The poem "Ulysses" is a cry against living a mundane, sedentary life while you still possess the energy to do more. It's almost like Ulysses is going through a modern mid-life crisis.
Tennyson's choice of adjectives gives way to a bored, restless tone. Ulysses is an "idle king, By this still hearth, among these barren crags..." These words introduce Ulysses as a man who is unsatisfied with the lack of adventure in his life. He clearly has experienced exciting times and mischievous adventures, but instead of wanting to retire, there remains a steady energy coursing through his veins. He is grown-up now, but he still possesses a sense of youth, which causes him to protest against his "idle...still...barren" life.
The structure of the poem itself is contingent with my claim. The thoughts and musings of Ulysses is a continuous, lively stream of thoughts. He laments the tragedy of pausing life and "mak[ing] an end." His thoughts don't pause either; not only is his body full of energy, but his mind is also. It is clear that although Ulysses has "enjoy'd greatly" and "suffer'd greatly" through his past adventures, he still has a "hungry heart."
As a soldier, Ulysses also makes a point to compare life to weapons. Swords and spears, when unused, rust and tarnish. Ulysses feels that he is "rust[ing] unburnish'd" and consequently does not "shine in us." This profound metaphor to his own objects shows how desperate and restless he feels.
In short, Tennyson emphasizes that a man who still has energy must make his life worthwhile by taking risks and going out into the world, not by sitting around and engaging in mundane politics and taking care of commoners. This poem clearly looks down on a life lived by serving others and taking leadership; instead, adventurous travel is glorified.
Your claim is strongly backed up by your three observations. I really liked your observation about the metaphor with Ulysses and weapons. It's interesting and something I never noticed. I definitely agree about the "modern mid-life crisis." That's the word that came to my mind while I was reading the poem also. Your last sentence makes a great point about how Tennyson's poem idolizes adventure.
ReplyDeleteI find your observation about the poem's kinetic diction to be very interesting because it creates a contrast between a life of sailing (where progress and motion are constant) and Ulysses's current life in a self-described limbo where time is the only perpetual motion. In his current life, the horizon that he sees remains motionless whereas in a life of sailing it is constantly changing and beckoning him onward in the pursuit of new experience and discovery.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your observation about the comparison between Ulysses and weapons, and the rusting, which seems especially fitting as a warrior. However, I wonder if the idea that we need adventure can be applied more broadly to all kinds of people, instead of just the warrior-adventurer. Maybe it is simply a message for no one to let their swords rust, whether they are teachers, or doctors, or athletes.
ReplyDeleteI didn't notice his references to his possessions until you pointed them out! I wonder if there's more to that imagery; it's clearly a reference to his previous life as a warrior, active in his pursuit of glory, but he seems to want the sword of his life to "shine in use," to be useful rather than glorious. Maybe he can't solve the problems he has at home with a sword as he is used to doing and seeks to project those problems onto something he can hack at with sharp objects...
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