“Spring and Fall: To A Young Child” by Gerard Manley Hopkins describes a scene in which the speaker approaches a young girl named Margaret.
Margaret, are you grieving
Over Goldengrove unleaving?
Leaves, like the things of man, you
With your fresh thoughts care for, can you? (lines 1-4)
Here the audience is presented with a vision of golden leaves falling from the trees, The speaker compares these with worldly goods, an image that is enhanced by the golden color of the leaves. The speaker is referencing the riches that society prizes. Yet, he says that they do not hold any real value, and will eventually fall to ruin. They are pretty for now, but their autumn, their season of decay, will come. Over time, the speaker says that Margaret will realize how meaningless worldly wealth is. As, “the heart [of Margaret] grows older/ It will come to such sights colder,” (lines 5-6).
“Sorrow’s springs are the same,” (line 11). Though Margaret knows that the world is shallow and meaningless, she will still mourn the autumn of society. Though in truth, “It is Margaret you mourn for,” (line 15). The decay of autumn reminds her of her own mortality. Usually, spring is a symbol for rebirth and new life. Here, it is not so. I interpret this as a demonstration of Margaret’s lack of belief in God. She has no faith, no belief in life after death. Therefore, spring is a source of sorrow instead of an optimistic hope for new life.
This poem is, perhaps, a social critique. As society clings to it’s wealth, it forgets it’s faith. The focus on this world, which is corrupt with base pleasures is only temporary, yet it takes priority over the next world which is pure and eternal.
Heather,
ReplyDeleteInteresting interpretation of Hopkins's poem in this short post, but I am not sure the textual situation supports it. The Margaret in the poem is usually understood to be a little girl, too young to understand mortality. I don't get the sense that Hopkins is holding her up to criticism as the embodiment of a secular society.
I liked how you interpreted this poem as being a social critique. I also got that same thought as I was reading it. I am not sure about the girl not believing in God, as Dr. Glance mentioned she was young and has not idea of those things yet. The thought I had about him mentioning spring was, like yours, a rebirth, but a rebirth of society. Once we have gotten rid of our worldly goods, and found happiness with the simpler things then we are reborn to better and happier life.
ReplyDelete