—You know him, reader,—hypocrite,—my twin! “To The Reader” Analysis The never-ending circle of continuous sin and fallacious repentance envelops the poem “To the Reader” by Baudelaire. This poem is told in the first-person plural, except for the last stanza. Baudelaire uses a similar technique when forming metaphors: Satan “lulls” or “rocks” people’s souls, implying that he is their mother, but he is also an alchemist who makes them defenseless as he “vaporizes the rich metal of our will.” He is the puppeteer “who holds the strings by which we’re moved.” As they breathe, death, the “invisible river,” enters their lungs. Boredom is not just failing to find something to do, but that you are tired of doing the same stuff over and over again. We as readers are fortunate enough to have been left with the masterpiece of modern literature gathered in Les Fleurs du mal, but it is a book which has undeniably brought great suffering to the poet's life. Let a Professional Writer Help You, © New York Essays 2021. From the very beginning, where he addresses the reader directly in a poetic prologue, fittingly entitled “Au Lecteur” (To the Reader), we can see that he is not going to give us, or himself, an easy ride. Our sins are stubborn, our repentance faint, Retrieved May 22, 2021, from https://newyorkessays.com/essay-to-the-reader-analysis/, Save Time On Research and Writing. Start studying To the Reader, A Carcass By: Charles Baudelaire & A Glowworm, By: Rosalia de Castro. Average number of symbols per stanza: 209. He even goes as far as seeing his soul as rotting and disgusting, just as the carcass. Folly, error, sin, avarice Occupy our minds and labor our bodies, And we feed our pleasant remorse As beggars nourish their vermin. Serious sins and mistakes plunge the soul into the abyss of darkness and darkness, but lofty thoughts and aspirations ascend to its very heavens. Baudelaire famously begins The Flowers of Evil by personally addressing his reader as a partner in the creation of his poetry: "Hypocrite reader--my likeness--my brother!" Analysis. — You! translate the poem. The beginning of this poem discusses the incessant dark vices of mankind which eclipse any attempt at true redemption. The Reader knows this monster. Time is a “burden, wrecking your back and bending you to the ground”; getting high lifts the individual up, out of its shackles. Baudelaire writes “On the pillow of evil Satan Trismegistus / Cradles at length our enchanted soul” (9 & 10) “It is in hateful objects that we find peace / Each day, one step further towards Hell” (14 & 15). The beginning of this poem discusses the incessant dark vices of mankind which eclipse any attempt at true redemption. As previously stated, some believers can be considered hypocrites. Average number of symbols per line: 41 (medium-length strings) Average number of words per line: 8. In this poem Baudelaire tries to relate and create a relationship with the reader by first stating that the poem is for the reader and later saying that calling the reader my brother at the end of the poem. The speaker is excited. 21 - 30 of 500 . Baudelaire’s similes are classical in conception but boldly innovative in their terms. It is the grotesque which provides inspiration for him to create his flowers, or poems, hence the title of the book. These lines are suggesting that appalling crimes are thought about and can be conducted by all, but only the strong willed are able to carry them out. At the end of the poem, Boredom appears surrounded by a “vicious menagerie” of vices in the shapes of various repulsive animals—jackals, panthers, hound bitches, monkeys, scorpions, vultures, and snakes—who are creating a din: screeching, roaring, snarling, and crawling. Baudelaire uses shocking and grotesque imagery to assault the readers sensibilities, in an effort to expose the beauty inherent in even the most reviled aspects of life. In their fashion, each has a notion of what goodness is; one has to have a notion of purity if one is to be assured of one’s condemnation. Amount of lines: 35. To The Reader, By Charles Baudelaire. On the dull canvas of our lowly destinies It is because our soul, alas, is not yet bold enough. Amount of stanzas: 7. The ending stanza says the most dangerous of all actions is boredom. — Roy Campbell, Poems of Baudelaire (New York: Pantheon Books, 1952) To the Reader. “To The Reader” Analysis The never-ending circle of continuous sin and fallacious repentance envelops the poem “To the Reader” by Baudelaire. If poison, arson, sex, narcotics, knives. As the poem progresses, the dreariness becomes heavier by mentioning the Devil and demons, and how Hell is the final stop of everyone’s journey. “On wine, on poetry, or on virtue, whatever you like. The power of the thrice-great Satan is compared to that of an alchemist, then to that of a puppeteer manipulating human beings; the sinners are compared to a dissolute pauper embracing an aged prostitute, then their brains are described as filled with carousing demons who riot while death flows into their lungs. They, such as Christians, demonstrate hypocrisy through participating in sins themselves. ©2021 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Unlike traditional poets who had only focused on the simplistically pretty, Baudelaire chose to fuel his language with horror, sin, and the macabre. Through Baudelaire's eyes we envision a world of hypocrisy, death, sin. ” With this, Baudelaire is not just singling out any