who once loved him. However, there are several layers of meaning that make this poem much more complex than that. One interpretation is that the poem is about the fickleness of love and how it can change over time. The people who once sought out the speaker are now avoiding him, just as the woman who once loved him has now abandoned him. This could be seen as a commentary on the transience of human relationships and how they can be affected by external factors such as fortune and new experiences.
Another interpretation is that the poem is about power dynamics in relationships. The speaker describes the people who once sought him out as being "gentle, tame, and meek" but now they are "wild" and do not remember the times when they were in danger and he helped them. This could be seen as a commentary on how people can become complacent and forgetful when they feel secure in a relationship. The woman who once loved the speaker is now using "newfangleness" and has abandoned him, suggesting that she has gained power in the relationship and is now able to dictate the terms.
Finally, the poem could be seen as a commentary on the nature of desire and how it can be fleeting. The woman who once loved the speaker is described as having caught him in her arms and kissed him sweetly, but this moment is now lost. The speaker wonders what the woman has done to deserve this treatment, suggesting that he still desires her but is unable to understand why she has abandoned him. This could be seen as a commentary on how desire can be irrational and how it can lead to confusion and frustration.
In conclusion, "They Flee From Me" is a complex and multi-layered poem that explores themes of love, power, and desire. The poem's use of imagery and language creates a sense of intimacy and vulnerability, while its themes are universal and timeless. Sir Thomas Wyatt's masterpiece is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the human experience and to explore the complexities of the human heart.
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