Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Lawrence Durrell's poem "Daphnis and Chloe" is a reimagining of the ancient Greek pastoral romance by Longus, in which the two titular characters are shepherds whose lives are intertwined with the natural world. Durrell’s version, however, takes a darker and more introspective turn, exploring themes of decay, the passage of time, and the complex relationship between nature and humanity.

The poem begins by presenting Daphnis as "the good shepherd," a figure deeply connected to the land and its vast, "impartial horizons." Daphnis is portrayed as a wanderer, moving through a "waterless wilderness" in search of sustenance, echoing the trials and solitude often associated with spiritual or existential journeys. The reference to "forty days in the land of tombs" alludes to a period of trial or temptation, reminiscent of biblical imagery, where Daphnis faces the harsh realities of the world in a landscape devoid of life.

Durrell’s Daphnis is attuned to the natural world, recognizing the "sound of the golden eagle" and the "algebraic flute blue under Jupiter," suggesting a mystical or cosmic connection between the shepherd and the universe. The imagery here blends the pastoral with the cosmic, grounding Daphnis in both the earthly and the divine. The image of Daphnis "supine in myrtle, lamb between his knees" and being "a musical lion upon the midnight" suggests both innocence and power, as well as a deep connection with the rhythms of nature.

As the poem continues, Durrell deepens the portrayal of Daphnis by situating him in "Time's ante-room by the Aegean tooth," where he is curled "like an umber snake above the spray." This image of Daphnis as a snake, associated with both wisdom and danger, introduces a note of decay and transformation. The "pastoral decay" that Daphnis suffers suggests that even in the idyllic setting of the pastoral, time brings about inevitable decline and change.

Chloe, in contrast, is depicted as "the milk and the honey," embodying the life-giving and nurturing aspects of nature. The imagery associated with Chloe is rich with natural fertility: "Under the eaves the dark figs ripen," and "the leaves nine medicines, a climbing wine." These images evoke a sense of abundance and healing, yet they are also tinged with danger, as seen in the lines "Under the tongue the bee-sting, / Under the breast the adder at the lung." Chloe, like Daphnis, embodies the duality of nature—both its sweetness and its peril.

Durrell continues to explore this duality with the line "Life's honey is distilled simplicity," suggesting that the essence of life, while seemingly pure and simple, is in fact a complex distillation of both beauty and danger. The natural world is depicted with stark contrasts: "The icy crystal pendant from the rock" and "The turtle's scorching ambush for the egg." These images highlight the harsh realities and predatory nature inherent in the world, where life is both nurtured and threatened by the environment.

The "wine-dark, blue, and curious" sea is described as "metaphoric," implying that it represents something beyond its physical existence—a symbol of the vast, unknowable aspects of life and existence. Chloe, like Daphnis, suffers "a pastoral decay," symbolizing the inevitable decline that comes with the passage of time and the harsh realities of life.

Durrell’s Chloe is "carved in the clear geography of Time," with her "skeleton clean chiselled out in chalk," a stark image that contrasts with the earlier depictions of natural fertility. This image of Chloe as a figure in chalk, a material associated with fragility and impermanence, underscores the theme of decay and the transient nature of life. The reference to "our Nigerian brown to study on" suggests that Chloe, like Daphnis, has become a subject of study, a relic of the past to be examined and understood by future generations.

In the closing lines, Durrell reflects on Chloe’s decline: "From the disease of life, took the pure way, / Declined into the cliffs, the European waters, / Suffered a pastoral decay." The "disease of life" implies that the very act of living brings with it an inherent corruption or decay, and Chloe's choice to "decline into the cliffs" can be seen as a return to the earth, a final merging with the natural world from which she sprang.

"Daphnis and Chloe" by Lawrence Durrell is a meditation on the inevitable decay that accompanies life, even in the most idyllic settings. Through vivid imagery and a blending of the pastoral with the cosmic, Durrell explores the complex and often contradictory relationship between humans and the natural world. The poem suggests that while nature offers beauty and nourishment, it also brings about decay and decline, reflecting the inescapable passage of time and the transient nature of existence.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...