'Easter Day' by Oscar Wilde
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THE silver trumpets rang across the Dome:
The people knelt upon the ground with awe:
And borne upon the necks of men I saw,
Like some great God, the Holy Lord of Rome.
Priest-like, he wore a robe more white than foam,
And, king-like, swathed himself in royal red,
Three crowns of gold rose high upon his head:
In splendour and in light the Pope passed home.
My heart stole back across wide wastes of years
To One who wandered by a lonely sea,10
And sought in vain for any place of rest:
"Foxes have holes, and every bird its nest,
I, only I, must wander wearily,
And bruise my feet, and drink wine salt with tears."
Editor 1 Interpretation
An Exploration of Oscar Wilde's Easter Day
Oscar Wilde's Easter Day is a poem that captivates readers with its vivid imagery and emotional depth. The poem's themes of love, faith, and resurrection are explored through the lens of nature, resulting in a work that is both beautiful and profound.
The Setting
The poem takes place on Easter morning, and the setting is described in great detail. Wilde paints a picture of a world awakening from winter's sleep, with flowers and trees bursting forth in vibrant shades of green and gold.
The poem opens with an image of the sun rising over the mountains, casting a warm glow over the land. The speaker marvels at the beauty of the scene, exclaiming:
"Oh! thou hast risen, Lord, hast risen,
And all the air is fragrance-filled
And soft and sweet the light has broken
Where, Mary Magdalene, thou didst tread."
The use of exclamation marks here conveys the speaker's excitement and awe at the sight before them. The reference to Mary Magdalene also sets the tone for the themes of resurrection and redemption that will be explored later in the poem.
The Natural World
The natural world is a central motif in Easter Day. Wilde uses imagery from the natural world to illustrate the themes of the poem, and to convey the emotions of the speaker.
The speaker describes the flowers and trees bursting into new life, and the birds singing sweetly in the trees. The use of sensory language, such as "fragrance-filled" and "soft and sweet," creates a vivid image in the reader's mind and helps to convey the sense of joy and renewal that is present throughout the poem.
The image of the lark ascending is particularly powerful. The speaker watches as the bird rises higher and higher into the sky, and remarks:
"And upward ever seems to go,
As if it heard light's upward flow
And followed it to heaven."
This image not only conveys the beauty of the natural world, but also suggests a spiritual dimension to the poem. The lark's ascent represents the soul's journey towards the divine, and serves as a metaphor for the resurrection and the hope of eternal life.
Love and Faith
Love and faith are two of the central themes in Easter Day. The speaker's love for nature and for the divine is evident throughout the poem, and these two elements are often intertwined.
The poem contains several references to the love between the speaker and the divine. The speaker addresses God directly, expressing their love and devotion:
"For ever and for evermore,
O Love, who dost my soul adore,
Who didst redeem, and who dost save,
And who hast snatched me from the grave."
The use of the word "adore" here suggests a relationship of intimacy and tenderness between the speaker and the divine. The reference to redemption and salvation also ties in with the themes of resurrection and renewal that are present throughout the poem.
Faith is also a central theme in Easter Day. The poem explores the speaker's faith in the divine, and the hope that comes with that faith. The speaker expresses their belief in the resurrection and the promise of eternal life:
"For lo! the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;
The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come,
And the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.
Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away."
This passage draws on the imagery of the natural world to convey a sense of hope and renewal. The reference to the turtle's voice is particularly meaningful, as the turtle was seen as a symbol of resurrection in ancient mythology.
Conclusion
Easter Day is a beautiful and powerful poem that explores themes of love, faith, and resurrection through the lens of nature. Wilde's use of vivid imagery and sensory language creates a rich, immersive world that captures the reader's imagination. The poem's themes are universal and timeless, speaking to the human experience of hope, redemption, and the search for meaning in a world that is often dark and uncertain.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Easter Day by Oscar Wilde: A Masterpiece of Poetry
Oscar Wilde, the renowned Irish playwright, poet, and author, is known for his witty and satirical works. However, his poem "Easter Day" is a departure from his usual style, as it is a deeply religious and spiritual piece. The poem was written in 1892, during Wilde's imprisonment for homosexuality, and it reflects his personal struggles and beliefs.
"Easter Day" is a sonnet, a fourteen-line poem with a strict rhyme scheme and meter. The poem is divided into two parts, the octave (eight lines) and the sestet (six lines). The octave presents the problem or question, while the sestet offers a resolution or answer. In "Easter Day," the octave poses the question of how to reconcile the beauty of nature with the suffering and death of Christ, while the sestet suggests that Christ's resurrection is the ultimate triumph over death and evil.
The poem begins with a vivid description of the natural world on Easter morning:
"Break the black soil; scarce visible the seed; So small the tender green that upward creeps; So slight the blade that, bending, tops the reeds; So frail the fragrance that the wild flower weeps; Yet in the sunlight's universal glow The glory of the resurrection shows."
The imagery of the "black soil," "tender green," "slight blade," and "frail fragrance" conveys the fragility and transience of life. However, the "sunlight's universal glow" suggests a higher power or divine presence that illuminates and transcends the physical world. The phrase "the glory of the resurrection shows" foreshadows the poem's central theme of Christ's triumph over death.
The octave then introduces the problem of reconciling the beauty of nature with the suffering and death of Christ:
"How can we praise Thee, Lord, for this fair earth, The sunshine and the flowers, since Thou hast died? How shall we thank Thee for Thy matchless worth, Thou Who for us wast scourged, and mocked, and tried? Nay, how forget that bitter agony When in the garden Thou for us didst pray?"
The speaker acknowledges the paradox of praising God for the beauty of nature while also recognizing the suffering and death of Christ. The question of how to reconcile these seemingly contradictory aspects of God's creation is a common theme in religious literature. The speaker also acknowledges Christ's sacrifice and the agony he endured in the garden of Gethsemane, which adds to the emotional weight of the poem.
The sestet offers a resolution to this problem by emphasizing the power of Christ's resurrection:
"Yet in Thy resurrection we behold The triumph of Thy love o'er death and sin; And with exultant hearts we now unfold The Easter banner, and Thy victory win. For Thou hast conquered death, and burst the tomb, And made the desert of the grave to bloom."
The phrase "Thy resurrection" is a direct reference to Christ's triumph over death, which is the central tenet of Christianity. The speaker emphasizes that Christ's resurrection is a triumph of love over death and sin, which suggests that God's creation is ultimately good and just. The image of the "Easter banner" and "victory" conveys a sense of celebration and joy, which is appropriate for the Easter holiday.
Overall, "Easter Day" is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of beauty, suffering, and redemption. Wilde's use of vivid imagery and strict form adds to the emotional impact of the poem. The poem's message of Christ's triumph over death is a timeless and universal theme that resonates with people of all faiths and backgrounds.
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