The Choice by Emma Lazarus (1888)
The poem explores the idea of freedom and its limitations. It presents a speaker who is torn between the desire for independence and the need for security. The speaker describes a utopian society where individuals are free to make their own choices, but also acknowledges that this freedom comes at a cost, as it leaves them vulnerable to external threats.
By Emma Lazarus · First published 1888 · Genre: Poetry, Religious/Spiritual, Philosophical · 260 words
First lines
I saw in dream the spirits unbegot, / Veiled, floating phantoms, lost in twilight space; / For one the hour had struck, he paused; the place / Rang with an awful Voice: / "Soul, choose thy lot! / Two paths are offered; that, in velvet-flower, / Slopes easily to every earthly prize. / Follow the multitude and bind thine eyes, / Thou and thy sons' sons shall have peace with power. / This narrow track skirts the abysmal verge, / Here shalt thou stumble, totter, weep and bleed, / All men shall hate and hound thee and thy seed, / Thy portion be the wound, the stripe, the scourge. / But in thy hand I place my lamp for light, / Thy blood shall be the witness of my Law, / Choose now for all the ages! " / Then I saw / The unveiled spirit, grown divinely bright, / Choose the grim path. He turned, I knew full well / The pale, great martyr-forehead shadowy-curled, / The glowing eyes that had renounced the world, / Disgraced, despised, immortal Israel.
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing poetic devices and structure.
- Religious/Spiritual — The themes revolve around moral choices, sacrifice, and spiritual enlightenment.
- Philosophical — The text explores deep questions about existence, choice, and the nature of suffering.
- Allegory — The narrative presents a symbolic representation of moral choices and their consequences.
Tags
Poetry · Jewish Heritage · American Literature · 19th Century · Immigration · Refugees · Freedom · Hope · Struggle · Perseverance · Human Rights · Social Justice
What this Textopian page supports
The Choice is listed on Textopian as a poem by Emma Lazarus, dated 1888 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Emma Lazarus
- Date: 1888 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Religious/Spiritual, Philosophical, Allegory, Literary Fiction
- Length: 260 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Choice by Emma Lazarus
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