How does Alfred Tennyson handle nature in In Memoriam.

Initial Indifference and the Pain of Loss

In the early stages of grief, Tennyson portrays nature as strikingly indifferent to human sorrow. The natural world continues its cycles of beauty and renewal, seemingly oblivious to the speaker’s profound loss. This indifference intensifies the speaker’s pain, highlighting the disparity between the permanence of nature and the transience of human life. For example, in sections like IV and V, the descriptions of the changing seasons – the “frosty breath” of winter and the “tender green” of spring – are juxtaposed with the speaker’s unyielding grief. This contrast emphasizes the isolating nature of his sorrow. The natural world doesn’t offer immediate comfort; instead, it serves as a painful reminder of what has been lost.

Nature as a Mirror of the Speaker’s Psyche

As the poem progresses, Tennyson increasingly uses nature as a mirror reflecting the speaker’s internal state. The landscape becomes imbued with his emotions, and natural phenomena symbolize his fluctuating moods. Dark, desolate landscapes often correspond to periods of intense despair and doubt, while moments of tranquility in nature coincide with fleeting glimpses of hope. Consider the imagery of the sea, which appears repeatedly throughout *In Memoriam*. The sea’s vastness and unpredictable nature reflect the speaker’s own feelings of uncertainty and the overwhelming scale of his grief. The ebb and flow of the tides can be interpreted as symbolic of the speaker’s emotional fluctuations.

The Consolatory Power of Nature

Gradually, nature begins to offer a measure of consolation. The speaker finds solace in observing the natural world’s inherent order and beauty. The cyclical patterns of nature – birth, death, and rebirth – suggest a larger, divine plan that transcends individual loss. Tennyson’s detailed descriptions of flowers, birdsong, and the changing light demonstrate a growing appreciation for the inherent value of the natural world. In section XXIX, the speaker observes a “sweet, unbidden guest” – a flower – and finds a momentary respite from his grief. This suggests that even in the midst of sorrow, beauty and joy can still be found in nature. The poem’s frequent references to gardens and cultivated landscapes also suggest a human attempt to impose order and meaning onto the natural world, mirroring the speaker’s own struggle to find meaning in the face of loss.

Nature and the Divine

Ultimately, Tennyson connects nature to the divine. He suggests that God is immanent in the natural world, and that through observing nature, one can gain a deeper understanding of God’s presence and purpose. The poem’s later sections emphasize the interconnectedness of all things, and the idea that nature is a manifestation of God’s creative power. The speaker’s eventual acceptance of Hallam’s death is linked to his realization that Hallam has become one with the larger cosmic order, a part of the eternal cycle of life and death that is reflected in nature. The poem’s concluding lines, with their emphasis on faith and hope, suggest that nature has played a crucial role in guiding the speaker towards spiritual reconciliation.

Specific Poetic Devices

• Personification: Tennyson frequently personifies nature, attributing human qualities to natural elements. This creates a sense of intimacy and allows the speaker to engage with nature on a more emotional level.
• Symbolism: Natural elements are often used symbolically to represent abstract concepts such as grief, hope, and faith.
• Imagery: Vivid and detailed imagery is used to evoke a strong sensory experience of the natural world.
• Musicality: Tennyson’s masterful use of rhythm and rhyme creates a lyrical quality that enhances the poem’s emotional impact.