God’s Grandeur has been written by Gerard Manley Hopkins and is one of those poems that reinstates the importance of God in human lives. The poem is based on a fundamental thought and the thought has been beautifully stitched together with words by Gerard Manley Hopkins. The poem has been penned with subtle usage of words and is reminiscent of God’s greatness and love for the inhabitants of the Earth. The poem is based on the way in which God continues to usher his love to mankind either by the rays of the Sun or the greenery of Nature (Shmoop Editorial Team, 2008). The poem discusses the change in humans and their continued efforts to destroy everything that has been provided to them for Almighty. The poet vividly describes the way in which God continues to help fellow humans not caring about the way in which they cause harm to Nature.
The poem has several emotions attached to it and words have been used particularly well to transfer those emotions. The use of interjections is indicative of the different emotions expressed by the poet. The pace of the poem catches up in some parts whereas in others it slows down. The poem demonstrates that despite all the developments of mankind, the Earth and its people still need God and the Almighty is generous enough to bless its children for eternity. Even if humans tend to forget God and his creations and become oblivious to his existence, God shall forever be present to ensure the prosperity of humans on Earth.
Essay
It is important that this poem is not taken too seriously as it is an imaginative take of the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins on this planet, the creator of this planet and the inhabitants of this planet. The poem launches itself with the thought that the Earth shall not exist for eternity but ultimately collapse one day. It represents the idea that this planet is temporary and shall come to an end after it gradually reaches its peak.
The poet asks the people to take better care of this world that has given them so many things worth living for. The poet urges the people of this planet to think about the planet at times and not continue the process of building industries and factories that tend to weaken the Earth and its roots. The poet reminds people of the different ways in which they are no more attached and connected to the Earth and its surface. Tiles and floors have replaced the lush green grass and the bright flowers. The Earth’s surface has become so dirty that we need to wear shoes and slippers. In a way, it is us humans who are responsible for the degradation and pollution of this planet that once was so beautiful and elegant.
The poet does not make the poem sound melancholic and depressing. She reinstates the faith that humans have on God by saying that the Sun shall continue to shine and Nature shall forever bless us. She reminds us of the way in which the Sun goes down in the West in order to bring in the darkness but rises in the East the following day thereby marking the beginning of a new day. She is confident about that fact that no matter how inhuman our acts become, God and his forces shall not leave the people of Earth amidst despair and darkness.
The poet has a slightly different take on the way in which sunrise and sunset occur on a daily basis and the phenomenon of daytime and nighttime. She feels that The Holy Ghost looks after the Earth and its people during nighttime just the same way in which birds guard their unhatched eggs. The poem exudes a certain sense of warmth and care for the people of this planet. However, it is sad that the same warmth and care is not exuded by the people of this planet towards God and his forces. We have somewhere forgotten the very existence of the Almighty and we have indulged in practices that are not expected from the human race. By polluting this Earth and degrading it, we are harming ourselves and no one else. People need to understand that God has been kind enough to keep his hand above us and bless us by ensuring that the Sun rises in the East, sets in the West, the wind continues to blow and the raindrops continue to pour. We should be thankful to God for everything he has done and pay our respects by doing the very little that is expected of us.
References
Shmoop Editorial Team. (2008, November 11). God’s Grandeur Summary. Retrieved February 19, 2014 from http://www.shmoop.com/gods-grandeur/summary.html
