'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

I am thrilled to write about one of my favorite poems of all time, "The Prisoner" by Emily Brontë. This poem has captured my heart and soul since the very first time I read it. It's a masterpiece of English poetry that deserves to be explored and appreciated in depth.

Summary

"The Prisoner" is a short poem that portrays the emotions of a prisoner who yearns for freedom. The poem is written in the first person, and the speaker describes their miserable life in confinement. The prisoner can only see a narrow patch of sky through their cell's barred window, which is a source of both hope and despair.

The poem begins with the speaker describing their surroundings, which are bleak and desolate: "In the dungeon-crypts, idly did I stray." The speaker is wandering aimlessly in their prison cell, feeling trapped and hopeless. The speaker then notices a narrow patch of sky visible through the window, which becomes a symbol of hope for the prisoner: "Revolving years have seen / Me roaming on, through each encircling zone / Of the wide earth, yet nowhere have I known / A spot to rest in, not my native home."

The speaker longs to be free and wander the earth without constraints. However, their current situation is hopeless, and they are resigned to their fate: "I've sighed for liberty; but as for thee, / Thee, narrow, grey, and lone captivity, / Whose very sweetness is of bitterness, / Thou art to me an undiscovered land."

Analysis

"The Prisoner" is a poem about confinement, hopelessness, and the yearning for freedom. The speaker is trapped in a prison cell, and the only thing they can see is a narrow patch of sky. This patch of sky becomes a symbol of hope, as it represents the possibility of escape and freedom.

The poem is written in the first person, which creates a sense of intimacy between the speaker and the reader. The reader is invited to empathize with the speaker's predicament and experience their emotions firsthand. The use of first-person point of view also makes the poem more personal and relatable.

Emily Brontë uses vivid imagery to portray the speaker's confinement. The dungeon-crypts are described as desolate and bleak, which creates a sense of hopelessness and despair. The use of the word "idly" suggests that the speaker has nothing to do and is simply passing the time. This further reinforces the idea of confinement and isolation.

The patch of sky visible through the window becomes a symbol of hope for the speaker. The sky represents the vastness of the world and the possibility of freedom. The use of the word "revolving" suggests that the speaker has been confined for a long time and has seen many years pass by. This reinforces the sense of hopelessness and the desire for freedom.

The speaker's longing for freedom is expressed through their description of their travels. The speaker has roamed the earth and experienced many different places, but nowhere has felt like home. This suggests that the speaker is searching for a place where they can feel free and at peace.

The final stanza of the poem is particularly poignant. The speaker sighs for liberty, but they also acknowledge that their confinement has become a part of them. The sweetness of their captivity has become a source of bitterness, and they cannot imagine life without it. This creates a sense of resignation and despair, as the speaker feels trapped in their current situation.

Interpretation

"The Prisoner" is a poem that can be interpreted in many different ways. One possible interpretation is that it is a metaphor for the human condition. We are all bound by the constraints of our society and our own minds, and we long for freedom and a sense of purpose. Like the prisoner in the poem, we are all searching for a place where we can feel at home and be free.

Another possible interpretation is that the poem is a commentary on the nature of confinement. The prison cell is a physical representation of the mental and emotional barriers that we all face. The speaker's yearning for freedom represents our own desire to break free from these constraints and live our lives to the fullest.

The patch of sky visible through the window can also be interpreted as a symbol of hope. It represents the possibility of escape and the promise of a better future. The fact that the speaker can only see a narrow patch of sky suggests that freedom is a distant and elusive goal.

The final stanza of the poem is particularly interesting, as it suggests that the speaker has become resigned to their fate. The sweetness of their captivity has become a part of who they are, and they cannot imagine life without it. This creates a sense of ambivalence, as the speaker longs for freedom but is also afraid of what lies beyond.

Conclusion

"The Prisoner" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the themes of confinement, hopelessness, and the yearning for freedom. Emily Brontë's use of vivid imagery and first-person point of view creates a sense of intimacy and immediacy that draws the reader in. The patch of sky visible through the window becomes a symbol of hope, while the speaker's travels represent their longing for freedom and sense of displacement. The final stanza of the poem is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the speaker has become resigned to their fate. Overall, "The Prisoner" is a masterpiece of English poetry that deserves to be read and appreciated by all.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Emily Brontë’s “The Prisoner” is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a powerful and evocative piece of literature that explores the themes of isolation, confinement, and the human desire for freedom. The poem is a reflection of the author’s own experiences and emotions, and it is a testament to her skill as a writer.

The poem is written in the first person, and it tells the story of a prisoner who is confined to a small cell. The prisoner is isolated from the world, and he longs for freedom. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of the prisoner’s experience.

In the first stanza, the prisoner describes his cell. He talks about the small size of the room, and how it is devoid of any beauty or comfort. The walls are bare, and there is no light. The prisoner is alone in his cell, and he feels trapped and helpless. He longs for the outside world, and he dreams of the freedom that he once had.

The second stanza explores the prisoner’s emotions. He talks about how he feels trapped and alone, and how he longs for the company of others. He describes the pain and suffering that he feels, and how he is tormented by his own thoughts. The prisoner is consumed by his own despair, and he feels as though he is slowly losing his mind.

In the final stanza, the prisoner reflects on his situation. He talks about how he has come to accept his fate, and how he has resigned himself to his confinement. He knows that he will never be free again, and he has come to terms with that fact. However, he still longs for the outside world, and he dreams of the freedom that he once had.

The poem is a powerful exploration of the human desire for freedom. It is a reflection of the author’s own experiences, and it is a testament to her skill as a writer. The poem is filled with vivid imagery and powerful emotions, and it is a testament to the power of literature to capture the human experience.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of imagery. The author uses vivid descriptions to create a sense of confinement and isolation. The small size of the cell, the bare walls, and the lack of light all contribute to a sense of claustrophobia and despair. The imagery is so powerful that the reader can almost feel the walls closing in around them.

Another important aspect of the poem is its exploration of the human psyche. The prisoner is consumed by his own thoughts and emotions, and he is tormented by his own despair. This is a reflection of the human experience, and it is a testament to the power of literature to capture the complexity of the human mind.

The poem is also a reflection of the author’s own experiences. Emily Brontë was known for her reclusive nature, and she spent much of her life in isolation. This poem is a reflection of her own feelings of confinement and isolation, and it is a testament to her skill as a writer.

In conclusion, Emily Brontë’s “The Prisoner” is a classic poem that explores the themes of isolation, confinement, and the human desire for freedom. The poem is a reflection of the author’s own experiences and emotions, and it is a testament to her skill as a writer. The poem is filled with vivid imagery and powerful emotions, and it is a testament to the power of literature to capture the human experience.

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