Upon reading this poem, I wasn't quite sure that I'd understood the meaning of it. But I believe its saying that we as a human population are constantly destroying the earth by not caring for the environment. The world is too much with us is not only the title of this poem but the part of the very first sentence. The author feels that we are taking the world for granted and are being very nonchalant with nature and its warnings. He feels that people are "getting and spending" (line 2, 234). He feels that we do not have any regards to the important aspects of the world nor are we being good stewards of the powers given to us. The author describes the art of giving our hearts away as a "sordid boon"(234). The way we have giving our hearts away is like a filthy blessing. Even though man may have organized civilization, he has lost touch with nature and his values. By the use of personification in reference to the Sea "bares her bosom to the moon"(234) we are able to imaginatively relate with this as though its a person.
The last two lines of the poem bring up mythological figures whose actions appear to be better than those of humans. "Proteus rising from the sea; ...Triton blow his wreathed horn" (234). I feel that this makes the poem religious in two senses; one is the classic Christian sense, and the other is a "heathen" sense. He mentions how he wishes to be "a Pagan suckled in a creed outworn; So might I...have glimpses that would make me less forlorn" (234). The author infers that he would rather be a pre-Christian who believes in something far more incomprehensible than to be that of the shameful "Christian" human race.
Even though this poem used personification that allowed us as readers to become one with the characters, this was a difficult poem to comprehend. However I strongly believe that this poem is about subject of human immorality we they have no disregard for nature around us.
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Tisha,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your effort in this post to move from textual evidence to an interpretation of Wordsworth's poem, but it seems you get misdirected early on by a shaky reading of a quotation. The phrase "The world is too much with us" does not in any way mean we are taking the world for granted and not thinking about it enough; rather, it means we spend too much time thinking about what society tells us to want. Some later observations, seem to help bring you towards the right track of what the poem says.
Tisha,
ReplyDelete"The World is Too Much With Us" is one of my favorite poems, and I'm so glad you wrote about it!
I think you sum up the poem's theme well when you state that man "has lost touch with nature and his values."
I appreciated your discussion of the religious significance of the poem. However,I believe Wordsworth's purpose in mentioning Proteus and Triton is to emphasize the pagan religions' respect for nature and sense of beauty. Their religion at least inspired great feelings in them; Wordsworth seems to be battling feelings of indifference. He is searching for "glimpses that would make me less forlorn" (line 12).
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, though, and you do provide good textual support for your opinions.
Great job overall!