The poem “Lotus Eaters”
is written by Alfred Lord Tennyson. Tennyson was a leading poet of the
Victorian Age and is known for his exquisite representation of the age.
Similarly, in his poem Lotus Eaters, the literary trends of his age are
prominent. Firstly, at that time literature was used for social reforms. The
poets used to show the moral problems that were predominant at that time.
Similarly, this poem by Tennyson deals with realism; discussing the frailty and
idleness of human nature. It also deals with how humans give in to the
temptations offered to them; are running away from their responsibilities and
are deceiving themselves.
Like how in the poem they declared the “We will return no more”.
Secondly, it was the
age of revolt. Many poets including Tennyson were against this prevailing
industrialization and sought refuge in post romanticism like how the mariners
sought refuge in the land of Lotus Eaters and stayed there.
Thirdly, at that time
due to advancements of science people were going away from religion and were
finding answers using different scientific approaches. They believed in facts
and were curious about the things that existed in nature. This curiosity is
depicted in the form of escapism of the mariners to an unknown land. Also, an
inversion of the biblical story (Fall of Man from the Garden of Eden) is
present in this poem. In the book of Genesis, the forbidden Fruit was the
reason for the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden and the reason
for mortality. But in this poem, this fruit provides a release from worldly
discomfort.
The mariners when ate
the lotus flower they lost all their desires to go home as they forgot all
about their sufferings due to “the gushing of the wave”.
Fourthly, the use of
mythological and historical; allusions are also present. The story of the Lotus
Eaters comes from Homer’s The Odyssey and in structure from Oenone and The
Hesperides.
Fifthly, the pains and
sufferings of the people are an essential part of Victorian Poetry. Due to the
Industrial revolution and advancement in the Victorian Era, there was also an
increase in social problems such as poverty, unemployment, and death. The poets
and writers of that era eventually showed these sufferings in their poetry with
hope of optimism. Similarly, in this poem, there is a strain of suffering,
melancholy, and death but with optimism.
Lastly, the Victorian
poets used techniques such as imagery, sentimentality, many sensory devices,
and musical chorus in developing the poem. All of these features are prominent
in this poem. For instance, in this poem excellent use of visual imagery is
there to provide artistic sense:
“A land of streams!
some, like a downward smoke,
Slow-dropping veils of
thinnest lawn did go
And some thro' wavering
lights and shadows broke,
Rolling a slumbrous
sheet of foam below.
They saw the gleaming
river seaward flow
From the inner land:
far off, three mountain-tops,”
The poem Lotus Eaters by Alfred Tennyson presents a conflict between responsibility and pleasure; it presents a never-ending struggle for achievement and is an exemplary Victorian poem because of its structure, themes, style, and techniques.
