Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Nocturne" by Félix Rubén García Sarmiento, known as Rubén Darío, captures a moment of acute existential crisis, using the setting of a sleepless night to explore internal struggles that plague the human psyche. The poem serves as a tableau of insomnia, a condition that aptly mirrors the protagonist's emotional unrest and uncertainty.

The initial lInesset the tone with "Silence of the night, a sad, nocturnal silence," embodying both the external atmosphere and the internal void the speaker is trying to comprehend. The question, "Why does my soul tremble so?" reveals that even the speaker is puzzled by the depths of his own emotional turbulence. There's a self-reflective quality to this inquiry, making the reader instantly privy to the inner convolutions of the protagonist's mind.

The lInes"I hear the humming of my blood, and a soft storm passes through my brain" encapsulate the paradox of insomnia-the physical stillness contrasting with an internal turmoil. This contrast intensifies the speaker's sense of being trapped within himself. He becomes an "autospecimen of spiritual dissection," recalling Shakespeare's Hamlet, another tortured soul who contemplates the complexities of existence. The term "auto-Hamlet" not only reflects the internal strife but also places the speaker in a literary context, acknowledging the timeless nature of human existential struggle.

This restlessness leads the speaker to "dilute [his] sadness in the wine of the night," seeking solace in the abstract idea of night, which he regards as a "marvelous crystal of the dark." Here, the night almost becomes a character, a confidant to whom the speaker can unburden himself. Yet, despite this, he remains anxious for the dawn, a symbol often associated with renewal and hope.

However, this hope is tinged with a yearning for a specific yet unnamed presence, indicated in the line, "If only it were She!" The word "She" is ambiguous, leaving it open for interpretation. It could signify a lost love, divine intervention, or even death, perceived as an end to the suffering and the ultimate form of escape.

The unsettling noises-a door closing, footsteps, and the clock striking-heighten the tension and encapsulate the experience of insomnia. Every sound is magnified in the dark and still of the night, mirroring the magnification of the speaker's emotional and existential struggles.

In sum, "Nocturne" is a compelling exploration of an individual's internal world during a sleepless night, laden with existential queries and a poignant yearning for resolution. Darío masterfully uses the setting and mood to mirror the inner emotional landscape, creating a work that resonates across time, relatable to anyone who has grappled with the complexities of the human condition.

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...