Immortal Longing: Analysis of Tithonus by Alfred Lord Tennyson
The dramatic monologue "Tithonus" by Alfred Lord Tennyson explores the consequences of immortality without eternal youth. The poem delves into Tithonus' anguish as he continues to age while his beloved Aurora remains eternally youthful. Tithonus, trapped in cruel immortality, yearns for release from his perpetual suffering, questioning the value of living while others peacefully die. His plea to Aurora and the contrast between immortal age and eternal youth evoke poignant reflections on the nature of existence and the inevitability of mortality.
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Tithonus Alfred Lord Tennyson Form The poem is written in the form of dramatic monologue .It consists of seven paragraphs (blank verse). Each paragraph is section like which stands as a unit by itself.
Analysis The poem is based on a legend in which prince Tithonus received the gift of immortality from the gods at Aurora s request . Because Aurora , the goddess of dawn neglected to obtain for him the gift of eternal youth , Tithonus continued to grow old without the power to die until he turned into a grasshopper (legend) The woods decay , men work the land then die and lie beneath it and the swan dies after many years. Tithonus , however , lingers on in cruel immortality . He has become immortal , but he is old , withering in the arms of his beloved , Aurora on the eastern edge of the world and feeling much like a wandering shadow. He is now a white haired shadow in contrast to Aurora who is renewing her beauty and youth daily . He was once so glorious in his beauty, considering himself some sort of a god, and in being chosen by Aurora. He remembers that long ago he asked Aurora to grant him immortality and she did generously. She gives him immortality with a smile like(simile) a rich good hearted man who gives money for charity without thinking twice .
Analysis However , the goddesses Hours who accompany Aurora were angry that he was able to oppose death , so they come to torture him . They can not make him die but they make him suffer . He comes to regret losing his youth and is still aged and aged while Aurora is eternally young (contrast). So their experience is immortal age beside immortal youth . He asks if her love is enough to overcome this horror. He laments that why he should live while other men die and why he should be different from others. His desire then turns to be a curse.
Analysis When a soft breeze parts the clouds , Tithonus can see the Earth below . He catches sight of the dark world where he was born . He sees the glimmer in Aurora s brow , her cheeks reddening and her eyes brightening at the prospect of bringing dawn with her teams of horses which convert the twilight into fire. As he addresses Aurora , he asks her a question but she leaves before giving him an answer . Her eyes are full of tears and this leads him to ask why she scared him with tears on her cheeks . The constant renewal of dawn brings her to tears when she looks at Tithonus in contrast . Tithonus is afraid that it will be true that gods themselves can not recall their gifts . This means that his situation will continue forever . While he is suffering , he even says that those men, who are in the graves , enjoy their life and die peacefully . He comes to feel tired for growing old . It is not enough to be immortal , he is now only an image . He asks Aurora to release him by making him die . He feels he would be happier , much happier than to be immortal.
Analysis Tithonus asks Aurora to release him and restore him to mortality because his nature can never truly mix with hers. He experiences the coolness of rosy shadows while other men are still warmed by the day . Those men are happy and possess the power to die and even happier in death . By letting him go , she would still be able to see his grave eternally . By returning to earth , he would forget those empty courts , while she would continue to bring the dawn on her silver wheels.
