George Herbert’s Contribution to Poetry: Secular Ambitions through Fusing Religious Themes with a Humanistic Perspective

George Herbert (1593 - 1633) is an English poet of the metaphysical school. A University of Cambridge graduate was unsuccessful in getting a play at court unemployed for eleven years (from 1619 to 1630). He devoted secular ambitions, however, and took holy orders in the Church of England in 1630. He spent the rest of his life as rector in Bemerton. As a poet George Herbert was temperamentally and totally different from John Donne. His poems are characterized by a precision of language, a metrical versatility, and an ingenious use of imagery or conceits that was favored by the metaphysical school of poets such as John Donne. However, he was in two minds – whether to take to orders or not. He had spells of introspection regarding his motive becoming a priest.

George Herbert:
Image Courtesy
Wikipedia:
Portrait by Robert White in 1674
(National Portrait Gallery)

George Herbert, a renowned English poet of the 17th century, made significant contributions to the realm of poetry with his unique style and thematic focus. His works, particularly his collection "The Temple: Sacred Poems and Private Ejaculations," showcase his secular ambitions and his exploration of religious and metaphysical themes. In this posthumously published work, "The Temple: Sacred Poems and Private Ejaculation" we find, in Herbert, the emotional seesaw between a ‘soaring confidence in the love and approbation of God and a plunging, despairing fear that God has disowned his suitor’. Three years before his demise, Herbert became priest of the parish of Bemerton in Oxfordshire, finding contentment in service to God. His life and poetry is a reflection of the ideal that self – centeredness can be effected by a total and unqualified surrender or submission to God’s well.

Herbert's poems are of a religious nature, often revealing his own spiritual struggles and the solace he found in the priesthood. His life and thought is the subject of a sympathetic biography by the English essayist Izaak Walton. However, Herbert's secular ambitions can be seen in his choice of subject matter. While his poetry often dealt with religious and spiritual themes, he approached them from a humanistic perspective. Rather than focusing solely on the divine or theological aspects, he examined the individual's relationship with God, the struggles of faith, and the complexities of human experience. We can mention his Collar in reference to it. It is at this juncture when the poet has almost decided upon releasing himself from God’s bondage and when he has grown ‘fierce and wild’ that he receives a hearing God call out to him ‘child’. Under the experience of such a divine intervention the poet can do nothing else except make his humble reply: ‘My Lord’:

"But as I raved and grew more fierce and wild

At every word,

Me thoughts I heard one calling, Child:

And I replied, My Lord."

One of Herbert's notable contributions to poetry lies in his innovative use of form and structure. He often employed intricate rhyme schemes, metrical patterns, and intricate wordplay to enhance the musicality and aesthetic appeal of his verses. His poems were meticulously crafted, displaying a masterful control over language and a deep understanding of poetic techniques. This attention to form allowed Herbert to convey his ideas and emotions with precision and elegance.

Herbert's poems often reveal a profound introspection and a deep exploration of the human condition. He grappled with themes of temptation, doubt, repentance, and the search for meaning in a secular world. Through his poetic voice, he questioned traditional religious dogmas and sought to reconcile his spiritual beliefs with the realities of his time. So, in Virtue,  Herbert speaks of the permanence of a virtuous soul. It contemplates the transience of life and the inevitability of death:

"Only a sweet and virtuous soul,

Like seasoned timber, never gives;

But though the whole world turn to coal,

Then chiefly lives."

 Herbert uses the imagery of nature, such as the sweet day, the sweet rose, and the sweet spring, to illustrate that all things must eventually come to an end. Moreover, Herbert's poetry showcased a remarkable balance between intellect and emotion. He blended intellectual inquiry with heartfelt devotion, creating a unique fusion of rationality and spirituality. His verses were characterized by wit, metaphor, and rich imagery, allowing readers to engage both intellectually and emotionally with his work.

This, according to Herbert, is the only way to obliterate one’s ego. Probably Herbert had taken to heart Christ’s words ‘Except ye converted, and become as little children, Ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven’. (Mark, xviii.3) Herbert points out that man is deceived by innumerable possibilities. His poetry tried to remove all distracting and irrelevant ornaments leaving behind the simple, naked truth, the picture of the untarnished God head’. Man is consecrated to heavenly love in all pomes of Herbert. Human love, in Herbert, is just an imitation, a replica of the ultimate love of the divine. But unfortunately, the copy or the replica is mistaken for the real or the original things. Sexual love is thus a wrong mania for the reflection rather than the reality, for the creature instead of the creator. Herbert tries to lose his identity and drown his egoism and swam across ocean of God’s love: Herbert always attempts to be away from personal to God’s love whereas Donne always tries to turn back from God towards his own person. God is the subject of Herbert’s poetry. His poetry is his but a poetic gift being returned as ‘God – given talent’ to the Maker who had originally gifted it.

In conclusion, George Herbert's contributions to poetry are notable for his secular ambitions and his ability to fuse religious themes with a humanistic perspective. His meticulous craftsmanship, musicality, and exploration of the complexities of faith and human experience set him apart as a significant figure in English literature. Herbert's poems continue to resonate with readers today, offering profound insights into the nature of spirituality and the human condition.

Ardhendu De

Ref: 

1. A short history of English literature : Saintsbury, George, 1845-1933 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive. (n.d.). Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/shorthistoryofen00sain

2. ALBERT. (2000). History of English Literature (Fifth Edition) [English]. OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS.

3. The Life of Mr. George Herbert, by Izaak Walton. (n.d.). The Life of Mr. George Herbert, by Izaak Walton. http://anglicanhistory.org/walton/herbert.html