Remorse
written in 1784
Remorse - meaning Summary
Remorse as Worst Pain
Burns' 'Remorse' reflects on guilt as the most corrosive human suffering. The speaker argues that misfortune can be borne, but self-inflicted folly or harm to others produces a persistent, torturing conscience. Remorse is pictured as a gnawing, inescapable pain that can compound when the loved ones we have hurt are innocent. The poem asks whether any person can fully reason away such anguish, asserting that true relief requires genuine purpose of amendment. It closes by admiring the rare, magnanimous soul able to confront guilt and achieve firm, lasting peace.
Read Complete AnalysesOf all the numerous ills that hurt our peace; That press the soul, or wring the mind with anguish; Beyond comparison the worst are those That to our Folly, or our Guilt we owe. In ev'ry other circumstance, the mind Has this to say, It was no deed of mine: But, when to all the evil of misfortune This sting is added, blame thy foolish self; Or worser far, the pangs of keen remorse: The tort'ring, gnawing consciousness of guilt Of guilt, perhaps, where we've involved others; The young, the innocent, who fondly lov'd us: Nay more, that very love their cause of ruin O! burning Hell! in all thy store of torments There's not a keener LASH Lives there a man so firm who, while his heart Feels all the bitter horrors of his crime, Can reason down its agonizing throbs, And, after proper purpose of amendment, Can firmly force his jarring thoughts to peace? O happy, happy, enviable man! O glorious magnanimity of soul!
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