'Pilate 's Wife's Dream' by Charlotte Brontë

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I've quenched my lamp, I struck it in that start
Which every limb convulsed, I heard it fall­
The crash blent with my sleep, I saw depart
Its light, even as I woke, on yonder wall;
Over against my bed, there shone a gleam
Strange, faint, and mingling also with my dream.

It sunk, and I am wrapt in utter gloom;
How far is night advanced, and when will day
Retinge the dusk and livid air with bloom,
And fill this void with warm, creative ray ?
Would I could sleep again till, clear and red,
Morning shall on the mountain-tops be spread!

I'd call my women, but to break their sleep,
Because my own is broken, were unjust;

They've wrought all day, and well-earned slumbers steep
Their labours in forgetfulness, I trust;
Let me my feverish watch with patience bear,
Thankful that none with me its sufferings share.

Yet, Oh, for light ! one ray would tranquilise
My nerves, my pulses, more than effort can;
I'll draw my curtain and consult the skies:
These trembling stars at dead of night look wan,
Wild, restless, strange, yet cannot be more drear
Than this my couch, shared by a nameless fear.

All black­one great cloud, drawn from east to west,
Conceals the heavens, but there are lights below;
Torches burn in Jerusalem, and cast
On yonder stony mount a lurid glow.
I see men stationed there, and gleaming spears;
A sound, too, from afar, invades my ears.

Dull, measured, strokes of axe and hammer ring
From street to street, not loud, but through the night
Distinctly heard­and some strange spectral thing
Is now upreared­and, fixed against the light
Of the pale lamps; defined upon that sky,
It stands up like a column, straight and high.

I see it all­I know the dusky sign­
A cross on Calvary, which Jews uprear

While Romans watch; and when the dawn shall shine
Pilate, to judge the victim will appear,
Pass sentence­yield him up to crucify;
And on that cross the spotless Christ must die.

Dreams, then, are true­for thus my vision ran;
Surely some oracle has been with me,
The gods have chosen me to reveal their plan,
To warn an unjust judge of destiny:
I, slumbering, heard and saw; awake I know,
Christ's coming death, and Pilate's life of woe.

I do not weep for Pilate­who could prove
Regret for him whose cold and crushing sway
No prayer can soften, no appeal can move;
Who tramples hearts as others trample clay,
Yet with a faltering, an uncertain tread,
That might stir up reprisal in the dead.

Forced to sit by his side and see his deeds;
Forced to behold that visage, hour by hour,
In whose gaunt lines, the abhorrent gazer reads
A triple lust of gold, and blood, and power;
A soul whom motives, fierce, yet abject, urge
Rome's servile slave, and Judah's tyrant scourge.

How can I love, or mourn, or pity him ?
I, who so long my fettered hands have wrung;

I, who for grief have wept my eye-sight dim;
Because, while life for me was bright and young,
He robbed my youth­he quenched my life's fair ray­
He crushed my mind, and did my freedom slay.


And at this hour­although I be his wife­
He has no more of tenderness from me
Than any other wretch of guilty life;
Less, for I know his household privacy­
I see him as he is­without a screen;
And, by the gods, my soul abhors his mien !

Has he not sought my presence, dyed in blood­
Innocent, righteous blood, shed shamelessly ?
And have I not his red salute withstood ?
Aye,­when, as erst, he plunged all Galilee
In dark bereavement­in affliction sore,
Mingling their very offerings with their gore.

Then came he­in his eyes a serpent-smile,
Upon his lips some false, endearing word,
And, through the streets of Salem, clanged the while,
His slaughtering, hacking, sacrilegious sword­
And I, to see a man cause men such woe,
Trembled with ire­I did not fear to show.

And now, the envious Jewish priests have brought
Jesus­whom they in mockery call their king­

To have, by this grim power, their vengeance wrought;
By this mean reptile, innocence to sting.
Oh ! could I but the purposed doom avert,
And shield the blameless head from cruel hurt!

Accessible is Pilate's heart to fear,
Omens will shake his soul, like autumn leaf;
Could he this night's appalling vision hear,
This just man's bonds were loosed, his life were safe,
Unless that bitter priesthood should prevail,
And make even terror to their malice quail.

Yet if I tell the dream­but let me pause.
What dream ? Erewhile the characters were clear,
Graved on my brain­at once some unknown cause
Has dimmed and rased the thoughts, which now appear,
Like a vague remnant of some by-past scene;­
Not what will be, but what, long since, has been.

