Ulysses Essay

Ulysses

-Alfred Lord Tennyson

                Alfred Lord Tennyson is the most representative poet of the Victorian age. Most of his poems reflect the spirit of scientific enquiry and the Victorian thirst for knowledge. This poem Ulysses describes Ulysses’ unquenchable thirst for knowledge, and his determination to pursue it beyond the limits of human experience. It is in the form of dramatic monologue.

            Ulysses is the king of Ittaca. He is restless with his idle life at home, after his adventure in the Trojan War his country is barren and rocky. There is nothing to charm him. He feels dull to keep company with his aged wife Benelope. His people are all savages. They cannot do anything else than eating, sleeping and hoarding up money and food. They do not understand his greatness.

            Ulysses is hungry for travel. He desires to live life to the fullest extent. He wants to “drink life to the lee”. He has enjoyed and suffered much already, alone and in the company of other on shore and in the stormy sea.

            He has travelled far and wide. He has seen all types of men, governments and countries. He has become a part of all that. Even then he says

“yet all experience is an arch whereth

Gleams that untravell’d world,

Whose margin fades

Forever and forever when I move”

Ulysses doesn’t want to lead on idle life for him resting is same as rusting. He dislikes rusting like on unused sword. He wants to follow knowledge to its farthest limits. Every hour is precious for him, because it saves him from death and brings him new things.

            Ulysses awarded for his duties to his family, country and the people. He does not leave them uncared for. He intends to give his kingdom to his son Telemachus. Telemachus is good and virtuous by nature. He has the patience to civilise his people. He has dutifulness to adore his family gods also. He does all the household duties perfectly.

            Ulysses mind is at the port where the ship is ready for sail. He thinks of the sailors who have sailed and worked with him. Like him they too have welcomed good days and bad; sunshine and thunder with the merriment. He then thinks of the end of all human beings.

            Death closes all, but he wants to do something noble before death. He feels that the sea is calling him for adventure; so he invites his fellow mariners to join him in the voyage.

“....... come my friends

Tis not too late to seek a newer world”

            Ulysses wants to sail beyond sunset. He hopes to meet Achilles in the happy isles. He is awarded of his limitations also. Even though he and his men physically weak and old. They are young in will-power fighting spirit, he admits

“....and tho

We are not now that strength which in old days

Move earth and heaven....

Made weak by time and fate but strong in will

To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield”

Thus Tennyson through this poem puts forward a Victorian epic of adventure, conquest and extended power over the world of nature and man.