Alas! they had been friends in youth:
But whispering tongues can poison truth;
And constancy lives in realms above;
And life is thorny; and youth is vain;
And to be wroth with one we love,
Doth work like madness in the brain;
But never either found another
To free the hollow heart from paining –
They stood aloof, the scars remaining.
Like cliffs which had been rent asunder;
A dreary sea now flows between,
But neither heat, nor frost, nor thunder,
Shall wholly do away, I ween,
The marks of that which once hath been.Coleridge, Christabel
Fare thee well! and if forever,
Still forever, fare thee well:
Even though unforgiving, never
‘Gainst thee shall my heart rebel.
Would that breast were bared before thee
Where thy head so oft hath lain,
While that placid sleep came o’er thee
Which thou ne’er canst know again:
Would that breast, by thee glanced over,
Every inmost thought could show!
Then thou wouldst at last discover
‘Twas not well to spurn it so.
Though the world for this commend thee –
Though it smile upon the blow,
Even its praise must offend thee,
Founded on another’s woe:
Though my many faults defaced me,
Could no other arm be found,
Than the one which once embraced me,
To inflict a cureless wound?
Yet, oh yet, thyself deceive not;
Love may sink by slow decay,
But by sudden wrench, believe not
Hearts can thus be torn away:
Still, thine own its life retaineth,
Still must mine, though bleeding, beat;
And the undying thought which paineth
Is – that we no more may meet.
These are words of deeper sorrow
Than the wail above the dead;
Both shall live, but every morrow
Wake us from a widowed bed.
And when thou wouldst solace gather,
When our child’s first accents flow,
Wilt thou teach her to say “Father!”
Though his care she must forego?
When her little hands shall press thee,
When her lip to thine is pressed,
Think of him whose prayer shall bless thee,
Think of him thy love had blessed!
Should her lineaments resemble
Those thou never more may’st see,
Then thy heart will softly tremble
With a pulse yet true to me.
All my faults perchance thou knowest,
All my madness none can know;
All my hopes, where’er thou goest,
Wither, yet with thee, they go.
Every feeling hath been shaken;
Pride, which not a world could bow,
Bows to thee – by thee forsaken,
But ’tis did – all words are idle –
Words from me are vainer still;
Force their way without the will.
Fare thee well! thus disunited,
Torn from every nearer tie.
Seared in heart, and lone, and blighted,
More than this I scarce can die.
Unlocking the Emotion in “Fare Thee Well”
Welcome, poetry explorers! Today, we embark on a journey into the profound depths of human emotion with a truly moving poem, “Fare Thee Well.” This piece offers a powerful exploration of love, loss, and the enduring pain of separation. Prepare to discover how its carefully chosen words and structure create an unforgettable experience for the reader.
Fare Thee Well Summary: A Glimpse into Heartbreak
“Fare Thee Well” is a poignant poem that delves into the raw anguish of a speaker bidding farewell to a beloved. The central idea revolves around an irreversible separation, the speaker’s deep sorrow, and a complex mix of regret, wounded pride, and enduring affection. Despite the profound pain, there is a remarkable resilience and a plea for the memory of their shared past, particularly concerning a child, to be cherished.
A noteworthy aspect of “Fare Thee Well” is its fascinating history of attribution. For many years, this poem was widely believed to be penned by the famous Romantic poet Lord Byron. However, contemporary evidence and scholarly consensus now suggest that its true author remains uncertain, likely originating from a later writer of the early nineteenth century. This mystery only adds another layer of intrigue to its powerful verses. The poem also opens with a quotation from Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s “Christabel,” immediately setting a somber and melancholic tone that foreshadows the themes of fractured relationships to come.
Key Insights into “Fare Thee Well”
- A Romantic Echo: The poem beautifully captures the emotional intensity characteristic of the Romantic era, focusing on individual experience, profound feeling, and the dramatic impact of personal loss.
- The Power of a Prelude: The inclusion of Coleridge’s lines from “Christabel” serves as a powerful literary device, establishing a mood of past friendship turned to sorrow and the lasting scars of separation before the main poem even begins.
- Emotional Tapestry: “Fare Thee Well” weaves together a rich tapestry of emotions, including sorrow, regret, a sense of betrayal, and a protective love for a child. This complexity offers a nuanced portrayal of a relationship irrevocably broken.
Fare Thee Well Analysis: Diving Deeper into the Verse
Now, let us explore the intricate layers of this poem, examining its themes and the brilliant literary devices that bring its emotions to life.
Themes Explored in “Fare Thee Well”
The poem masterfully explores several profound themes:
- The Agony of Irreversible Separation and Loss: The speaker confronts the stark reality of a final parting, expressing the deep pain that follows such a profound rupture. The opening lines of the main poem immediately establish this:
Fare thee well! and if forever,
Still forever, fare thee well:This repetition emphasizes the finality and the speaker’s acceptance, however painful, of an eternal separation. Later, the speaker laments the impossibility of reconciliation, stating:
And the undying thought which paineth
Is – that we no more may meet.This line highlights the enduring torment of knowing that a reunion is impossible, a sorrow deeper than mourning the dead.
- Wounded Pride and the Path to Humility: The speaker grapples with the sting of rejection and a deeply wounded pride, yet ultimately acknowledges its surrender in the face of overwhelming sorrow. Initially, there is a sense of injustice:
Then thou wouldst at last discover
‘Twas not well to spurn it so.This reveals a desire for the beloved to recognize the error of their actions. However, by the poem’s conclusion, pride gives way to utter desolation:
Pride, which not a world could bow,
Bows to thee – by thee forsaken,
Even my soul forsakes me now:Here, the speaker’s once unyielding pride is completely broken, illustrating the devastating impact of the separation.
