Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Dark Angel" is a poem by Lionel Johnson, an English poet who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Johnson was a member of the literary group known as the Rhymers' Club, which included other poets such as W.B. Yeats and Ernest Dowson. "The Dark Angel" was published in Johnson's collection of poems, "The Art of Thomas Hardy," in 1894.

The poem's title, "The Dark Angel," refers to the biblical figure of Lucifer, who is sometimes known as the "dark angel" or the "morning star." The poem is a reflection on the nature of evil and the struggle between good and evil within the human soul.

The poem opens with the speaker addressing the Dark Angel, acknowledging its aching lust and malicious nature. The speaker describes how the angel's presence corrupts and distorts everything, turning beauty into torment and transforming dreams into nightmares. The Dark Angel is portrayed as a tormentor, the adorner of the speaker's tomb, and the minstrel of their epitaph.

Despite the speaker's resistance and invocation of the Holy Name, there is a recognition that the Dark Angel's influence is intertwined with God's plan. The speaker acknowledges the struggle against this malevolent force, but also hints at the possibility of redemption and escape from its grasp.

The themes of the poem are:

The Malevolent Force: The poem introduces the Dark Angel as a malicious being, driven by an insatiable desire to rid the world of penitence. The Dark Angel symbolizes temptation, evil, and the internal struggle within the speaker's soul.

The Subversion of Beauty: The Dark Angel's presence distorts and corrupts the beauty in the world. The speaker laments how the angel's influence turns music into a tormenting fire and transforms the gracious Muses into Furies. The poem explores the idea of beauty being tainted by desire and twisted into a source of pain.

The Eternal Battle: The speaker acknowledges the constant battle against the Dark Angel, fighting in the name of the Holy, but also recognizing that the tempter's influence is intertwined with God's plan. The struggle between good and evil is portrayed as an eternal conflict within the speaker's soul.

The poem's language and imagery are notable for their use of religious symbolism and allusion. The dark angel is a reference to Lucifer, who is traditionally associated with pride and rebellion. The speaker's rejection of the dark angel's advances can be seen as a rejection of pride and a desire to remain humble and virtuous. The poem's use of religious imagery also emphasizes the idea that the struggle between good and evil is a fundamental part of the human experience.

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