Reason by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Poem, Summary, & Analysis)

 

Reason

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

(Poem, Summary, & Analysis) 

Reason

...Finally, what is Reason? You have often asked me; and this is my

answer:--

 

Whene'er the mist, that stands 'twixt God and thee,

[Sublimates] to a pure transparency,

That intercepts no light and adds no stain--

There Reason is, and then begins her reign!

 

But alas!

-----------'tu stesso, ti fai grosso

Col falso immaginar, sì che non vedi

Ciò che vedresti, se l'avessi scosso.'

(Dante, Paradiso, Canto 1, lines 88-90)

 

Summary of the Poem "Reason" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The poem "Reason" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge is a brief but profound exploration of the concept of reason and its role in human perception of the divine. It begins with Coleridge addressing an unnamed interlocutor who has often asked him to define what reason truly is. In response, Coleridge provides a poetic explanation of reason’s nature and function.

He describes a metaphorical mist that exists between God and the individual. This mist symbolizes the obstructions—such as ignorance, misconceptions, and flawed perceptions—that prevent a person from fully understanding divine truth. However, when this mist undergoes sublimation, meaning it transforms into a state of complete clarity and transparency, it no longer obstructs divine light nor distorts reality. At this moment, true reason is established, and it begins to govern human understanding.

Yet, immediately after defining reason in such an idealized way, Coleridge introduces a note of lamentation with the phrase "But alas!" This signals a shift in tone, implying that this pure state of reason is rarely achieved. He follows this with a quote in Italian from Dante’s Inferno, which translates to:

"You yourself make the thick darkness with false imaginings,

So that you do not see what you would have seen,

Had you cast them off."

This quotation from Dante reinforces the idea that human beings often cloud their own perception with falsehoods and illusions, making it difficult for them to recognize truth even when it is within reach.

In summary, Coleridge defines reason as a state of perfect intellectual and spiritual clarity, where no falsehood or distortion clouds the perception of divine truth. However, he acknowledges that such clarity is rarely attained because individuals burden themselves with misconceptions and illusions, preventing them from seeing reality as it is.

 

Analysis in Detail

Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem Reason is a compact yet profound meditation on the nature of human understanding and its relationship with divine truth. Through a metaphorical exploration of perception and clarity, Coleridge distinguishes between true reason and the mental obstructions that prevent its full realization. His use of imagery, philosophical concepts, and intertextual reference to Dante’s Inferno enhances the depth of meaning in the poem.

 

1. The Definition of Reason

The poem begins with Coleridge responding to a recurring question: What is reason? Instead of offering a conventional definition rooted in logic or empirical understanding, he provides a highly spiritual and metaphysical explanation.

"Whene'er the mist, that stands 'twixt God and thee,

[Sublimates] to a pure transparency,

That intercepts no light and adds no stain—

There Reason is, and then begins her reign!"

Here, reason is not merely rational thought or intellectual capability; it is a state of pure perception and divine clarity. The “mist” that stands between God and the individual represents the obstacles—ignorance, flawed assumptions, or material distractions—that distort human understanding of the divine. However, when this mist sublimates (a term from chemistry meaning a transition from solid to gas without passing through a liquid state), it transforms into "pure transparency." This suggests an elevated form of enlightenment where human perception becomes perfectly clear, free from any distortion.

In this purified state, reason is not something actively achieved through effort but rather a natural state of being. It is an unveiling of truth rather than an intellectual construction. Once the mist disappears, reason “begins her reign,” implying that it is only in this condition of absolute clarity that true reason exists and governs thought.

 

2. The Inevitable Human Struggle with False Perception

After presenting this idealized vision of reason, Coleridge abruptly shifts tone with "But alas!" This signals a realization that the purity of reason is rarely achieved in reality.

-----------'tu stesso, ti fai grosso

Col falso immaginar, sì che non vedi

Ciò che vedresti, se l'avessi scosso.'

This passage, quoted from Dante’s Inferno (Canto XXX, lines 125–127), translates roughly to:

"You yourself make the thick darkness with false imaginings,

So that you do not see what you would have seen,

Had you cast them off."

By incorporating Dante, Coleridge emphasizes that human beings are responsible for their own intellectual and spiritual blindness. “False imaginings” refer to misconceptions, prejudices, and self-deceptions that obscure truth. Instead of reason being naturally obscured by external forces, it is the individual who thickens the mist, making it harder to see divine reality.

This suggests a tragic irony: while reason is within reach, people fail to attain it because they actively construct barriers through their flawed perceptions. Had they simply removed these illusions, they would have been able to see the truth clearly.

 

3. Themes Explored in the Poem

A. Reason as Divine Illumination

Coleridge’s portrayal of reason aligns with the Romantic and transcendental understanding of knowledge—not as mere logic but as a profound spiritual clarity. He suggests that true reason is not something created but rather something revealed when mental obstructions are removed. This contrasts with Enlightenment thinkers who saw reason primarily as a faculty of the mind engaged in rational deduction.

 

B. The Role of Human Imagination in Distorting Truth

The reference to Dante underscores the idea that human beings are their own worst enemies in perceiving divine truth. The mist between God and man is self-created through false perceptions, fears, and attachments. This aligns with Coleridge’s broader philosophical views on self-deception and the limitations of human understanding.

 

C. The Struggle Between Enlightenment and Ignorance

The poem suggests that while reason is an ideal state of clarity, achieving it requires overcoming deeply ingrained illusions. This reflects a universal struggle in which truth remains elusive due to human limitations.

 

4. Literary and Stylistic Devices Used

A. Metaphor of the Mist

The mist is a central symbol in the poem, representing the clouding of human perception. Its sublimation into transparency suggests a transformative process, aligning with mystical and transcendentalist ideas of enlightenment.

 

B. Personification of Reason

Reason is given personified authority in the phrase “then begins her reign”, implying that it is not simply a faculty but a governing force that can only rule once truth is fully revealed.

 

C. Intertextuality with Dante

By quoting Inferno, Coleridge connects his ideas with a long-standing philosophical and theological tradition. Dante’s words reinforce the idea that false beliefs, rather than external forces, are the primary barriers to enlightenment.

 

5. Conclusion: Coleridge’s Vision of Reason

Coleridge presents a deeply spiritual and metaphysical understanding of reason, one that transcends conventional definitions of logic or intellect. For him, reason is not about argumentation but about perceiving divine truth with absolute clarity. However, he also acknowledges that such clarity is rare because people trap themselves in false perceptions, much like the souls in Dante’s Inferno.

The poem ultimately reflects Romantic idealism, suggesting that true reason is not something that can be constructed but rather something that must be uncovered by removing the self-imposed mist of illusion.