By Goodness and by Evil so Surrounded

Name: By Goodness and by Evil so Surrounded
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay

The poem explores the tumultuous emotional landscape of the speaker, who feels overwhelmed by the dual forces of goodness and evil. The heart, a symbol of emotional and moral struggle, is depicted as racing and erratic, reflecting the internal conflict and distress caused by external influences. The imagery of the heart's physical state—its racing, the bruising of the skin, and the pooling of blood—serves to illustrate the toll that this conflict takes on the speaker's well-being. The speaker grapples with feelings of defeat and discouragement, suggesting a sense of hopelessness in the face of life's challenges. The heart's struggle is not just a metaphorical one; it manifests physically, indicating a deep connection between emotional turmoil and bodily sensations. The poem captures the essence of human vulnerability, the fragility of the heart, and the difficulty of maintaining equilibrium amidst chaos. As the speaker reflects on the interplay of goodness and evil, there is a sense of resignation to the cyclical nature of these experiences. The heart's rhythm, representing life itself, becomes a battleground where victories are fleeting and defeats are constant. The imagery evokes a visceral response, emphasizing the weight of emotional burdens and the desire for peace. Ultimately, the work delves into the complexities of human emotion, the struggle for stability, and the impact of external forces on the inner self. It presents a poignant meditation on the heart's resilience and fragility, encapsulating the essence of the human experience in the face of moral and emotional dilemmas.

By Edna St. Vincent Millay · First published 1941 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Modernist Literature · 123 words

First lines

By goodness and by evil so surrounded, how can the heart

Maintain a quiet beat?

It races like an idling engine, shaking the whole machine;

And the skin of the inner wrist is blue and green

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By Goodness and by Evil so Surrounded is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay, dated 1941 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay
Date: 1941 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Modernist Literature, Romanticism, Existentialism
Length: 123 words
Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Poetry — The work is a poem that explores deep emotional themes through lyrical language.
Lyric Poetry — The poem expresses personal feelings and thoughts, characteristic of lyric poetry.
Modernist Literature — The poem reflects modernist themes of existential struggle and emotional turmoil.
Romanticism — The focus on emotion and individual experience aligns with Romantic literary traditions.