'Aaron' by George Herbert Analysis.

 Introduction

George Herbert's poem Aaron is a timeless masterpiece that delves into the human struggle between imperfection and the yearning for holiness. As a renowned poet and Anglican priest, Herbert's works often revolve around themes of spirituality, faith, and the transformative power of Christ. Aaron is a reflective meditation that weaves together vivid imagery and deep introspection, guiding readers on a profound spiritual journey. Let us look into the lines before analysing the poem.

The Text:

Holiness on the head,

Light and perfections on the breast,

Harmonious bells below, raising the dead

To lead them unto life and rest:

Thus are true Aarons drest.

Profaneness in my head,

Defects and darkness in my breast,

A noise of passions ringing me for dead

Unto a place where is no rest:

Poor priest, thus am I drest.

Only another head

I have, another heart and breast,

Another music, making live, not dead,

Without whom I could have no rest:

In him I am well drest.

Christ is my only head,

My alone-only heart and breast,

My only music, striking me ev'n dead,

That to the old man I may rest,

And be in him new-drest.

So, holy in my head,

Perfect and light in my dear breast,

My doctrine tun'd by Christ (who is not dead,

But lives in me while I do rest),

Come people; Aaron's drest.

Summary

The poem explores the contrast between holiness and imperfection in the speaker's life. It presents a portrayal of the struggles and aspirations of a priest who seeks to embody divine perfection. The speaker acknowledges his human flaws, symbolized as "Profaneness in my head" and "Defects and darkness in my breast." However, the speaker also describes the divine influence of Christ in his life, representing holiness, light, and perfection. Christ is seen as the true source of his identity and spiritual transformation.

In the first stanza, the poem introduces the idea of holiness and perfection symbolized as "Harmonious bells below" on the speaker's head and "Light and perfections on the breast." This imagery suggests that the speaker desires to embody divine qualities like the biblical figure Aaron, who was known for his priestly role.

The second stanza expresses the speaker's self-awareness of his human imperfections and struggles with his passions, which threaten to lead him to spiritual death and restlessness.

The third stanza shifts the focus to the speaker's reliance on Christ, symbolized as "Another head" and "Another heart and breast." Christ's presence brings life and rest, contrasting with the restlessness and imperfections experienced without Him.

In the fourth stanza, the speaker identifies Christ as his only source of holiness, heart, and music. Christ's presence allows him to die to his old self and be renewed in Him.

The final stanza emphasizes the speaker's transformation through Christ. He declares that he is "holy in my head" and "perfect and light in my dear breast." The speaker's teachings and doctrine are now "tun'd by Christ," and he invites people to come and witness this transformation, proclaiming, "Come people; Aaron's drest."

Overall, the poem Aaron reflects the speaker's struggle with human imperfections, the transformative power of Christ's presence in his life, and his aspiration to embody holiness and perfection like "Aaron", the Biblical figure.

Analysis

Let us analyse the poem a bit more, stanza by stanza. Aaron is a spiritual meditation on the contrast between human imperfections and the transformative power of Christ's presence. 

Stanza 1:

"Holiness on the head,

Light and perfections on the breast,

Harmonious bells below, raising the dead

To lead them unto life and rest:

Thus are true Aarons drest."

In this stanza, the poet sets the stage by presenting an idealized image of a holy and perfect individual, symbolized by "Holiness on the head" and "Light and perfections on the breast." The imagery of "Harmonious bells below" implies a divine calling or mission to raise the spiritually dead and guide them towards life and rest. The reference to "true Aarons" alludes to the biblical figure Aaron, who was consecrated as a priest.

Stanza 2:

"Profaneness in my head,

Defects and darkness in my breast,

A noise of passions ringing me for dead

Unto a place where is no rest:

Poor priest, thus am I drest."

Here, the contrast begins as the speaker acknowledges his own shortcomings and human nature. He refers to "Profaneness in my head" and "Defects and darkness in my breast," highlighting his own sinful tendencies and lack of divine perfection. The "noise of passions" suggests inner turmoil and conflicts that leads him towards spiritual death and restlessness. The speaker humbly acknowledges his imperfections and sees himself as a "Poor priest."

Stanza 3:

"Only another head

I have, another heart and breast,

Another music, making live, not dead,

Without whom I could have no rest:

In him, I am well drest."

In this stanza, the focus shifts to the transformative power of Christ. The speaker recognizes that he has access to another source of influence beyond his human self - symbolized by "another head," "another heart," and "another breast." This refers to Christ, who brings new life ("making live, not dead") and grants rest to the weary soul. The speaker finds completeness and spiritual fulfillment in Christ, stating that he is "well drest" in him.

Stanza 4:

"Christ is my only head,

My alone-only heart and breast,

My only music, striking me ev'n dead,

That to the old man, I may rest,

And be in him new-drest."

In this stanza, the speaker solidifies his devotion to Christ by emphasizing that He is his sole source of guidance ("only head"), love ("alone-only heart"), and fulfillment ("breast"). The metaphor of "music, striking me ev'n dead" suggests that Christ's influence can bring life even to the spiritually dead. The speaker seeks to find rest from his old self by embracing Christ, allowing him to be "new-drest" in His grace and love.

Stanza 5:

"So, holy in my head,

Perfect and light in my dear breast,

My doctrine tun'd by Christ (who is not dead,

But lives in me while I do rest),

Come people; Aaron's drest."

