Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Lawrence Durrell's poem "Cities, Plains and People: 3" is a contemplative and succinct exploration of truth, wisdom, and the journey toward self-realization. The poem draws on the character of Prospero from Shakespeare’s The Tempest as a symbolic figure of wisdom and mastery, who ultimately relinquishes his magical powers in favor of a deeper understanding and acceptance of life’s truths.

The poem opens with the image of "Prospero upon his island," a reference to the exiled Duke of Milan, who uses his magical abilities to control the elements and the people around him. In this context, Prospero represents the archetype of a powerful, enlightened figure, someone who has acquired vast knowledge and control. The line "Cast in a romantic form" suggests that Prospero, as a character, embodies the ideals of the Romantic imagination, where the individual mind is seen as a source of great creativity and power. However, the phrase also hints at the limitations of such a figure—the idea that even someone as powerful as Prospero must eventually confront the realities of life that transcend magic and manipulation.

"When his love was fully grown / He laid his magic down" signifies a pivotal moment of transformation for Prospero. Here, "love" can be interpreted as a metaphor for maturity, wisdom, or perhaps a deeper understanding of the world and oneself. The act of laying down his magic symbolizes Prospero's realization that true power does not lie in control over the external world but in the acceptance and understanding of deeper truths. This act marks a renunciation of illusion in favor of authenticity.

The poem then shifts its focus to "Truth within the tribal wells," an image that conjures the idea of truth as something ancient, deeply rooted, and communal. These "tribal wells" symbolize the collective wisdom and knowledge that is passed down through generations, often guarded and accessible only through specific rites or conditions. The phrase "Innocent inviting creature" personifies truth as something pure, untainted, and perhaps elusive—inviting yet difficult to grasp.

Durrell emphasizes that truth "Does not rise to human spells," suggesting that it cannot be conjured, controlled, or manipulated by human means, no matter how powerful. Instead, truth is something that teaches "by paradox," indicating that it often reveals itself in ways that are contradictory or counterintuitive. This idea of paradox reinforces the notion that understanding and wisdom often come through experiences and insights that challenge our expectations or preconceived notions.

The concluding lines of the poem—"That no saint or seer unlocks / The wells of truth unless he first / Conquer for the truth his thirst"—encapsulate the core message of the poem. Durrell asserts that the pursuit of truth requires more than just knowledge or spiritual power; it requires the seeker to confront and overcome their own desires and attachments. The "thirst" for truth, if left unchecked, can become an obstacle in itself, leading one away from the very truth they seek. Only by mastering this inner thirst—by letting go of the need for control, certainty, or possession—can one truly access the deeper wells of wisdom.

In "Cities, Plains and People: 3," Durrell uses the figure of Prospero and the metaphor of tribal wells to explore the nature of truth and the journey toward wisdom. The poem suggests that true understanding is not something that can be commanded or possessed; it is something that must be approached with humility, patience, and the willingness to let go of one's own desires. Through its concise and evocative imagery, the poem offers a meditation on the paradoxes of seeking and the deeper truths that lie beyond the reach of ordinary perception.

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