le="text-align: center;">
I will abroad!”
This image of hitting the table clearly shows anger and frustration. The speaker is not happy with his life restricted by religion. He says his life should be “free as the road” and “loose as the wind.” These two images of the free road and loose wind give us a picture of something open and free. These images show that the speaker wants to break away from all restrictions.
Harvest, Thorn, Wine, and Corn: Herbert also uses farming imagery to show the speaker’s feeling of disappointment. The speaker asks if he has “no harvest but a thorn.” A harvest is the reward a farmer gets after working hard. A thorn is something painful. This image shows the speaker’s frustration. He feels that he only gets pain in return for his religious duties. The speaker also says:
“Sure there was wine
Before my sighs did dry it; there was corn
Before my tears did drown it.”
He says there was “wine” (pleasure) and “corn” (blessings) in his life. But the wine and corn are now ruined. These images show that the speaker’s life is now empty. He only feels guilt and sorrow.
Flowers, Garlands, Bays: The speaker also talks about flowers, garlands, and bays. He asks if the flowers and garlands are wasted.
“No flowers, no garlands gay?...
All wasted?”
Flowers, garlands, and bays are used for decoration. These are symbols of honor and success. The image of the wasted flowers shows that the speaker feels no honor or joy. He only feels burdened by his religious life. Herbert’s use of these simple images helps us see the speaker’s sadness.
Cage and Rope of Sands: The poet then uses two powerful images to show how trapped the speaker feels. We get the images of a “cage” and “rope of sands.” Here, the speaker is comparing his religious life to a bird trapped in a cage. He wants to leave this cage. As he says:
“Forsake thy cage,
Thy rope of sands.”
A rope is used to tie something. A rope made of sand is a false or weak thing. This rope image is very deep. Though the speaker feels religion is false, he is struggling to break free. So, this image shows that the speaker is stuck between his duty and desire.
The Word “Child”: The entire poem changes with the image of God’s voice. The speaker thinks God is calling him: “Child!” This voice is soft and full of kindness. The speaker’s heart changes completely. He replies: “My Lord.” The image of God’s soft voice shows that, even when we are angry and lost, God still forgives us.
In conclusion, Herbert’s imagery in “The Collar” is simple and very emotional. He uses images from everyday life to show the speaker’s spiritual struggle. These images make the poem easy to understand. They help us feel the speaker’s anger, sadness, and final peace.
Continue Reading
Subscribe to access the full content
Upgrade to Premium