individuals or a certain group of people. Baudelaire is expressing the idea that beauty, in the artistic sense, blossoms out of the dead and decaying. When you have time to think, memories of how someone wronged you may appear and you may decide to do wrong back unto him, or perhaps going to the club may seem like a nice way to meet with someone to relieve you of your boredom, etc. They think ill thoughts against those who believe something else – judging; speak poorly of others to their friends – gossiping; confess that they did not mean what they said or did – lying. The tone of Flowers of Evil is established in this opening piece, which also announces the principal themes of the poems to follow. Are You on a Short Deadline? The author tells the reader what a terrible struggle is taking place in human souls, how they are torn by painful doubts. Baudelaire dedicates his “unhealthy flowers” to Théophile Gautier, proclaiming his humility and … Word Count: 432. Baudelaire on Beauty, Love, Prostitutes and Modernity. Already a member? However, Baudelaire dismantles this comfort by implying that we repent because we “Believ[e] our base tears can wash away the stains [our sins]” (8). What sin does Baudelaire consider worse than other sins in "The Flowers of Evil: To the Reader"? It is a poem of forty lines, organized into ten quatrains, which presents a pessimistic account of the poet’s view of the human condition along with his explanation of its causes and origins. This kind of imagery prevails in “To the Reader,” controlling the emotional force of the similes and metaphors which are the basic rhetorical figures used in the poem. "To The Reader By Baudelaire" Essays and Research Papers . “Folly, error, sin and parsimony,” (1) everyone possesses these vices, and that is who Baudelaire is addressing. A religious aspect is introduced in lines 5 through 7 stating that although we repent and confess, our sins are obstinate and our repentance feeble because soon after we are back to our wicked ways. All rights reserved, Get a verified expert to help you with “To the Reader” Analysis, “To the Reader” Analysis. He accuses us of being hypocrites, and I suspect this is because erudite readers would probably consider themselves above this vice and decadence. Baudelaire essentially points his finger at us, his readers, in a very accusatory manner. Hi there, would you like to get such a paper? In class, it was argued that this poem is not actually a religious work because it has no hope and that it is, in fact, just about human nature; I believe it is about both. Baudelaire brings to light the toxins, that are purified by the spleen, so … The seventh quatrain lists some violent sins (rape, arson, murder) which most people dare not commit, and points a transition to the final part of the poem, where the speaker introduces the personification of Boredom. Being in a state of boredom can lead to all types of malice and immoral thoughts. Who can say they are without sin, completely wholly, and truly deserving of a divine afterlife? In his book The Flowers of Evil, published in 1857, there are many such references and the society was taken aback by the word play of Baudelaire. Baudelaire commands the reader: get high. Boredom, uglier, wickeder, and filthier than they, smokes his water pipe calmly, shedding involuntary tears as he dreams of violent executions. To the Reader. Many religions, such as Christianity and Islam, believe that there is a joyous afterlife for those who have led a righteous lifestyle and have atoned for their sins. It is human nature to express regret towards those we have wronged, whether Christian, Muslim, Atheist, or any other denomination. To The Reader” Analysis The never-ending circle of continuous sin and fallacious repentance envelops the poem “To the Reader” by Baudelaire. In these four lines, Baudelaire is suggesting that we do unholy or immoral things without noticing; continuing to entertain Gluttony, Pride, or Lust without a second thought, and that our souls are the Devil’s price. Most of Baudelaire’s important themes are stated or suggested in “To the Reader.” The inner conflict experienced by one who perceives the divine … The beginning of this poem discusses the incessant dark vices of mankind which eclipse any attempt at true redemption. Charles Baudelaire is an interesting poet because he is very relatable, unlike many poets that we learn about. … in memory of reading until 3:30 in the morning to complete „Cold Vengeance“. Sin is practiced by all, even those who believe themselves to be above it. The next five quatrains, filled with many similes and metaphors, reveal Satan to be the dominating power in human life. