Commentary on The Sick Rose

                The Sick Rose is a short poem, one that lasts only two stanzas.  Within the first stanza Blake declares simply that the rose is sick.  He then describes the “invisible worm that flies in the night in the howling storm” which is perhaps a metaphor for marital discontent or perhaps it is a phallic reference to a secret suitor.  The second stanza talks of the rose’s “bed of crimson joy,” which can also symbolize a woman’s womb.  The worm’s love destroys the rose, which could be Blake’s commentary on virginal virtue or on love itself.

Commentary on My Pretty Rose Tree

William Blake’s My Pretty Rose Tree functions as a very short, ironic metaphor.  The first stanza describes Blake rejecting a flower (pretty young girl) as he has a pretty rose tree (his wife) at home.  The second stanza tells of Blake tending to his rose tree day and night, only to have her turn away from him in jealousy.  He ends the poem by stating that “her thorns were my only delight,” completing the irony of his decision of chastity.

Commentary on Christabel

            The poem opens in the middle of the night with the owls waking the rooster.  The second stanza then describes Sir Leoline’s old female mastiff which barks at every quarter of an hour and every hour.  The local legends say she might see the narrator’s wife/fiancé’s shroud.  The third stanza gives us the time of year, early in the April spring and at night.  The fourth stanza tells of the narrator’s reason for being outside:  he or she is waiting for Christabel, who went into the midnight forest to pray for the well-being of her lover who is far away.  Christabel then kneels beneath an oak covered in nothing but moss and mistletoe and begins to pray; something then seems to call her name and she jumps up to find out what is on the other side of the oak tree.  She wonders if it is the wind and notices that the wind is not even strong enough to pull down the last red leaf on the oak tree.  After calming herself Christabel notices a woman dressed completely in white with no shoes and jewels in her hair.  This lady is extremely beautiful and Christabel cries to Mary to save her, then asks who this lady is.  The lady beckons to Christabel and then explains that she is a noblewoman named Geraldine who was captured yesterday by five men.  These five men tied her to a palfrey and chased after it, untying her after they caught it.  One of the men laid her underneath an oak and said they would return; Geraldine then asks Christabel to help her flee.  Christabel agrees and helps her through the gate, for she cannot cross it herself.  She then asks Geraldine to sleep with her that night as to assure her safety.  Christabel thanks the Virgin, but Geraldine does not, signifying something is different about Geraldine.  As if to corroborate this, the mastiff is sick and growls at Christabel, which she has not done before.  They continue through the dark halls, each ember relighting when the ladies pass.  Geraldine notices her father’s shield and warns to be quiet as her father does not sleep well.  The Baron’s room is “as still as death with stifled breath,” and when Geraldine reaches the room she falls onto the floor.  Christabel trims the lamp and asks Geraldine to drink some of her mother’s wine.  Geraldine asks Christabel if her mother will pity this “forlorn maiden” and Christabel goes on to tell of how her mother died when she was born.  Geraldine then seems to see Christabel’s mother which prompts Christabel to give her more wine.  Geraldine seems to regain her strength and as she stands asks Christabel to undress and get into bed.  While in bed Christabel looks upon Geraldine and notices a defect on her, marking her as a witch.  This horrifies Christabel, who can only look on and accept defeat as she willingly invited the witch into her house.  The conclusion of Part 1 is the narrator’s commentary on Geraldine’s trickery; he says that while Geraldine has charmed Christabel, the sky covers us all and we are all subject to justice if we call upon it.  Part 2 begins with the narrator quoting the Baron and remarking that the Baron will say that quote for many mornings until his dying day.  The origin of the custom of the sacristan ringing morning bells while counting/praying at the same time is recounted and then commentary on that custom by Bracy the Bard is recounted.  Bracy’s commentary tells of the three ghosts trapped who echo the bells and the final “merry peal” shouted back by the devil.  In the present, the final peal rings in the air and Geraldine wakes to it, signifying her satanic connection.  She wakes Christabel, who sees only the woman she rescued last night and quickly prays to Christ that he might wash away her unknown sins.  Both women then go to meet Sir Leoline.  Sir Leoline is attracted to Geraldine, but is repulsed when he learns her “father’s” name:  Lord Roland de Vaux of Tryermaine.  The narrator guesses that Leoline and Tryermaine were friends who said choice words about each other and never fixed their relationship.  The Baron (Leoline) then declares with much righteous anger that he shall avenge the harm done to Geraldine and will give the traitors one week to appear in his tournament arena.  The Baron then hugs Geraldine, who gives a look to Christabel.  This gives Christabel a vision of the night before and Geraldine’s true form, which Leoline notices.  Christabel attempts to tell him but cannot for the spell is too strong.  Leoline is entranced by Geraldine and sees her as nothing less than divine.  Geraldine then prays to be sent home, but Leoline decides against it and sends the narrator, Bracy the Bard, in her place.  The Baron tells of the song Bracy will sing, one of reconciliation, joy, and renewed friendship between the Baron and Tryermaine.  Bracy asks him not to go as he has had a dream in which he must save a dove (Christabel) from a snake hidden and coiled around its neck (Geraldine.)  This danger is in the grove and as such Bracy asks him to stay at the castle.  Leoline takes the dove to be Geraldine, enraptured as he is by her.  Geraldine casts a look at Christabel that causes Christabel to become dizzy and entranced.  The next stanza describes Geraldine’s eyes as those of a snake and has Christabel asking her father to send away Geraldine, for she can muster no more truth under the spell.  Bracy then has an inner monologue in the next stanza, pleading with the Baron’s sensibilities to not hurt his only child, who is innocent and wishes no harm.  Bracy then says that if the Baron thought any of not hurting his child it only fueled his anger as he was now dishonored in old age, in his daughter, and in his hospitality.  This causes the Baron to yell at Bracy and to lead Geraldine away from Christabel.  The conclusion to Part 2 is Bracy’s commentary that perhaps excess love leads to hurtful words that are not meant being said.  He then muses on why humans like to juxtapose such emotions; “to dally with wrong that does no harm.”  He ends the conclusion by asking in a lamenting voice what if happiness and joy comes only from rage and pain.