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Redemption
- GenresPoetry
Unknown Binding
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About the author
George Herbert
502 books140 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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February 14, 2023
In form this poem is a sonnet of the Shakespearean kind. It consists of three quatrains and a couplet at the end. The idea has been conveyed to us by means of a parable. Many of Herbert's poems have this parabolic character.
In other words, this poem is not be taken literally. The poem is figurative, which means that the real meaning is different from the surface meaning.
In a literal sense, a tenant, finding that he cannot afford to live on his old lease, decides to ask his landlord for a new lease which will be more favourable to him. Therefore, the tenant goes to meet his rich landlord, Christ, in heaven.
There he learns that Christ has gone to take possession of some land on earth which he had long ago bought at a high price. Knowing Christ's high birth, the tenant looks for him in great places, but without success, until he hears the harsh sounds of the mirth of thieves and murderers.
There he discovers Christ who at once grants his petition and then dies.
Allegorically speaking, the poem is an adaptation of the Crucifixion.
In the Gospel according to St. Luke there is an incident pertaining to the penitent thief who makes a request to Christ, at the time of the latter's Crucifixion, that he be granted the grace of God.
This thief said to Christ: "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom". And Christ said to him: "Verily I say unto thee: Today shalt thou be with me in paradise."
In other words, Christ willingly granted the thief's request for divine grace. Following that thief's or that sinner's paradigm, the poet too seeks divine pardon for his sins and desires divine grace.
The poet feels sure that his master, God or Christ, will grant his request and so he goes about searching for his master. The poet fails to find his master in great places and eventually finds him among thieves and murderers who have nailed him to the Cross and are going to kill him. Just at that time Christ grants the poet's request though he himself dies at that very moment.
Thus the Crucifixion of Christ is a means of the poet's redemption.
According to the Christian belief, Christ gave his own life in order to redeem mankind. The Crucifixion is therefore regarded as an act of supreme self-sacrifice on the part of Christ to deliver mankind from sin and damnation.
There is a deep pathos in the last three lines of the sonnet where the poet, on hearing the harsh sounds of mirth, finds Christ among thieves and murderers. These lines bring before us the scene of the Crucifixion, and we respond to them with a philosophical sympathy for the divine martyr.
The simplicity of the language is also remarkable. The poet has employed the most commonplace vocabulary, and the poem strikes us as tremendously coherent.
Herbert here shows himself as "a master of the simple everyday word in the right place". He charges every word with a concentrated meaning. In its powerful and poignant simplicity this sonnet makes its point with the economy, precision, and impact of any New Testament parable.
The virtuous quality of the poem is also apparent, as is the poet's genuineness.
In other words, this poem is not be taken literally. The poem is figurative, which means that the real meaning is different from the surface meaning.
In a literal sense, a tenant, finding that he cannot afford to live on his old lease, decides to ask his landlord for a new lease which will be more favourable to him. Therefore, the tenant goes to meet his rich landlord, Christ, in heaven.
There he learns that Christ has gone to take possession of some land on earth which he had long ago bought at a high price. Knowing Christ's high birth, the tenant looks for him in great places, but without success, until he hears the harsh sounds of the mirth of thieves and murderers.
There he discovers Christ who at once grants his petition and then dies.
Allegorically speaking, the poem is an adaptation of the Crucifixion.
In the Gospel according to St. Luke there is an incident pertaining to the penitent thief who makes a request to Christ, at the time of the latter's Crucifixion, that he be granted the grace of God.
This thief said to Christ: "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom". And Christ said to him: "Verily I say unto thee: Today shalt thou be with me in paradise."
In other words, Christ willingly granted the thief's request for divine grace. Following that thief's or that sinner's paradigm, the poet too seeks divine pardon for his sins and desires divine grace.
The poet feels sure that his master, God or Christ, will grant his request and so he goes about searching for his master. The poet fails to find his master in great places and eventually finds him among thieves and murderers who have nailed him to the Cross and are going to kill him. Just at that time Christ grants the poet's request though he himself dies at that very moment.
Thus the Crucifixion of Christ is a means of the poet's redemption.
According to the Christian belief, Christ gave his own life in order to redeem mankind. The Crucifixion is therefore regarded as an act of supreme self-sacrifice on the part of Christ to deliver mankind from sin and damnation.
There is a deep pathos in the last three lines of the sonnet where the poet, on hearing the harsh sounds of mirth, finds Christ among thieves and murderers. These lines bring before us the scene of the Crucifixion, and we respond to them with a philosophical sympathy for the divine martyr.
The simplicity of the language is also remarkable. The poet has employed the most commonplace vocabulary, and the poem strikes us as tremendously coherent.
Herbert here shows himself as "a master of the simple everyday word in the right place". He charges every word with a concentrated meaning. In its powerful and poignant simplicity this sonnet makes its point with the economy, precision, and impact of any New Testament parable.
The virtuous quality of the poem is also apparent, as is the poet's genuineness.
Displaying 1 of 1 review