Poem Analysis - The Dole Of The Kings Daughter

Initial Impression and Tone

The poem The Dole Of The King's Daughter by Oscar Wilde presents a dark and haunting narrative, blending elements of romance, violence, and mystery. The tone shifts from a serene and almost lyrical beginning to a grim and foreboding conclusion. The poem's language is rich and evocative, creating a vivid and unsettling atmosphere. The narrative structure, which unfolds like a tragic tale, draws the reader into a world of hidden sins and fatal consequences. The use of repetition and vivid imagery enhances the poem's eerie and melancholic mood.

Themes of Sin, Guilt, and Redemption

The poem explores the theme of sin and its consequences, particularly through the character of the King's daughter. The opening lines establish her guilt with the phrase seven sins on the King's daughter, deep in her soul to lie. This sets the stage for a narrative of moral decay and the inevitable repercussions of sinful actions. The repetition of the number seven, a number often associated with completeness or perfection in religious contexts, underscores the depth and gravity of her sins. The final lines reinforce this theme, emphasizing the irredeemable nature of her transgressions with the sins on her soul are seven.

Themes of Love and Betrayal

The theme of love and betrayal is woven throughout the poem, particularly in the contrast between the knight who lieth slain and the page who lieth there. The knight's death is described in a romanticized manner, with the phrase Fair is the knight who lieth slain, suggesting a tragic heroism. In contrast, the page's death is more brutal and stark, with the black ravens in the air, black, O black as the night are they. This contrast highlights the themes of love and betrayal, as the knight's death seems more noble and the page's more senseless. The final lines introduce a man who loves her true, but his actions, digging a grave by the darksome yew, suggest a twisted form of love that leads to further violence and death.

Recurring Symbols and Imagery

The poem is rich with vivid imagery and recurring symbols that contribute to its overall message. The red roses, which appear in multiple stanzas, symbolize both love and blood, tying together the themes of romance and violence. The red roses are at her feet and hidden where her bosom and girdle meet, suggesting a deep and dangerous passion. The red roses also appear in the context of death, with the phrase red roses are hidden there, linking love and mortality. The black ravens and lean fishes that feed on the dead further emphasize the theme of mortality and the inevitability of death. The black ravens in the air, black, O black as the night are they, create a stark and ominous image, reinforcing the poem's dark tone. The darksome yew, a tree often associated with death and mourning, underscores the finality of the characters' fates. The absence of the moon in the still heaven and in the black water none, adds to the sense of despair and hopelessness, suggesting a world devoid of redemption or light.

Conclusion

The Dole Of The King's Daughter is a complex and haunting exploration of sin, love, and mortality. Through vivid imagery and recurring symbols, Wilde weaves a narrative that is both beautiful and chilling. The poem's shifting tone and rich language create a powerful atmosphere, drawing the reader into a world of hidden sins and fatal consequences. The final lines leave the reader with a sense of irredeemable guilt and the inevitability of death, underscoring the poem's dark and tragic themes. The poem's significance lies in its ability to evoke deep emotions and provoke thought about the consequences of our actions and the nature of love and betrayal.