Lexical analysis of Baudelaire's Benediction from Les Fleurs du Mal

¶ … Benediction

means Blessing english. The poem found " Les Fleurs du Mal " ( The flower evil ) 19th century french authors Charles Baudelaire. It poem. In analysis lexis choice words author lastly answer question flowers evil poem ?.

Charles Baudelaire's poem "Benediction" is composed out of nineteen quatrains designed in twelve syllable lines that hold an abab rhyme plan. This is a rather traditional type of verse when considering trends contemporary to Baudelaire. However, the poet compensates for the apparent conventional display of his poem by introducing innovative and vivid imagery that makes it possible for readers to look at matters from a whole new perspective and that is likely to have generated much controversy at the time when it was published.

It appears that Baudelaire inspired himself and influenced himself to get actively involved in devising "Benediction" as an attempt to reconnect with his personal identity. Even with the fact that he focuses on victimizing himself throughout the poem, he certainly succeeds in experiencing a process of catharsis as he becomes more and more prepared to deal with problems that he might encounter. It appears that his experiences played an essential role in making it possible for him to explore his creativity and to focus on his problems, both as a poet and as an individual (Leakey 26).

Baudelaire uses a third person perspective throughout the poem, apparently wanting to distance himself from its elements. However, it rapidly becomes obvious that he is actually providing readers with an autobiographical account by taking on this attitude. The poem is obviously meant to describe the abuses that the poet suffered throughout his life as a result of struggling to connect with people who were close to him. Baudelaire apparently addressed a series of individuals whom he felt attached to, but most failed to respond to his advances and actually influenced him. In spite of his struggles however, it appears he received little support and had to turn to less conventional methods to recover his self-esteem while embarking on a journey meant to provide him with the ability to progress.

"Be blessed, oh my God, who givest suffering

As the only divine remedy for our folly,

As the highest and purest essence preparing

The strong in spirit for ecstasies most holy" (Baudelaire)

It is likely that Baudelaire inspired from the Church's traditional belief in the fact that human suffering is likely to have spiritual benefits. Even with the fact that it would be difficult and almost impossible for someone to find a solid display of either good or evil throughout the poem, the text uses both of these concepts in an attempt to induce feelings like confusion and intrigue in individuals reading it.

Even with the fact that Baudelaire describes God as the body that made it possible for him to look at life from a different perspective, it is difficult, at times, to determine his exact position toward the divine. The poet's mother takes the role of the Virgin in "Benediction" and believes that her pregnancy is actually a curse from God rather than being a blessing. Although Catholic theology promotes the concept that suffering can actually redeem an individual, it appears that the poet's mother is reluctant to act in agreement with religious principles and emphasizes the fact that suffering is absurd and should not be appreciated by anyone.

Baudelaire, as a poet and as the protagonist in his poem, appears to maintain an innocent attitude throughout the poem. Moreover, it appears that he is well-acquainted with the idea regarding how salvation can only come as a result of a person's acceptance of suffering. It is at times difficult to determine whether Baudelaire wants to focus on religion as being the most effective tool when considering redemption or if he really wants to highlight the fact that art is the tool he uses with the purpose of doing so.

"Les Fleurs du Mal" collection of poems as a whole is likely to be meant to trigger much controversy as a result of the confusing concepts it puts across. "The poems published in the 1857 edition of Les Fleurs du Mal reconstruct the Catholic universe founded on the polar opposites of good and evil, God and Satan" (Powers 2010). While lauding God's figure at times in "Benediction," Baudelaire does the opposite in order cases by making it seem that it is very difficult to provide a strict definition of God and Satan, as both apparently tend to take on aspects found in each-other. Even with the fact that the poet does not actually go as far as to criticize religion or God in "Benediction" he provides an intriguing view regarding these two concepts and one can even say that he was ahead of his time, taking into account that in spite of problems that it experienced through the centuries religion was still strong during Baudelaire's life (Powers 2010).

The poet obviously wanted "Benediction" to stand as tool that could influence individuals to employ serious though in thinking about the world, about themselves, and about what he actually wanted to express through this text. "Baudelaire's melancholy poetry opens almost with a blow a double space, one dreamlike, appropriate to the demands and aspirations of the poetic genius, in which the I can feel itself at home, and one in which it is confronted in the most painful way with a reality which is as trivial as it is inexorable, the most disgusting prose of modern life" (Lloyd 19). One can practically feel sentiments related to Romanticism as he or she goes in-depth in reading the poem. Baudelaire did actually provide readers with a confusing text, but he did not hesitate to also attempt to influence them to adopt an attitude that would focus both on horror and on admiration.

"Benediction" can practically be considered to have a platonic character, as it is more likely for the poet to have created it with the purpose of making it possible for readers to understand the importance of spirituality. Furthermore, he focused on spirituality in an association with philosophy creating ideas that somewhat contrast religious concepts that were generally believed to be logical during his life. This makes it possible for readers to understand that even though he was not particularly appreciative of Catholic faith, Baudelaire did not want to dismiss the importance of spirituality as a whole.

Baudelaire seems concerned about his readers being presented with the importance of the poet in "Benediction." Moreover, it appears that he is interested in highlighting the role of the poet as a whole. He was especially confident that the divine enjoyed his works and that his efforts would not go unnoticed.