"Mutability" by William Wordsworth (poetry reading)

[hamiltonpaul73]

I should add, the "shout" from 'King Lear' that we must be meant to hear is: "Never never never never never!"

[hamiltonpaul73]

I hear Chaucer in the "drop"ing of this monumental tower. From 'The Knight's Tale':

Mine is the ruin of the highe halls, The falling of the towers and the walls.

The "crown of weeds" allusion to 'King Lear' that you point out adds a tragic dimension to this poem I never heard before. Thank you.

[savedbydeath]

NOW

[aphidreiter]

I disagree with Wordsworth on all counts however I think the poem is well wrought. Thanks.

[SpokenVerse]

Wordsworth was a great poet and his poetry is sublime. I'll revise my notes to show him due respect.

[aphidreiter]

I think he is playing with biblical themes.

Humans are the quintessence of mutability whereas God's laws are immutable. I've always read dissolute as "sinful". You can see a similar grouping of sins in Revelation 21:8 where the fearful are lined up along with the murderers, whoremongers and sorcerers (drug dealers).

Truth (God) does not fail but his earthly ambassadors eventually crumble and surrender their crown of weeds (not quite thorns).

[SpokenVerse]

I don't think Wordsworth would have used dissolution in the way it is used today, but just plainly as dissolving or dispersing. Similarly, awful just meant "full of awe". So many words have changed meaning and value.

"royally did wear his crown of weeds", may refers to King Lear, who at the end was:

As mad as the vex'd sea; singing aloud;

Crown'd with rank fumiter and furrow-weeds,

With bur-docks, hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-flowers,

Darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow.