Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

François Villon's "His Owne epitaph" is an intriguing piece that invites contemplation on the notions of mortality, fate, and divine justice. It ostensibly serves as Villon's self-penned epitaph, projecting a persona who seeks "eternal rest" and "everlastynge light" from the Lord. This short yet weighty work epitomizes Villon's thematic preoccupation with the impermanence of life, the inevitability of death, and the uncertainties that lurk in the human existence.

The opening line, "eternal rest on him bestowe, O Lord, and everlasting light," sets the tone for the poem. Here, Villon addresses God directly, imploring for eternal peace. These lines could be read as a universal prayer, relevant to any soul passing from the mortal realm to the beyond. Yet, in the context of it being an epitaph, it takes on a poignant, personal resonance. This plea for peace is not just a general wish; it's a cry for personal salvation.

What follows is an evocative description of a person who has suffered through hardships and humiliation. Villon writes, "Who lacked withal for sup or bite, Shorn close on scalp and chin and browe." The imagery is vivid: a figure, possibly Villon himself, who is impoverished, shaved close on scalp and chin, embodying vulnerability and humility. These lines depict the hardships that the speaker has faced, eliciting empathy and humanizing him in the eyes of God and the reader.

The description, "As any turnip round, poor wighte," deepens the sense of destitution and abjection. Comparing a human to a root vegetable signifies a complete stripping down of dignity and individuality. Yet, it's precisely this abasement that becomes the basis for the speaker's plea for eternal rest. The argument seems to be that having suffered so much in life, the individual merits divine mercy in death.

The poem then shifts its focus to a "Hard doome" that "befell him here belowe," suggesting that not only was this individual impoverished and humiliated, but he was also unjustly treated. The line, "Though 'I appeal!' he cried with mighte," indicates a plea for justice that went unheard or was summarily dismissed. This reinforces the element of tragedy, painting a picture of a man who struggled against the unforgiving circumstances of his life to no avail.

The recurring refrain, "eternal rest on him bestowe," serves as both a supplication and an echo of the human desire for peace after a life of toil and suffering. It unites the various elements of the poem-the dire circumstances, the plea for justice, the sense of humiliation-into a coherent whole, making a final, poignant argument for divine grace.

Villon's "His Owne epitaph" confronts us with an unsettling yet deeply humane tableau of human frailty. It encapsulates a life lived in hardship and culminates in a plea for ultimate peace. By crafting his own epitaph, Villon not only takes control of the narrative of his life but also invites us to ponder the complexities and contradictions that define our existence. This poem serves as an existential meditation, one that reverberates through the corridors of time, reminding us of the perpetual human quest for meaning, justice, and eternal rest.

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