Poem Analysis - Rebirth

Introduction: A Contradictory Yearning

Rudyard Kipling's "Rebirth" presents a complex and somewhat cynical view of humanity's relationship with the past and the possibility of a clean slate. The poem contemplates hypothetical offers from a divine being to restore a pre-judgment world, erase the memory of suffering, or escape present lives. Initially, the allure of such offers seems undeniable, promising a return to innocence and peace. However, the poem quickly shifts in tone, revealing a stubborn, almost defiant acceptance of the present, flawed existence. Ultimately, the poem explores the paradoxical nature of human longing and the recognition of an inherent attachment to the reality that shapes us.

Kipling's World: War and Acceptance

While not explicitly stated, the context of Kipling's life, deeply entwined with the British Empire and the realities of war, likely informs the poem. Kipling witnessed firsthand the brutality and sacrifice demanded by conflict. This perspective might explain the poem's resignation to a "broke to blood / And the strict works of war" existence. The poem does not necessarily endorse war, but acknowledges its pervasive influence on the human condition, shaping people into beings of resilience and grim acceptance.

Theme 1: The Allure and Rejection of Innocence

A central theme is the allure and subsequent rejection of a return to a state of prelapsarian innocence. The first two stanzas paint a picture of almost irresistible gifts: a world restored before judgment and the erasure of all pain and suffering. The imagery of "lifting heart, eye, and hand in passion" and blessing "even to tears His loving-tenderness" evokes a powerful yearning for a utopian past. However, this yearning is swiftly subverted. The third stanza introduces the idea of escaping "these present deaths we live" and dying in "those lost lives we lived ere we were born." This offer is met with scorn, suggesting a rejection of a naive, pre-experiential state. The poem suggests that the experiences, both positive and negative, are essential for the human condition. The contrast between the initial longing and the ultimate rejection underscores the paradoxical human desire for both paradise and the lessons learned through adversity.

Theme 2: Acceptance of a Flawed Reality

Following the rejection of a return to innocence, the poem develops the theme of accepting, even embracing, a flawed reality. The lines "For we are what we are-- / So broke to blood / And the strict works of war-- / So long subdued / To sacrifice" articulate a powerful acceptance of the present. The phrase "broke to blood" is particularly evocative, suggesting a deep and lasting impact of violence and hardship. However, there is no lament here, but a statement of fact. The tone shifts from longing to resignation, indicating a willingness to bear the weight of experience. This acceptance implies that these experiences, however painful, have shaped humanity into what it is, and there is a certain identity and perhaps even strength found within the acceptance of reality. The "strict works of war" have become so ingrained that even death itself barely gets a second glance.

Theme 3: The Fascination with the Past

Despite the rejection of a wholesale return to the past, the poem acknowledges a continued fascination with it. The final stanza states, "Yet we were what we were, / And, fashioned so, / It pleases us to stare / At the far show / Of unbelievable years and shapes that flit, / In our own likeness, on the edge of it." The "far show" represents a distant, almost unreal, vision of the past. The phrase "unbelievable years" suggests that the past is so different from the present that it is difficult to comprehend. The imagery of "shapes that flit" evokes a sense of fleeting, insubstantial figures, hinting at the elusive nature of memory. Yet, despite its distance and unreality, the poem affirms that it is pleasing to stare at the past. This fascination stems from a recognition that the past, however different, holds the key to understanding the present. The appearance of "our own likeness" in those bygone years reminds us of the lineage we share with those who came before us, even if their lives are ultimately beyond recovery.

Symbolism: The "God" as a Representation of Choice

The recurring "God" figure symbolizes potential choices or hypothetical scenarios presented to humanity. This "God" doesn't necessarily represent a specific deity, but rather the possibility of altering the course of history or individual experience. The offers made by this figure—restoration, erasure, escape—are all temptations to abandon the present for a different reality. The rejection of these offers suggests a rejection of the notion that a better world can be achieved by simply erasing or escaping the past. This interpretation can be understood as a defense of sorts, of the necessity to live and learn from everything experience brings to a life, rather than retreating to fantasy or a previous status.

Conclusion: The Weight of Experience and the Burden of Identity

"Rebirth" ultimately explores the complex relationship between humanity and its past, present, and potential future. While the poem acknowledges the allure of a return to innocence and the erasure of suffering, it ultimately champions the acceptance of a flawed reality. The poem suggests that humanity's identity is inextricably linked to its experiences, both good and bad, and that a wholesale rejection of the past would be a rejection of the very essence of what it means to be human. The poem's significance lies in its unflinching honesty about the human condition, its recognition of the burden of experience, and its somewhat reluctant, yet profound, acceptance of the present, with all of its imperfections. The final image of humanity staring "at the far show" implies that humans can never truly escape the past, but it can, and perhaps even should, stare at it.