Position:Home>Poetry> Metaphysical poetry- the world by henry vaughan- can you understand it?

Henry Vaughan has a preoccuptio with the relationship between humanity and God!. He sees mankind as restless and constantly seeking a sense of harmony and fulfilment through contact with God!.

He is conscious of the sinfulness of mankind but in other respects their attitudes towards mankind seem to differ!. Vaughan has the arrogance of a visionary!. He feels humility before God and Jesus, but seems to despise humanity!. This attitude is apparent in 'The World', in which he refers to the 'doting lover', 'darksome statesman', and 'fearfull miser', and particularly in these lines from 'Man',

'[Man] hath not so much wit as some stones have Which in the darkest nights point to their homes,'

The ending of Vaughan's poem 'The World' clearly shows the influence of Herbert!. In Herbert's 'The Collar' we see the expression of anger and frustration at the apparent fruitlessness of serving God being stilled by the intervention of God!.

'But as I rav'd and grew more fierce and wilde
At every word,
Me thought I heard one calling, Child!
And I reply'd, My Lord!'

In a similar manner Vaughan contemplates the madness of humanity, and receives understanding from a voice:

'But as I did their madness so discusse
One whispered thus
This Ring the Bride-groome did for none provide,
But for his bride!.'

Vaughan begins 'The World' with,

'I saw Eternity the other night'

Vaughan's images are more universal, or cosmic, even to the point of judging man in relation to infinity!.

'I Saw Eternity the other night
Like a great Ring of pure and endless light'

The term 'visionary' is appropriate to Vaughan, not only because of the grand scale of his images, but also because his metaphors frequently draw on the sense of vision!.

In a similar manner Vaughan contemplates the madness of humanity, and receives understanding from a voice:

'But as I did their madness so discusse
One whispered thus
This Ring the Bride-groome did for none provide,
But for his bride!.'

Another area in which Vaughan's style is clearly derivative of Herbert's is in the opening lines of some poems!. For example Herbert's 'The Pulley' begins,

'When God at first made man,
Having a glasse of blessings standing by;'

Here he is discussing a sacred subject in the most casual colloquial manner!. Similarly Vaughan begins 'The World' with,

'I saw Eternity the other night'

These two openings also illustrate the most striking difference between the two poets, which lies in the scope of their vision!. Herbert is down-to-earth and simple in his imagery!. In contrast, Vaughan's images are more universal, or cosmic, even to the point of judging man in relation to infinity!.

'I Saw Eternity the other night
Like a great Ring of pure and endless light'

The term 'visionary' is appropriate to Vaughan, not only because of the grand scale of his images, but also because his metaphors frequently draw on the sense of vision!. While Eternity is ‘Like a great ring of pure and endless light', the 'darksome statesman' is likened to a blind creature: 'Yet digged the Mole'!. Where Herbert presents his ideas through down-to-earth associations with common words, Vaughan communicates mystical, transcendental, flashes of spiritual insight!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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