In the poem, God’s Grandeur, the title refers to part of the message that Hopkins is trying to convey in that he is obviously affected by his faith because he sees God’s presence in nature. Like in scripture it says, you do not see the wind but you can feel it. In the same way, you cannot see God but you see His effects. In the face of God’s creation man has inflicted damage through his very nature and yet, in spite of man’s impact, God’s grandeur remains evident.
Hopkins then says, “Why do men then now reck his rod?/ Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;/ And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;/ Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.” (lines 4-8) He expresses concern that men now, through trade and daily living, have worn down the natural earth that God has provided. Furthermore, with industrial advances and scientific knowledge man has set himself apart, ignoring his reliance on nature and God.
Strip mining has blighted the landscape, oil spills have destroyed habitats, and massive developments have encroached upon ecosystems. Animals have been hunted to extinction and the food chain broken through man’s intervention. Global warming and other irreversible trends are due to man’s abuse of nature and his disrespect for his creator. Because of mans failure to head God’s power, a day of reckoning will come. And while waiting this day of reckoning, “Nature is never spent;” (line 9). More encouraging than that, Hopkins recognizes that “ There lives the dearest freshness deep down things;” (line 10) I understood those words to mean that regardless of how man ignores God and foolishly believes in his independence God continues to invite a reconciliation through a renewed natural state. I worry about our future in the face of our exploitation of the earth and Hopkins appeared to share those same concerns. Concern alone will not correct the problem and one day God’s invitation and the grandeur of nature will expire.
Ashlei,
ReplyDeleteGood commentary on Hopkins's poem, with well-chosen passages from the text. You make several astute connections to our culture. Note that in Hopkins's poem, though, the message is not that "a day of reckoning" will come, but rather that God's love and comfort is always available and sufficient. Do you suppose Hopkins would reach the same conclusion over 100 years later?
Alig,
ReplyDeleteIt is funny how some of these poems speak to some of the same social issues that we are experiencing today. I like the fact that you didn't exclude science and technology as the part of the problems towards the destruction of nature. I believe that this poem also represents the distance between God and man. Man's first connection to God is through nature and man is stamping all over it! Powerful. Good post.