Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In Arthur Rimbaud's poem "Young Couple," the poet crafts a surreal and somewhat disquieting tableau of domestic life. The room itself seems alive and uneasy, with "coffers and hutches" that offer "no place at all," and birthwort plants quivering with "hobgoblin gums." The poem unfurls as a tapestry of whimsical and eerie elements, invoking supernatural entities like "jinn" and "African fairy," as well as more familiar motifs such as "godmothers" and the newlywed couple. This mingling of the mundane with the magical establishes a space that is at once enchanting and unsettling.

While the opening lines describe a room open to a "turquoise sky," the sense of freedom this might imply is immediately negated by the constricting imagery of cramped furnishings and unsettling plant life. This tension between the expansive and the constrictive reflects the transitional and uncertain phase in the life of the young couple, poised between liberation and limitation.

The characters in this poem, including the godmothers, jinn, and the couple, are caught in "vain disorder and expense," their lives filled with chaotic elements that are both captivating and overwhelming. Intriguingly, the couple leaves the room "quite scatterbrained, and nothing done," as if trapped in a state of perpetual indecision or confusion. This suggests the complexities and challenges inherent in marriage, which carries its own set of magical expectations and harsh realities.

The poem contains supernatural figures like the "African fairy," "evil water sprites," and even the "holy white Ghosts of Bethlehem," signifying that both benign and malign influences are at play in shaping the couple's destiny. Rimbaud seems to highlight the precariousness of this new union, suggesting that it exists in a realm where varied forces, some beyond human control, interact to bring either harmony or discord.

A strong sense of foreboding comes in the latter part of the poem, where "even the evil water sprites come in," followed by the ominous note of having "the sly rat to cope with too." The "ignis fatuus," or will-o'-the-wisp, serves as a symbol for misleading attractions or illusions that might deviate the couple from their path. The poem closes with a plea for the "holy white Ghosts of Bethlehem" to "charm the blue of their window instead," as if beseeching a higher power to shield this young couple from the myriad uncertainties and dangers they face.

In "Young Couple," Rimbaud skilfully uses vivid and unsettling imagery to convey the tumultuous emotions and unpredictable factors that accompany the advent of marital life. By integrating everyday events with supernatural elements, the poet enriches the narrative with layers of complexity, thereby painting a multifaceted portrait of love, commitment, and the unpredictable interplay of forces that govern human existence. The poem does not provide resolutions but rather lays bare the intricate and often disorienting web of life's possibilities, making it an evocative exploration of the human condition.

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