Poem Analysis - The Divine Right Of Kings

A Love-Struck Monarchist

Edgar Allan Poe's "The Divine Right Of Kings" is a short, intensely focused love poem that uses the language of monarchy to express the speaker's complete devotion to a woman named Ellen King. The poem is lighthearted and reverent, almost playful in its hyperbole. While the poem initially uses terms of political power, it quickly shifts to a more intimate focus on the virtues and beauty of the beloved. There isn't a significant shift in mood, but rather a consistent tone of awed admiration.

The Tyranny of Virtue

One of the central themes is, of course, love. The speaker isn't just in love; he's utterly enthralled, willing to relinquish all desire for freedom to be bound by the "glorious chains" of her affection. The poem also plays with the theme of power and submission. The speaker casts Ellen as a monarch, a "king by right divine," and himself as her willing subject. However, this power dynamic is not presented as oppressive, but rather as a source of joy and fulfillment for the speaker. Further, the poem explores idealization. Ellen is not presented as a flawed human being, but rather as a paragon of "tyrant virtue," a force so inherently good that it suppresses any potential vice.

Ivory Towers and Governing Hearts

The poem employs powerful imagery, the most striking being "Her bosom is an ivory throne." This image conflates the sensual with the political, suggesting that Ellen's physical presence is inherently regal and commanding. The "ivory throne" symbolizes purity, beauty, and authority. The phrase "tyrant virtue" is another potent image, a seeming paradox that highlights the absolute and uncompromising nature of Ellen's goodness. Vice is not simply absent; it is actively suppressed by her overwhelming virtue. The image of "glorious chains" also stands out, representing the speaker's willing submission. The "chains" are typically associated with oppression, but here they are glorified, suggesting that love's bonds are a source of joy and freedom from the need for striving.

A King Who Can Do No Wrong (in Love)

The final line, "The King — my King — can do no wrong," is a direct reference to the historical and political concept of the divine right of kings, which claimed that monarchs derived their authority from God and were therefore infallible. By applying this concept to Ellen, the speaker elevates her to a position of untouchable perfection. This also reflects an idealization of the lover. This line could also be interpreted as blind devotion; the speaker may be consciously ignoring any flaws in his beloved, willing to overlook any perceived imperfections in the name of love. What truly is being offered is a complete and uncritical devotion.

Love's Absolute Monarchy

"The Divine Right Of Kings" is a compelling exploration of love as a form of willing submission and adoration. Through vivid imagery and hyperbolic language, Poe constructs a world where love is a kingdom and the beloved is its absolute ruler. The poem's lasting significance lies in its ability to capture the feeling of utter devotion and idealization that often accompanies intense romantic love, presenting it as a force that transcends reason and embraces the glorious "chains" of affection.