Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Randall Jarrell's "The Sleeping Beauty: Variation of the Prince" offers a dark and contemplative twist on the classic fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty. The poem delves into themes of decay, timelessness, and the intertwining of life and death, using rich imagery and a reflective tone to explore the prince's perspective.

The poem begins with the prince's journey through a landscape marked by neglect and abandonment: "After the thorns I came to the first page. / He lay there gray in his fur of dust." This imagery of dust and decay sets a somber tone, suggesting that the story has been forgotten or left untouched for a long time. The prince's sneeze as he bends to open an eye highlights the physicality of the dust and the passage of time.

The prince observes the surroundings, noting the "blue" ball that seems to stare into the sky and the "red with rust" cuirass of the sentry. These details emphasize the passage of time and the deterioration of what once was vibrant and alive. The mention of children playing inside, and the "dirty hand / Of the little mother," suggests a world where innocence and care coexist with decay and neglect.

The poem's imagery of "the bloom on the nap of their world / Is set with thousands of dawns of dew" contrasts with the overarching theme of decay, hinting at moments of beauty and renewal amidst the ruins. This juxtaposition highlights the complexity of the setting, where life continues in small, almost unnoticed ways.

As the prince reaches the center of the realm, he finds Sleeping Beauty: "I find you; and—look I—the drop of blood / Is there still, under the dust of your finger." The enduring drop of blood symbolizes the suspension of time and the preservation of the moment of enchantment. The prince's act of forcing the drop of blood down and watching it roll away signifies his role in awakening the princess and breaking the spell.

The poem takes a darker turn as the prince contemplates the kiss that will awaken Sleeping Beauty: "the steady lips / Parted between a breath and a breath / In love, for the kiss of the hunter, Death." This association of the kiss with death adds a layer of morbidity to the tale, suggesting that awakening is intertwined with mortality.

The prince then stretches himself beside Sleeping Beauty and lays a sword between them, symbolizing a barrier or a protection against the finality of death. He reflects on the endless nature of the world and the eventual judgment: "When the world ends—it will never end— / The dust at last will fall from your eyes / In judgment, and I shall whisper."

The prince's whispering, "For hundreds of thousands of years I have slept / Beside you, here in the last long world / That you had found; that I have kept," suggests a timeless vigil, a commitment to preserving the realm and the story within it. This eternal watch is both a duty and a burden, highlighting the prince's devotion and the weight of his role.

In the final lines, the prince envisions the arrival of others who will come for them, though he knows "no one will ever come." This resignation to eternal solitude underscores the futility and the endurance of their existence. The prince's whisper, "Wait, wait! ... She is asleep," and his act of closing her eyelids with "the tips of the dust of my hand" signify his protective care and acceptance of their fate.

"The Sleeping Beauty: Variation of the Prince" reimagines the classic fairy tale through a lens of decay, timelessness, and existential reflection. Jarrell's evocative imagery and contemplative tone create a poignant meditation on the nature of time, love, and death, ultimately offering a rich and layered interpretation of the enduring story.

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