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Affliction
The famous poem "Affliction" by George Herbert.
- GenresPoetry
3 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 17, 2012
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About the author
George Herbert
508 books142 followersGeorge Herbert (1593-1633) was a Welsh-born English poet and orator. Herbert's poetry is associated with the writings of the metaphysical poets, and he is recognized as "a pivotal figure: enormously popular, deeply and broadly influential, and arguably the most skillful and important British devotional lyricist."
Born into an artistic and wealthy family, Herbert received a good education that led to his admission in 1609 as a student at Trinity College, Cambridge, Herbert excelled in languages, rhetoric and music. He went to university with the intention of becoming a priest, but when eventually he became the University's Public Orator he attracted the attention of King James I and may well have seen himself as a future Secretary of State. In 1624 and briefly in 1625 he served in Parliament. Never a healthy man, he died of consumption at the early age of 39.
Born into an artistic and wealthy family, Herbert received a good education that led to his admission in 1609 as a student at Trinity College, Cambridge, Herbert excelled in languages, rhetoric and music. He went to university with the intention of becoming a priest, but when eventually he became the University's Public Orator he attracted the attention of King James I and may well have seen himself as a future Secretary of State. In 1624 and briefly in 1625 he served in Parliament. Never a healthy man, he died of consumption at the early age of 39.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 13, 2023
‘Affliction’ is, without any doubt, an autobiographical poem. It illustrates the spiritual inconsistency that the poet actually experienced after having given up his ambition of a career at the royal court and having decided to become a priest in the service of God.
The decision to become a priest was not an easy one for Herbert. He came of an aristocratic family, and the prospects of a secular career were fairly bright for him. However, circumstances did not favour him and he made up his mind to take holy orders. It seemed to him that he would be able to render true service to God and man in his capacity as a minister of the Church.
However, in course of time, he began to feel disgruntled with his life as a priest and began to be troubled by doubts. His older aspiration to distinguish himself in the secular field returned to him, and he found himself on the horns of a dilemma.
Eventually, of course, he had to reconcile himself to his choice of a priestly career.
The decision to become a priest was not an easy one for Herbert. He came of an aristocratic family, and the prospects of a secular career were fairly bright for him. However, circumstances did not favour him and he made up his mind to take holy orders. It seemed to him that he would be able to render true service to God and man in his capacity as a minister of the Church.
However, in course of time, he began to feel disgruntled with his life as a priest and began to be troubled by doubts. His older aspiration to distinguish himself in the secular field returned to him, and he found himself on the horns of a dilemma.
Eventually, of course, he had to reconcile himself to his choice of a priestly career.
December 2, 2017
Poem also at poetrysoup.com
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews