Gods Grandeur [revised]
The line “Why do men then now not reck his rod?” from Hopkins’ Gods Grandeur has undergone much scrutiny over time. Some believe that this line as the main turning point, or vulta, of the poem, serves to show that this poem is centered in God and his relationship to his people. They see this poem being full of poignantly biblical imagery to reach the overall theme of the poem, which is the unconditional, ultimate love of God for his creation., Others see God as man and science in the naturalistic sense. Through some careful analysis, I believe that it becomes plain that Hopkins is indeed showing the love of a creator for his creation. As we work through the poem discussing diction, symbolism, and meter, the claims of a supernatural inspiration for Hopkins work will become clearer.
Gods Grandeur is filled with symbols which help to express the anguish of the worlds darkness and the joy of knowing God loves in the world even though people forget him. The sacrifice of Christ and Gods ongoing work of creation is eluded to in line one of the poem. Hopkins refers to the world as charged by the glory of God. “Charged” conjures images of electricity or a spark that implies that the world is continuously vitalized by the energy that is God. In lines three and four, Hopkins speaks of Christ as oil, “gather[ing] to greatness, like the ooze of oil”. At the time of Christ oil was at its height in value. And in the next line, “Crushed”. Christ made the ultimate sacrifice for humanity when he was “crushed” on the cross.
Following these symbols showing Gods awesomeness, Hopkins contrasts them with symbolisms of mans delinquency in forgetting God and his goodness. To show this Hopkins uses the demise of the world when people live for themselves. Here is the turning point marked by the line, “Why do men then now not reck his rod?”. Reck his rod here refers to heeding the authority of God according to our Norton literature anthology. Following this question Hopkins answers it as he laments the “generations” that have “seared with trade;bleared, smeared with toil”. The natural world is literally “smeared” and wears the “smudge” of mans industry, so much so that now even the “soil” is bare. And her Hopkins also comment on the “soil” or the “soul” of man. All these endeavors have made mans soul bare and have shod his feet without him knowing. “nor can foot feel, being shod”. The opposite of shod or bound is freedom. Man has unknowingly gone into slavery away from the freedom found in God. “Just as feet with shoes cannot feel the earth, so a soul distracted loses its closeness to God.”
In the concluding sestet, Hopkins uses bright and refreshing imagery to show that despite mans shortcomings, God still loves the world deeply. After seeing the mans destruction of the natural world, Hopkins looks to the supernatural Lord in whom, “nature is never spent”. And in that Lord lives “dearest freshness”, speaking to the eternal, never dying aspect of God. Although humans are capable of great destruction, we cannot destroy our inner nature, which mirrors the creator. Hopkins strengthens his image of Gods supernatural power in this final sestet by rhyming in a more soft way. By changing to the more soothing, C D C D C D rhyme scheme. Whereas in the first section the pattern is A B B A A B B A, a rhythm showing the pattern of mans folly, this final departure from that pattern gives a sense of reassurance and comfort even in the face of mans destruction. In the final two lines of the poem, Hopkins uses the symbol of the bird to describe God’s care for the world. God, over the world, “broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings”. Hopkins uses the image of a bird, nesting over her young, keeping them warm and embracing them with her wings, to describe God’s unconditional love for mankind. In this we can truly see, I believe, Hopkins true mission in this poem. He has taken a seat in the theater playing the feature titled, “the tumultuous relation between the Creator and the created”. In that last line we find that Hopkins has finished the film and “ah! Bright wings.” The film has a happy ending.
“God’s Grandeur” finds fulfillment of mankind’s universal desire for unconditional love. The symbols and word choice, are used throughout the poem help to illustrate the poem’s central idea. Though the world turns its back on the glory of God, God continues to embrace and soothe the world. Dark and painful symbols, and unpleasant cacophony help to illustrate the pain and great error in humanity turning its back on God. Similarly, beautiful symbols of the natural world, euphony, and smooth, flowing meter add to the poem’s rejoicing in God’s unconditional love for the world.