I suffered many things, I heard foretold
A dreadful doom for Pilate,­lingering woes,
In far, barbarian climes, where mountains cold
Built up a solitude of trackless snows,
There, he and grisly wolves prowled side by side,
There he lived famished­there methought he died;

But not of hunger, nor by malady;
I saw the snow around him, stained with gore;

I said I had no tears for such as he,
And, lo ! my cheek is wet­mine eyes run o'er;
I weep for mortal suffering, mortal guilt,
I weep the impious deed­the blood self-spilt.

More I recall not, yet the vision spread
Into a world remote, an age to come­
And still the illumined name of Jesus shed
A light, a clearness, through the enfolding gloom­
And still I saw that sign, which now I see,
That cross on yonder brow of Calvary.

What is this Hebrew Christ ? To me unknown,
His lineage­doctrine­mission­yet how clear,
Is God-like goodness, in his actions shewn !
How straight and stainless is his life's career !
The ray of Deity that rests on him,
In my eyes makes Olympian glory dim.

The world advances, Greek, or Roman rite
Suffices not the inquiring mind to stay;
The searching soul demands a purer light
To guide it on its upward, onward way;
Ashamed of sculptured gods­Religion turns
To where the unseen Jehovah's altar burns.

Our faith is rotten­all our rites defiled,
Our temples sullied, and methinks, this man,
With his new ordinance, so wise and mild,
Is come, even as he says, the chaff to fan

And sever from the wheat; but will his faith
Survive the terrors of to-morrow's death ?

* * * * *

I feel a firmer trust­a higher hope
Rise in my soul­it dawns with dawning day;
Lo ! on the Temple's roof­on Moriah's slope
Appears at length that clear, and crimson ray,
Which I so wished for when shut in by night;
Oh, opening skies, I hail, I bless your light !

Part, clouds and shadows ! glorious Sun appear !
Part, mental gloom ! Come insight from on high !
Dusk dawn in heaven still strives with daylight clear,
The longing soul, doth still uncertain sigh.
Oh ! to behold the truth­that sun divine,
How doth my bosom pant, my spirit pine !

This day, time travails with a mighty birth,
This day, Truth stoops from heaven and visits earth,
Ere night descends, I shall more surely know
What guide to follow, in what path to go;
I wait in hope­I wait in solemn fear,
The oracle of God­the sole­true God­to hear.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Pilate's Wife's Dream by Charlotte Brontë: A Literary Analysis

Are you a fan of gothic literature? Do you enjoy stories filled with mystery, suspense, and supernatural elements? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then Charlotte Brontë's "Pilate's Wife's Dream" is the perfect poem for you. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the themes, symbols, and motifs present in this haunting poem.

Background Information

Before we dive into the analysis, let's first explore some background information about the poem. "Pilate's Wife's Dream" was written by Charlotte Brontë, who is best known for her novel "Jane Eyre." Brontë was born in England in 1816 and started writing at a young age. She published several poems and novels before her death in 1855.

"Pilate's Wife's Dream" was published in 1846 as part of Brontë's collection of poems titled "Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell." The poem is based on the biblical story of Pontius Pilate's wife, who had a dream warning her husband not to condemn Jesus Christ. In the poem, Brontë adds a supernatural element to the story, making it even more haunting.

Summary

Before we analyze the poem in detail, let's first provide a summary of "Pilate's Wife's Dream." The poem starts with Pilate's wife having a dream about a beautiful bird with golden wings. The bird is trapped in a cage and Pilate's wife wants to set it free. However, she is unable to do so because a group of priests are guarding the bird.

The dream then takes a dark turn as the bird transforms into a man who is being beaten and tortured. Pilate's wife tries to intervene, but again she is unable to do so. The dream ends with Pilate's wife waking up in a pool of sweat, feeling guilty for not being able to save the man.

Themes

One of the main themes in "Pilate's Wife's Dream" is powerlessness. Throughout the poem, Pilate's wife is unable to free the bird or stop the torture of the man. This theme is particularly relevant to the biblical story of Pontius Pilate's wife, who also feels powerless in the face of her husband's decision to condemn Jesus Christ.

Another theme present in the poem is guilt. Pilate's wife feels guilty for not being able to save the man in her dream. This guilt is a reflection of the guilt that Pontius Pilate's wife feels in the biblical story for not being able to stop her husband from condemning Jesus Christ.

