The
Complaint Of Ninathoma
by
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
(Poem, Summary, & Analysis)
The
Complaint Of Ninathoma
How
long will ye round me be swelling,
O ye
blue-tumbling waves of the sea?
Not
always in caves was my dwelling,
Nor
beneath the cold blast of the tree.
Thro'
the high-sounding halls of Cathlóma
In
the steps of my beauty I stray'd;
The
warriors beheld Ninathóma,
And
they blessèd the white-bosomed maid!
A
ghost! by my cavern it darted!
In
moon-beams the spirit was drest--
For
lovely appear the departed
When
they visit the dreams of my rest!
But
disturbed by the tempest's commotion
Fleet
the shadowy forms of delight--
Ah,
cease, thou shrill blast of the ocean!
To
howl through my cavern by night.
Summary
The
poem opens with Ninathóma, a sorrowful maiden, addressing the waves of the sea.
She laments their constant swelling and roaring around her and reflects that
she was not always confined to such desolate surroundings like sea caves or
cold, windy trees. She remembers her past life in Cathlóma, where she walked
proudly through the noble halls, admired for her beauty. The warriors of that
land looked upon her and praised her as a fair and graceful maiden—“the
white-bosomed maid.”
Ninathóma
continues by mourning the loss of that happy and dignified life. She was once
surrounded by honor and admiration, but now she finds herself alone and
forsaken. The sound of the sea seems to mock her misery. She contrasts her past
with her present—before, she was in palaces and among brave warriors; now, she
hides in the wilderness, unseen and unheard.
She
speaks of her love for a warrior, whose fate now causes her grief. He is gone,
and she suspects he has been slain. His silence, absence, and the pain in her
heart tell her he is no more. She calls out to him, longing to know if he can
still hear her from the grave. The poem conveys her emotional turmoil—hope
battling despair, memory colliding with sorrow.
Ninathóma
then expresses her deep desire to be reunited with her lost love, even in
death. She wishes to be buried by his side, to rest with him in the earth. If
the sea had taken him, she yearns for the waves to carry her to him. Her soul
longs not just for peace but for reunion.
The
poem ends with a strong feeling of isolation and grief. Ninathóma’s voice,
filled with longing and lament, echoes the themes of love, loss, and the
enduring ache of memory. The sea, the cold winds, and the silent wilderness
serve as symbols of her desolation.
Analysis
in Detail
1.
Introduction and Context
"The
Complaint of Ninathóma" is a short lyrical poem by Samuel Taylor
Coleridge, first published in 1796. It is a part of his early poetic
experiments influenced by the sentimental and melancholic style of the Ossianic
poems, which were then (though later found to be forgeries) believed to be the
ancient works of a Gaelic bard named Ossian. Coleridge imitates this mythical
style to create a poetic monologue filled with sorrow, nostalgia, and longing.
2.
Speaker and Setting
The
speaker is Ninathóma, a young woman lamenting the loss of her beloved warrior
and the fall from her once-glorious life. She is likely situated near the sea,
surrounded by nature in its wildest, most untamed form—roaring waves, cold
winds, and solitude. The physical setting reflects her emotional state:
turbulent, forlorn, and exposed.
3.
Themes
a)
Love and Loss
The
central theme of the poem is a deep, painful love, overshadowed by separation
and presumed death. Ninathóma mourns not only the absence of her beloved but
also the complete loss of the life she once knew with him. The emotional void
is intensified by her isolation in the present.
b)
Nostalgia and Fallen Glory
Ninathóma
recalls walking in “the high-sounding halls of Cathlóma,” where she was admired
and honored. This vivid memory of past splendor contrasts starkly with her
present state, emphasizing how far she has fallen. The glory of the past haunts
her, making the present more bitter.
c)
Nature and the Sublime
The
natural elements—the “blue-tumbling waves,” “cold blast of the tree,” and the
wilderness—are not comforting; instead, they become overwhelming and echo her
internal grief. Coleridge uses nature in a Romantic sense, not as a gentle
force but as a sublime, powerful, and often indifferent one.
d)
Death and Reunion
There
is an underlying yearning for death, not out of despair alone, but as a means
to reunite with her beloved. The poem reflects the Romantic ideal of
transcending mortal separation through a spiritual or eternal union.
4.
Tone and Mood
The
tone is mournful, reflective, and deeply emotional. Ninathóma’s “complaint” is
not angry or accusatory but sorrowful and full of longing. The mood is haunting
and melancholic, invoking both pity and admiration for her unwavering love.
5.
Structure and Form
The
poem is written in lyrical stanzas, though not with strict metrical
consistency. Its musical rhythm and sound reinforce its elegiac nature.
Coleridge employs enjambment, repetition, and alliteration to create a flowing,
musical quality appropriate for a lament.
6.
Language and Literary Devices
a)
Imagery
Vivid
imagery abounds—“blue-tumbling waves,” “white-bosomed maid,” “cold blast of the
tree”—which paints a stark contrast between her current environment and her
past. These visual elements reinforce the emotional chasm between memory and
reality.
b)
Contrast
One
of the poem’s most powerful techniques is contrast. The grandeur of Cathlóma
versus the wilderness. Admiration versus abandonment. Life versus presumed
death.
c)
Symbolism
The
sea symbolizes both separation and connection—a barrier to her beloved and a
potential pathway to him.
Nature
becomes symbolic of her internal chaos and grief.
White
bosom may symbolize purity and idealized femininity, a common Romantic motif.
d)
Apostrophe and Direct Address
Ninathóma
directly addresses the sea and her lost love, making the poem feel intimate and
immediate. These rhetorical questions and appeals heighten the emotional
intensity.
7.
Romantic Elements
This
poem is a fine example of Romantic poetry:
Emphasis
on emotion and individual experience.
Use
of nature as a reflection of the soul.
A
sense of the sublime—nature’s vastness as overwhelming.
A
longing for the past and the ideal.
Deep
appreciation of personal grief and inner truth.
8.
Influence of Ossianic Tradition
Coleridge
adopts the Ossianic style—mythical names (Cathlóma, Ninathóma), tragic
heroines, heroic warriors, and misty landscapes—to create a sense of timeless
sorrow. This stylistic influence adds a layer of romanticized melancholy and
exoticism.
9.
Final Impression
"The
Complaint of Ninathóma" captures a moment of deep personal grief through
lyrical expression. Though short, it encapsulates vast emotional
territory—love, memory, longing, and the desire for reunion beyond death. It
resonates with the Romantic ideal of the heart’s eternal yearning and the
beauty found even in sorrow.
){kind=link}
0 Comments