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PIETA, by             Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography


Rainer Maria Rilke's "Pieta" delves into the profound and complex emotions experienced when contemplating the Christian image of Mary cradling the body of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion. Through the intimate vantage point of Mary, the poem explores themes of love, sacrifice, grief, and an ineffable sense of loss that transcends the merely personal.

From the outset, the poem is infused with a sense of personal touch and intimacy. Mary recalls washing Jesus's feet, describing them as if they belonged to a young boy. This poignant memory of Jesus's vulnerability and innocence serves to heighten the tragedy of his crucifixion. Mary's touch is gentle, as indicated by "my pitiful hands," emphasizing her maternal tenderness and the sorrow she feels for her son's suffering. This physical interaction is not merely maternal but also saturated with a spiritual connection, as signified by the entanglement of her "covering hair."

As the poem progresses, the tone shifts towards a sense of regret and longing. Mary laments that she never had the chance to warm Jesus's limbs with her own body heat. This missed opportunity deepens the tragedy, for Mary cannot provide the physical warmth that might mitigate her son's agony, if only for a moment. The scene is marked by a haunting absence, a void of missed connections, and unrealized acts of love.

The description of Jesus's hands as "wasted" and "torn" brings attention to his sacrifice and the pain he has endured. There is a profound irony in that these hands, which were nurtured by Mary and performed miracles, are now wounded and lifeless. Importantly, Mary distinguishes that these wounds were not inflicted by "passion's thorn," suggesting that this damage has not come from her or any form of love but from something darker and incomprehensible.

This exploration of physical suffering extends to the "open" heart of Jesus. Traditionally the seat of love and compassion, it is now exposed "to the passerby," causing an intimate violation of Jesus's inner sanctuary. Mary laments that "none should have entered there, save only I," expressing the belief that her love is the only one deserving of such a profound communion with her son.

The poem culminates in the phrase, "Strangely together to our doom we go." Here, the poem crystallizes the entwined fates of Mary and Jesus, drawing attention to their parallel yet separate journeys towards an inevitable and tragic end. The sense of loss is compounded by the missed "hour" of spiritual and physical unity, making their shared "doom" even more heartbreaking.

In "Pieta," Rilke succeeds in illuminating the ineffable emotional complexity at the heart of one of Christianity's most iconic images. The poem transcends religious narratives to touch upon universal themes of maternal love, sorrow, and the profound sense of loss that accompanies irreversible life events. Each line resonates with an intricate weave of emotional, spiritual, and physical dimensions, offering an in-depth meditation on love's complexities and the heartbreaking costs of sacrifice.


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