Poem Analysis - Paracelsus In Excelsis

Initial Impression and Tone

Ezra Pound's Paracelsus In Excelsis presents a speaker who has transcended human limitations, adopting a tone of detachment and superiority. The poem begins with a reflective and somewhat melancholic mood, as the speaker contemplates their new, formless existence. However, this shifts to a more assertive and confident tone as the speaker asserts their elevated status and the calm they have achieved. The poem's free verse form supports the theme of transcendence, allowing the words to flow freely and unconstrained, much like the speaker's new existence.

Themes of Transcendence and Detachment

The primary theme of Paracelsus In Excelsis is transcendence. The speaker has moved beyond human limitations, becoming a formless, elemental being. This is evident in lines such as Being no longer human, why should I Pretend humanity or don the frail attire? and We that are grown formless, rise above. The speaker's detachment from humanity is a result of their transcendence, and this detachment is a source of their newfound peace and calm. The speaker looks down on the turmoil of the human world, asserting that In us alone the element of calm. This theme is developed through the speaker's reflective tone and the imagery of rising above and becoming formless.

Imagery of Fluidity and Formlessness

The poem is rich with imagery of fluidity and formlessness, which contributes to the theme of transcendence. The speaker describes themselves as Fluids intangible that have been men, and as statues around whose high-risen base Some overflowing river is run mad. These images suggest a state of being that is not constrained by physical form, and that is in a constant state of flux. The river imagery also suggests a sense of power and force, as the river runs mad around the calm, formless statues. This imagery contributes to the overall message of the poem, which is that the speaker has achieved a state of being that is beyond human limitations, and that this state is a source of calm and peace.

The Mirror as a Symbol of Self-Awareness

The mirror is a recurring symbol in the poem, appearing in the line The mist goes from the mirror and I see. The mirror is often a symbol of self-awareness and introspection, and in this poem, it represents the speaker's realization of their new, formless existence. The mist going from the mirror suggests a clearing of vision, a moment of clarity in which the speaker sees their true nature. This moment of self-awareness is a turning point in the poem, marking the shift from reflection to assertion. The mirror also suggests a sense of duality, as the speaker looks at their reflection and sees both their human past and their formless present. This duality contributes to the overall theme of transcendence, as the speaker has moved beyond their human limitations but still retains a sense of their past self.

Conclusion

In Paracelsus In Excelsis, Ezra Pound explores the theme of transcendence through the voice of a speaker who has moved beyond human limitations. The poem's imagery of fluidity and formlessness, along with its use of the mirror as a symbol of self-awareness, contributes to this theme. The speaker's detachment from humanity is a result of their transcendence, and this detachment is a source of their newfound peace and calm. The poem's free verse form supports the theme of transcendence, allowing the words to flow freely and unconstrained, much like the speaker's new existence. Ultimately, the poem offers a vision of a state of being that is beyond human limitations, and that is a source of calm and peace.