Poem Analysis - In Praise Of Limestone

W.H. Auden's "In Praise of Limestone" is a complex meditation on landscape, human nature, and the search for a meaningful life. The poem's tone is initially celebratory, almost idyllic, as it describes the limestone landscape. However, this initial praise gradually shifts to a more critical and questioning perspective, acknowledging the limitations and potential dangers of such a seemingly perfect environment. The poem ends with a tentative affirmation, suggesting that the limestone landscape, despite its flaws, offers a glimpse of something akin to ideal love and a vision of the afterlife.

Limestone as a Reflection of Human Nature

One of the central themes of the poem is the connection between the limestone landscape and human nature. Auden suggests that the landscape, with its rounded slopes, hidden caves, and ever-flowing springs, mirrors the complexities and contradictions within ourselves. The "inconstant ones" are drawn to it because, like humans, it is subject to change and dissolution, symbolized by the limestone's tendency to dissolve in water. The landscape fosters a certain type of person – the "flirtatious male" – who is confident and charming, but perhaps also superficial. This figure thrives in an environment that offers readily available pleasures and demands little in the way of struggle or profound thought.

The Perils of a Too-Comfortable Existence

The poem also explores the potential pitfalls of a life lived in such an idyllic setting. The inhabitants of this limestone region, accustomed to ease and comfort, are depicted as being incapable of understanding true moral outrage or the complexities of faith. They have "never had to veil their faces in awe / Of a crater whose blazing fury could not be fixed." The poem suggests that this lack of hardship and challenge can lead to a kind of moral complacency, making it difficult for them to comprehend the motivations of those who "go to the bad." The limestone landscape, then, while beautiful and appealing, can also be seen as a stifling environment that prevents personal growth and a deeper understanding of the world.

The Allure of Extremes and the Poet's Dilemma

Auden contrasts the limestone landscape with other, more extreme environments: the "granite wastes," the "clays and gravels," and the "oceanic whisper." These landscapes represent different approaches to life, each with its own dangers and temptations. The granite wastes offer a harsh and unforgiving reality, while the clays and gravels promise power and domination. The ocean, on the other hand, offers a seductive escape into solitude and nihilism. The "best and worst" leave the limestone landscape in search of these extremes, suggesting a dissatisfaction with its limitations. The poet himself feels uneasy in this environment, as his "antimythological myth" is challenged by the "marble statues which so obviously doubt" him. He, like the other inhabitants, is caught between the desire for comfort and the need for something more.

A Glimmer of Hope and a Vision of the Afterlife

Despite the poem's critical examination of the limestone landscape, it ultimately offers a qualified affirmation. Auden suggests that this landscape, with its "modifications of matter into / Innocent athletes and gesticulating fountains," offers a glimpse of a possible afterlife, a realm of pure pleasure and innocent joy. The final lines of the poem connect the limestone landscape with a vision of "faultless love," suggesting that it represents a potential for harmony and fulfillment that is absent in the more extreme environments. The murmur of underground streams becomes a symbol of this enduring hope, a reminder that even in a world of limitations and imperfections, there is still the possibility of beauty, love, and redemption.