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Baudelaire states that Boredom is “more ugly, evil, [and] fouler than the rest” (33). The first thing one reads is the title, “To the Reader. Stupidity, delusion, selfishness and lust torment our bodies and possess our minds, and we sustain our affable remorse the way a beggar nourishes his lice Our sins are stubborn, our contrition lame; How about receiving a customized one? Generational Perspectives on the War in The Reader, To What Extent Does Schlink in His Novel “the Reader”. Start your 48-hour free trial and unlock all the summaries, Q&A, and analyses you need to get better grades now. Baudelaire informs the reader that it is indeed the Devil rather than God who controls our actions. This proposition that boredom is the most unruly thing one can do insinuates that Baudelaire views boredom as a gate way to all horrible things a person can do. View Charles_Baudelaire_The_Albatross_and_To_the_Reader_TPCASTT_Analysis from ENGLISH LA 101, 238 at Leesville Road High. People feed their remorse “as beggars nourish lice”; demons are squeezed tightly together “like a million worms”; people steal secret pleasure “like a poor degenerate who kisses and mouths the battered breast of an old whore.” This last image, one of the most famous in modern French verse, is further extended: People squeeze their secret pleasure “hard, like an old orange” to extract a few drops of juice, causing the reader to relate the battered breast and the old orange to each other. There are different levels of intensity to all sins; telling a white lie every now and again is far better than taking another’s life every now and again. As the title suggests, “To the Reader” was written by Charles Baudelaire as a preface to his collection of poems Flowers of Evil. Of all the horrible acts one can commit, Baudelaire suggests that there is one that is most heinous above all the rest, and that is boredom. Last Updated on May 7, 2015, by eNotes Editorial. In Baudelaire, beauty is horror, and horror, beauty. Hypocrite reader! Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. The first two quatrains of the poem can be taken together: In the first quatrain, the speaker chastises his readers for their energetic pursuit of vice and sin (folly, error, and greed are mentioned), and for sustaining their sins as beggars nourish their lice; in the second, he accuses them of repenting insincerely, for, though they willingly offer their tears and vows, they are soon enticed to return, through weakness, to their old sinful ways. The poem “A Carcass” by Charles Baudelaire is included in one of his most rebellious collections, Flowers of Evil. Analysis. Some may argue that he suggests this because of how difficult it seems to deal with the harsh reality of sobriety. Please analyze "to the reader by charles baudelaire Charles Baudelaire: Poems: Questions The source, or origin, of beauty doesn’t matter. have not yet ruined us and stitched their quick, loud patterns on the canvas of our lives, it is because our souls are still too sick. Known as the founder of French symbolism (though not himself part of the movement), and often associated with the artistic decadence and aestheticism of the later nineteenth century, Baudelaire was born in Paris where he lived a bohemian life, adopting the … The seven kinds of creatures suggest the seven deadly sins, but they also represent the banal offenses people commonly commit, for, though threatening, they are more disgusting than deadly. Folly and error, sin and avarice, Labor our minds and bodies in their course, Blithely we nourish pleasurable remorse As beggars feed their parasitic lice. Reading the poem, that interpretation does seem valid. Baudelaire, assuming the ironic stance of a sardonic religious orator, chastises the reader for his sins and subsequent insincere repentence. Charles Baudelaire – Beauty Analysis – The Flowers of Evil Charles Baudelaire, the French poet, was always fascinated with the themes of death, rebellion, sex and the like. Elements from street scenes—glimpses of the lives and habits of the poor and aged, alcoholics and prostitutes, criminal types—these offered him fresh sources of material with new and unusual poetic possibilities. To The Reader” Analysis The never-ending circle of continuous sin and fallacious repentance envelops the poem “To the Reader” by Baudelaire. Our sins are obstinate, our repentance is faint; We exact a high price for our confessions, And we gaily return to the miry path, Believing that base tears wash away all our stains. The eighth quatrain heralds the appearance of this disgusting figure, the most detestable vice of all, surrounded by seven hellish animals who cohabit the menagerie of sin; the ninth tells of the inactivity of this sleepy monster, too listless to do more than yawn. Charles Baudelaire ⇒ To The Reader. Here he encourages the reader to become intoxicated by something, anything. Baudelaire speaks of getting high as a way to combat the predictability of life. Log in here. (25-28) The Christian religion is hinted here again by the use of women; it was Eve that introduced sin to mankind by eating the forbidden fruit, the pleasant design of sin. But get high.”. We possess no freedom of will, and reach out our arms to embrace the fires of hell that we are unable to resist. One of the main characters is called „hypocrite lecteur“ by another character. Tertullian, Swift, Jeremiah, Baudelaire are alike in this: they are severe and constant reprehenders of the human way. Baudelaire proclaims that the Reader is a hypocrite; he is Baudelaire's a fellowman, his twin. This date is encounters the first movements of modernist period. Baudelaire says that we lust after things, and do nothing about it often but yet the lust we have inside of us is the true things we desire. Baudelaire selected for this poem the frequently used verse form of Alexandrine quatrains, rhymed abab, one not particularly difficult to imitate in English iambic pentameter, with no striking enjambments or peculiarities of rhyme or rhythm. This apparently straightforward poem, however, conceals a poetic conception of exceptional brilliance and power, attributable primarily to the poet’s tone, his diction, and to the