- Enduring Parental Love and the Hope for Legacy: A tender and protective concern for a shared child emerges, with the speaker hoping that the beloved will preserve the father’s memory for their offspring. This theme offers a glimmer of hope amidst the despair:
And when thou wouldst solace gather,
When our child’s first accents flow,
Wilt thou teach her to say “Father!”
Though his care she must forego?These lines reveal a poignant plea, asking the beloved to keep the speaker’s memory alive for their child, even in absence. The speaker envisions the child as a living connection:
Should her lineaments resemble
Those thou never more may’st see,
Then thy heart will softly tremble
With a pulse yet true to me.This suggests that the child’s resemblance will serve as a constant, gentle reminder of the speaker, ensuring a lasting, if indirect, connection.
- The Pain of Unrequited Affection and Unwavering Loyalty: Despite the profound hurt and the beloved’s unforgiving nature, the speaker refuses to harbor resentment, demonstrating an enduring, albeit painful, loyalty. This is evident in the declaration:
Even though unforgiving, never
‘Gainst thee shall my heart rebel.This powerful statement underscores an unwavering affection and a refusal to allow bitterness to take root, even in the face of deep personal injury. The speaker’s heart, though wounded, continues to beat with a persistent love:
Still must mine, though bleeding, beat;
This line beautifully encapsulates the resilience of the heart, which, despite suffering, continues its vital function, symbolizing an enduring capacity for feeling.
Literary Devices in “Fare Thee Well”
The poem employs a rich array of literary and poetic devices to convey its powerful emotional message. Let us explore some of these techniques:
Imagery and Symbolism
The poem is rich with vivid imagery that paints a clear picture of the speaker’s emotional landscape. The Coleridge quotation, for instance, uses striking images to depict an irreparable chasm:
Like cliffs which had been rent asunder;
A dreary sea now flows between,
Here, the “cliffs rent asunder” symbolize a relationship violently torn apart, while the “dreary sea” represents the vast emotional distance and the impossibility of reconciliation. The repeated reference to the “breast” throughout the poem suggests intimacy, vulnerability, and a longing for a closeness that has vanished:
Would that breast were bared before thee
Where thy head so oft hath lain,
This image evokes a past of tender intimacy, now lost. The “widowed bed” is a powerful symbol of loneliness and the absence of a partner, emphasizing the profound sense of loss:
Wake us from a widowed bed.
Metaphor and Simile
The poem effectively uses metaphors and similes to deepen its emotional impact. The comparison of love to a gradual decline is a poignant metaphor:
Love may sink by slow decay,
This suggests that love can wither over time, rather than ending abruptly. The devastating impact of separation is conveyed through another powerful metaphor:
Hearts can thus be torn away:
This vivid image illustrates the brutal, wrenching pain of emotional severance. The simile from the Coleridge quote, “Like cliffs which had been rent asunder,” vividly compares the broken relationship to a natural disaster, emphasizing its irreversible and catastrophic nature.
Alliteration and Assonance
Sound devices contribute significantly to the poem’s musicality and emotional resonance. Alliteration, the repetition of initial consonant sounds, can be found in lines such as:
Fare thee well! and if forever,
Still forever, fare thee well:
The repeated “f” sound creates a mournful, sighing rhythm, underscoring the sorrowful farewell. Assonance, the repetition of vowel sounds within words, also enhances the poem’s sonic texture:
Even though unforgiving, never
‘Gainst thee shall my heart rebel.
The long “e” sound subtly emphasizes the enduring nature of the speaker’s feelings, despite the beloved’s unforgiving stance.
Structure and Form
“Fare Thee Well” is composed of fifteen quatrains, each consisting of four lines. This consistent structure provides a sense of order and control amidst the emotional turbulence. The poem largely follows an ABAB rhyme scheme, which contributes to a flowing, musical quality. For example:
Fare thee well! and if forever, (A)
Still forever, fare thee well: (B)
Even though unforgiving, never (A)
‘Gainst thee shall my heart rebel. (B)
This regular rhyme scheme creates a sense of balance and rhythm, making the poem both memorable and emotionally resonant. The consistent form can be seen as the speaker’s attempt to impose order upon overwhelming sorrow, providing a framework for expressing profound grief.
Repetition
The strategic use of repetition emphasizes key phrases and emotions. The recurring phrase “Fare thee well!” acts as a powerful refrain, marking the finality of the parting and reinforcing the poem’s central theme of separation:
Fare thee well! and if forever,
Still forever, fare thee well!
This repetition underscores the speaker’s deep sorrow and the absolute nature of the goodbye.
Rhetorical Questions
The speaker employs rhetorical questions to express disbelief and pain, inviting the reader to ponder the injustice of the situation without expecting a direct answer:
Could no other arm be found,
Than the one which once embraced me,
To inflict a cureless wound?
This question highlights the profound betrayal felt by the speaker, emphasizing the cruelty of being wounded by the very person who once offered comfort and love.
Tone and Mood
The overall tone of “Fare Thee Well” is profoundly melancholic and sorrowful, tinged with regret and a sense of resignation. Despite the deep pain, there is also an underlying current of enduring affection and a remarkable resilience. The mood is one of profound sadness and loss, yet it avoids complete despair through the speaker’s unwavering loyalty and hope for a preserved memory.
The Enduring Legacy of “Fare Thee Well”
Though its authorship may be debated, “Fare Thee Well” remains a timeless and deeply moving exploration of loss, regret, and the intricate complexities of human relationships. Its masterful use of language, evocative imagery, and structured form allows readers to connect profoundly with the universal experience of separation and heartbreak. This poem serves as a powerful reminder that even in the face of irreversible parting, the echoes of love and the human spirit’s capacity for endurance can persist. It encourages us to reflect on the lasting marks that relationships leave upon our hearts, long after the farewells have been spoken.