Imagery in "Lycidas"
"Lycidas," a poem written by John Milton as a memorial to Edward King, a classmate at Cambridge, reflects Milton's reverence for nature, his admiration of Greek Mythology, and his deeply ingrained Christian belief system. In "Lycidas," Milton combines powerful images from nature and Greek Mythology along with Biblical references in order to ease the pain associated with the premature death of King. King drowns at sea in the prime of his life and Milton is left to make sense of this tragedy. Milton not only mourns the loss of a friend; he is also forced to face his own mortality. Milton questions the significance of writing poetry when he will inevitably die. Milton copes with the subject of death by insisting on the glory of a Christian life and the promise of rebirth into the joyous spiritual world of heaven after death.
Milton begins "Lycidas" by introducing Mythical imagery. Milton writes, "Yet once more, O ye Laurels, and once more/ Ye Myrtles brown, with Ivy never sear" (1-2). In the poem Laurels refers to the crown of poetry given by Apollo, while myrtle refers to the Greek goddess Venus, and Ivy to the god Bacchus. Then Milton introduces powerful symbolism derived from nature. He writes, " I com to pluck your Berries harsh and crude, / And with forc'd finger rude, (3-4). Milton is first alluding to the forced and premature writing of his poetry in the memorial to his classmate Edward King. Secondly, he is perhaps alluding to the premature and violent death of his classmate. In the passage King is the "Berrie" that has been "plucked" before it is ripe or mature. The "Berrie" (King) is "plucked" with "forc'd finger rude," which suggest some degree of violence in his death. It seems that this passa...
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... in the glory of heaven. King's spirit will live on. King is the, "Genius of the shore" (184).
In "Lycidas" Milton speaks through many voices. From Greek Gods to Biblical figures, Milton shields his voice and personifies these figures who address the subject of death in a less worldly language. This method of writing not only demonstrates Milton's broad education, it also serves to lighten a heavy subject. Shielded by Mythology and motivated by the optimism of Christianity, one can approach the subject of mortality with hope and give meaning to life. Without hope this subject would most likely force the reader to spiral down into deep despair.
Bibliography
Flannagan, Roy. Ed. The Riverside Milton. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1998.
Harmon, William, and C. Hugh Holman. A Handbook to Literature. New Jersey: Prentice
Hall , 2000.
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