Symbols

The bird in Pilate's wife's dream is a symbol of freedom and innocence. The fact that the bird is trapped in a cage represents the idea of being trapped and powerless. When the bird transforms into a man, it represents the idea that innocence can be taken away and replaced with suffering.

The priests in the poem are a symbol of the corrupt and powerful. They represent the religious and political institutions that hold power over individuals and can trap them in cages.

The man who is being tortured in Pilate's wife's dream is a symbol of Jesus Christ. His suffering represents the suffering of Christ during his crucifixion. This symbol highlights the idea that innocent individuals can be persecuted and tortured by those in power.

Motifs

One of the motifs present in the poem is the idea of transformation. The bird transforms into a man, representing the transformation of innocence into suffering. This motif is also present in the biblical story of Pontius Pilate's wife, where Jesus Christ transforms from a peaceful preacher into a condemned criminal.

Another motif present in the poem is the idea of powerlessness. Pilate's wife is unable to free the bird or stop the torture of the man. This motif is also present in the biblical story, where Pontius Pilate's wife is powerless to stop her husband from condemning Jesus Christ.

Interpretation

So, what does it all mean? "Pilate's Wife's Dream" is a haunting poem about powerlessness, guilt, and the corrupt nature of religious and political institutions. The poem highlights the idea that innocent individuals can be persecuted and tortured by those in power.

The bird in the poem represents the idea of freedom and innocence, while the priests represent the corrupt and powerful institutions that hold individuals captive. The man who is being tortured represents the suffering of Christ during his crucifixion, highlighting the idea that innocent individuals can be persecuted and tortured by those in power.

The theme of powerlessness is particularly relevant in today's world, where many individuals feel trapped and powerless in the face of corrupt and oppressive institutions. The poem serves as a reminder that we must strive to fight against these institutions and advocate for the freedom and rights of all individuals.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Pilate's Wife's Dream" is a haunting poem about powerlessness, guilt, and the corrupt nature of religious and political institutions. The bird, priests, and man who is being tortured serve as symbols of freedom, corruption, and suffering, respectively. The poem highlights the idea that innocent individuals can be persecuted and tortured by those in power, and serves as a reminder that we must strive to fight against these institutions and advocate for the freedom and rights of all individuals.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Pilate's Wife's Dream: An Analysis

Charlotte Brontë's "Poetry Pilate's Wife's Dream" is a haunting and evocative poem that explores the themes of guilt, fear, and the power of dreams. Written in 1846, the poem tells the story of Pilate's wife, who is tormented by a dream in which she sees Jesus being crucified. The poem is a powerful meditation on the nature of sin and redemption, and it is a testament to Brontë's skill as a poet.

The poem begins with Pilate's wife describing her dream. She sees Jesus being led to his crucifixion, and she is filled with a sense of dread and horror. She tries to warn her husband, but he dismisses her fears and tells her not to worry. The dream continues, and Pilate's wife sees Jesus being nailed to the cross. She is overwhelmed by a sense of guilt and shame, and she feels that she is somehow responsible for his death.

The poem is filled with vivid and powerful imagery, which helps to convey the intensity of Pilate's wife's emotions. For example, Brontë writes that Pilate's wife "saw the cross, the nails, the spear, / The soldiers who their victim jeer." This description is both vivid and disturbing, and it helps to convey the horror of the crucifixion. Similarly, Brontë writes that Pilate's wife "felt the scourge, the thorns, the nails, / The earthquake's shock, the temple's veil." This description is filled with sensory details, and it helps to convey the physical and emotional pain that Jesus endured.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is the way in which Brontë explores the theme of guilt. Pilate's wife feels that she is somehow responsible for Jesus' death, even though she had no direct role in it. This sense of guilt is a powerful and universal emotion, and it is one that many people can relate to. Brontë captures this emotion perfectly in the poem, and she does so in a way that is both subtle and powerful.

Another important theme in the poem is the power of dreams. Pilate's wife's dream is a powerful and transformative experience, and it has a profound impact on her. The dream forces her to confront her own guilt and to question her own actions. It also helps her to see the world in a new way, and it gives her a new perspective on the events that are unfolding around her. This theme is particularly relevant today, as many people are turning to dreams and other forms of spirituality in order to find meaning and purpose in their lives.

Overall, "Poetry Pilate's Wife's Dream" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores some of the most important themes in literature. It is a testament to Brontë's skill as a poet, and it is a powerful reminder of the enduring power of poetry. Whether you are a fan of Brontë's work or simply interested in exploring the themes of guilt, fear, and the power of dreams, this poem is definitely worth reading.

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