Honest Doubt About Religion Characterises The Whole Of In Memoriam Discuss
Submitted by zararamsay on 06/30/2008 05:21 PM
- Category: Biographies
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Honest Doubt About Religion Characterises The Whole Of In Memoriam Discuss
Zara Ramsay
1631 words
Selected Texts
In Memoriam' has enjoyed such extensive success as a result of its widespread accessibility to such a diverse readership. Its almost universal appeal is due to the variance of its tone and attitude, as virtually all of the numerous features of the poetry contribute to the general feeling it evokes. It would, therefore, be difficult to isolate any of its characteristics as the most important. The intense feelings of love imparted through the words, and the resultant sense of despair are possibly the most striking aspects, but the clever comparisons of the poet's mood with nature, and the ability to observe the deliberate change of these moods and attitudes are also noteworthy features of In Memoriam'. The poet's view of Christianity is not wholly consistent, for although at times he appears to have little faith in his religion, there are also large sections of the poetry where his faith seems to be his sole comfort. To say, therefore, that honest doubt' characterises the poems would be placing too great an emphasis on Tennyson's few moments of uncertainty.
It is impossible to confine the meanings of In Memoriam' to any singular message, and as a result, it is also impracticable to extricate only one vital characteristic from it. There are numerous important features to be considered, one of the most remarkable of which is the uncomplicated love which shines through the words incessantly, never fading even in the poet's most turbulent of emotional periods. He recognises his good fortune in having had such a friend as Hallam, and beautifully expresses his thanks for having been blessed with this friendship: 'Tis better to have loved and lost/ Than never to have loved at all'.1 The pain he experiences as a result of his loss is clearly expressed, however, and it is obvious to any reader that it is deep-rooted and completely inescapable. The fact that In Memoriam'...
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