In the final stanza, the transformation is complete. The speaker declares himself "holy in my head" and "perfect and light in my dear breast," signifying his spiritual renewal through Christ. He affirms that his teachings and beliefs are now guided and harmonized by Christ's presence ("My doctrine tun'd by Christ"). The speaker extends an invitation to others ("Come people") to witness this transformation, presenting himself as an embodiment of the divine ideal, just like the Biblical figure "Aaron."

Overall, the poem Aaron is a reflective exploration of human imperfections, the redemptive power of Christ's presence, and the aspiration to be transformed into a vessel of divine holiness and perfection. Herbert skillfully weaves religious imagery and themes to convey a message of spiritual renewal and grace through Christ.

Themes

The poem Aaron by George Herbert revolves around several interconnected themes that explore the concepts of holiness, human imperfection, redemption through Christ, and spiritual transformation. Let's analyze these themes present in the poem in detail.

1. Holiness and Divine Perfection: The poem begins by presenting an idealized image of holiness and divine perfection symbolized by "Holiness on the head" and "Light and perfections on the breast." These images evoke the consecrated status of the Biblical figure Aaron, who serves as a representation of spiritual purity and divine favor. The notion of "true Aarons drest" suggests that individuals can aspire to embody these qualities and attain a holy and perfect state.

2. Human Imperfection and Profaneness: As the poem progresses, the speaker acknowledges his own human imperfections and sinful nature, referred to as "Profaneness in my head" and "Defects and darkness in my breast." This recognition highlights the universal struggle of humanity to achieve perfect holiness and the innate shortcomings that prevent individuals from attaining divine perfection on their own.

3. The Search for Spiritual Rest and Fulfillment: The lines portray the speaker's inner turmoil and restlessness, with "A noise of passions ringing me for dead" and the longing for a place of rest where he can find peace and fulfillment. This theme reflects the human desire for spiritual rest and contentment, which often eludes people due to their imperfections and worldly distractions.

4. Redemption and Transformation through Christ: The poem introduces Christ as the key figure who offers a solution to the human predicament. The lines express that the speaker has "Only another head," which refers to Christ, representing the divine and holy influence that can transform the individual's heart and bring life and rest. The speaker recognizes that without Christ, he would have "no rest" and finds completeness and fulfillment "In him" where he is "well drest."

5. Renewal and New Life in Christ: The theme of renewal and transformation continues as the speaker declares Christ as his "only head," "alone-only heart," and "only music." The metaphor of Christ's music striking him "ev'n dead" signifies the transformative power of Christ's presence even in the midst of spiritual death and brokenness. By being in Christ, the speaker can find rest from his old self ("the old man") and be "new-drest" in His grace and love.

6. The Role of Christ in Doctrine and Teaching: The poem emphasizes that Christ's presence guides the speaker's teachings and beliefs ("My doctrine tun'd by Christ"). This theme suggests that through his spiritual transformation, the speaker's understanding of divine truth and his ability to lead others towards spiritual life and rest are enriched by Christ's influence.

In summary, the lines of the poem Aaron explore themes of holiness, human imperfection, the longing for spiritual rest, and the transformative power of Christ's presence. The poem conveys a message of hope and redemption, presenting Christ as the source of spiritual renewal and guiding individuals towards divine perfection and fulfillment.

Literary Devices

In the poem Aaron, George Herbert employs various literary devices to convey its themes and create vivid imagery. Here are some of the literary devices used in the given lines:

1. Metaphor: "Holiness on the head" and "Light and perfections on the breast"- these metaphors represent the idealized state of holiness and divine perfection.

"Harmonious bells below, raising the dead"- the harmonious bells symbolize a divine calling to lead the spiritually dead to life and rest.

2. Alliteration: "Harmonious bells below, raising the dead"- the repetition of the "b" sound in "bells below" adds a musical quality to the line.

3. Contrast: The poem juxtaposes the contrasting elements of holiness and profaneness, light and darkness, life and death, and old and new.

4. Repetition: The repetition of the phrase "Thus are true Aarons drest" serves as a refrain, emphasizing the embodiment of holiness in the speaker's portrayal of true 'Aarons'.

5. Imagery: "Harmonious bells," "raising the dead," "defects and darkness," "noise of passions," "striking me ev'n dead"- these vivid images evoke strong mental pictures and emotions.

6. Anaphora: The repetition of "Only another head," "My only head," and "So, holy in my head" creates a sense of emphasis and rhythm, highlighting the significance of Christ as the speaker's guide and source of transformation.

7. Parallelism: "Holiness on the head, Light and perfections on the breast"- the parallel structure of these lines emphasizes the ideal qualities that the speaker desires to embody.

8. Personification: The use of "bells below, raising the dead" personifies the bells as if they have the ability to lift the spiritually dead.

9. Enjambment: The poem contains several instances of enjambment, where a sentence or clause continues onto the next line, creating a flowing and continuous rhythm.

10. Apostrophe: The speaker addresses the people directly, using "Come people" as an apostrophe to invite them to witness the speaker's transformation.

11. Allusion: Throughout the poem the Biblical figure of "Aaron" is alluded.

These literary devices contribute to the poem's powerful and contemplative tone, making it a spiritually reflective piece that explores the themes of human imperfection, redemption, and transformation through Christ.

Conclusion

George Herbert's Aaron is a spiritually evocative poem that resonates with readers across generations. Through its rich imagery, powerful metaphors, and deep introspection, the poem illuminates the struggle of human imperfection and the quest for divine perfection. It speaks of redemption and hope, emphasizing the transformative power of Christ's presence in our lives. As we read Aaron, we are invited to reflect on our own imperfections, embrace the grace of Christ, and embark on a journey towards spiritual renewal and wholeness.