unusual images he devised to enliven his poetic expression. The theme of the poem is neither surprising nor original, for it consists basically of the conventional Christian view that the effects of Original Sin doom humankind to an inclination toward evil which is extremely difficult to resist. The final quatrain pictures Boredom indifferently smoking his hookah while shedding dispassionate tears for those who die for their crimes. He proposes the devil himself as the major force controlling humankind’s life and behavior, and unveils a personification of Boredom (Ennui), overwhelming and all-pervasive, as the most pernicious of all vices, for it threatens to suffocate humankind’s aspirations toward virtue and goodness with indifference and apathy. If one is bored of going to church and hearing the gospel, they could always decide to follow a different religion or drop it altogether. 1964. — My twin! Hire a Professional to Get Your 100% Plagiarism Free Paper. Presenting this symbol of depraved inaction to his readers, the speaker insists that they must recognize in him their brother, and acknowledge their share in the hypocrisy with which they attempt to hide their intimate relationships with evil. Although we may try to live better with each passing day, our evilness has a stronger resolve. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Symbolism, Aestheticism and Charles Baudelaire By Nasrullah Mambrol on November 13, 2017 • ( 10). If we consider the “Flowers of Evil”, based on the biography of the poet himself, it is important to note that he does not consider it necessary to separate pure feelings from those that develop against the background of the social and political life of his contemporaries. and utter decay, watched over and promoted by Satan himself. So he suggests that we should seek out addictive distractions. Mood of the speaker: There are many exclamation marks in the poem. His tone is cynical, … Last Updated on May 7, 2015, by eNotes Editorial. CHAPTER ONE To the Reader (pp. In The Flowers of Evil, "To the Reader," which sin does Baudelaire think is the worst sin. The speaker describes this duality in the introductory poem, in which he explains that he and the reader form two sides of the same coin. In "To the Reader," the speaker evokes a world filled with decay, sin, and hypocrisy, and dominated by Satan. Believing that the language of the Romanticists had grown stale and lifeless, Baudelaire hoped to restore vitality and energy to poetic art by deriving images from the sights and sounds of Paris, a city he knew and loved. There, the poet-speaker switches to the first-person singular and addresses the reader directly as "you," separating the speaker from the reader. Rhyme scheme: abba caac deed fggf hiih jkkj bddb ejje aeeaXaeea Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,4,4,4,4,4,9, Closest metre: iambic pentameter Сlosest rhyme: enclosed rhyme Сlosest stanza type: tercets Guessed form: blank verse Metre: 1001001101 0111111111 1101100111 1101011101 1111010101 11010111010 10110100010 1011011011 1101010100 1011111101 … (2016, Oct 15). Read Charles Baudelaire poem:Folly, depravity, greed, mortal sin Invade our souls and rack our flesh; we feed Our gentle guilt, gracious regrets, that breed. Baudelaire published his first poem book in 1839. What we will34 Baudelaire, A Collection of Critical Essays, "The Aesthetic Dignity of Fleurs du mal", Eirich Auerbach, p. 153. Average number of words per stanza: 39. He hated school, he loved clothes, and he spent his days lounging around art galleries and cafes. As the title suggests, “To the Reader” was written by Charles Baudelaire as a preface to his collection of poems Flowers of Evil. The picture Baudelaire creates here, not unlike a medieval manuscript illumination or a grotesque view by Hieronymus Bosch, may shock or offend sensitive tastes, but it was to become a hallmark of Baudelaire’s verse as his art developed. To The Reader Poem by Charles Baudelaire. To The Reader. Even with the hint of a religious tone, Baudelaire is still talking to those without a religious affiliation, for no one is perfect and has not apologized for an act they were not sorry they committed. — My brother! The beginning of this poem discusses the incessant dark vices of mankind which eclipse any attempt at true redemption. Be Drunk by Charles Baudelaire: Poem Analysis. 1-9) This is Baudelaire giving a portrait of what the eighteenth century might have called the sensitive individual or of what Romanticism might have dubbed the misunderstood, but that his own bourgeois age burdened with the epithet “original.” For some, the thought of murdering or raping someone is atrocious, nevertheless Baudelaire believes that If rape and poison, arson and the knife Have not yet women their pleasant designs. The philosophy of the time affected Baudelaires style. People are always preaching that one must practice a better way of living, yet they are deaf to their own sermon. Word Count: 496. The Flowers of Evil is one of, if not the most celebrated collections of poems of the modern era, its influence pervasive and unquestioned. Unfortunately, to cast away sin is to cast away human nature, which cannot be done, and as long as boredom lingers around, sin will always follow. However, those with a religious affiliation are hypocrites; preaching that we must all be without sin and have faith in and obey their respected deity.
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