Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Phedre" is a sonnet penned by Oscar Wilde, notable for its reflective meditation on the interplay of past and present, its lamentation of the dullness of the modern world, and its longing for the vibrancy and vitality of the classical era. The poem uses references from Greek mythology and Renaissance intellectual life to create a contrast between the richness of these periods and the perceived mundanity of the contemporary world.

The poem's narrator addresses an unnamed individual ("thou") who seems to belong to a time more connected with high culture and intellectual pursuit. The speaker imagines the addressee walking through the groves of the Academy in ancient Athens, a place of philosophical discourse, or engaging in conversation with Pico della Mirandola, a renowned Renaissance humanist, at Florence. The addressee is depicted as one who should have reveled in the rich intellectual and cultural life of these eras, not trapped in the dullness of the modern age.

Wilde employs allusion, vivid imagery, and metaphor to evoke the richness of the classical world and the Renaissance. He envisions his subject playing music for Pan, the Greek god of nature, in a lush pastoral setting, and he speaks of "white girls" in a "Phaeacian glade," referencing the mythical people who helped Odysseus in Homer's epic. These images create a sense of longing for the vibrancy and mythical charm of the past.

The volta or turn in the sonnet appears in line nine with "Ah! surely once," where the speaker posits the addressee as a reincarnation of an ancient soul, his "wan dust" once contained in an "urn of Attic clay." The speaker suggests that the addressee, disillusioned with the "sunless day" and "loveless lips" of the underworld, has returned to life. However, the modern world offers him little solace, for it is as "dull and vain" as the underworld itself.

The poem's context is deeply intertwined with Wilde's own life. Known for his flamboyant personality and penchant for aesthetic beauty, Wilde often found himself at odds with the rigidity and perceived mundanity of Victorian society.

In conclusion, "Phedre" is a compelling critique of the modern world, packed with classical and Renaissance references, where Wilde uses his brilliant command over language and his keen sense of imagery to create a vivid contrast between the past and the present. Through this sonnet, he communicates his yearning for the intellectual vitality and aesthetic richness of bygone eras, offering a critical commentary on the dullness and superficiality he perceives in the world around him.

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...