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In George Herbert's "The Collar," the speaker begins by voicing an intense resistance to divine authority. But by the end of the story the speaker has moved to a position of profound yielding. Post a message that responds to one or more of the following questions:
- In what ways does the symbol of the collar appropriately represent the relationship depicted in the poem?
- What is the paradox at the heart of the metaphor of the collar (the conceit)? How is the tension of the paradox resolved?
- What things constrain the speaker? What's the speaker's attitude toward these constraints? Is his attitude consistent throughout the poem?
As a follow-up posting, state whether you agree or disagree, and why, with a classmate's interpretation of the poem.
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Original:
ReplyDeleteThe title “The collar” effectively represents the relationship in the poem all the while serving as a pun. This poem is about a priest that has become rebellious from his chosen lifestyle. In the beginning the narrator cried “No more” indicating frustration and a desire to renounce being a priest. He states that he is “free, free” alluding to his goal to break his devotion to God, ending his servitude. At the end he describes himself as “fierce and wild” almost in comparison to the behavior of an animal. At the end of the poem God calms the priests ambition to rebel and the priest accepts submission. “The Collar” depicts the relationship between God and the priest in various ways. The most obvious way is that a collar for a priest symbolizes his identification with God but also the restraints placed on him. The pun that exists in the title is that collar sounds similar to the word choler which means angry. This fit’s the poem because the priest takes on a frustration and aggressive tone throughout the poem which is reduced subtly as it progresses. “The Collar” also represents that the priest has the soul of an animal since he described himself as fierce. The title of this poem embodies the theme of religious doubt and summarizes the entire relationship between the priest and his master.
Original: The collar appropriately represents the relationship depicted in the poem because it represents suffocation or inhibition of a person. A priest usually wears a collar. This piece of clothing can be viewed as uncomfortable and concealing. Perhaps the speaker felt that the collar, representative of his religion, was suppressing his rights as a normal citizen who is not a priest. By this, the speaker is constrained by the expectations of society, which makes him view his religion and his followers as undesirable and intolerable, respectively. This attitude, however, is not consistent at the end of the passage because he concedes to the standards of the people, in fear of defying the rigid society at the time.
ReplyDeleteTo Ellysa: I concur with you when you state that the priest was trying "to break his devotion to God". I believe that the priest was so fed up with the people telling him how to conduct himself, that he wanted to do away with his religion. This explains why he said that he "will abroad", or go away, in the poem.
ReplyDeleteOriginal:
ReplyDeleteI feel that the priest's collar is a symbol for constraint. One can see how a priest would feel repressed and confined forcibly by wearing one being that a collar can be defined as a band of metal fixed around a prisoner's neck. But then again, this is worn as an insignia of servitude and that is what a priest does, he serves God. Although it is true that at the beginning he shows anger/frustration and then feels bland towards the end of the poem, I do not understand why he feels this way at all. Becoming a priest requires you to be devoted, loyal, and faithful to God. It also requires you to know what's in store for your future. If he wasn't up to it, the speaker should have never become a priest in the first place.
To Sherifa:
ReplyDeleteI never saw it this way until after reading your post. It definitely makes sense that in being a priest he feels less "normal" and more of an outcast and due to the fact that he feels as if he were not a citizen, he also could see himself as not having the same rights as any other citizen either.
“The Collar” is the perfect title for the poem. A collar represents an article of clothing that is prim and proper, but it also represents an article of restriction. The collar, tied at the neck, which if pulled too tight, will cause harm. The protagonist in the poem is trying to convince himself to radically break away from his limitations, where the collar represents his limitations. The speaker is bounded by the judgments of society. In most civilizations the religious figure, is looked upon for advice, guidance, and as a figure of hope, and in the poem, the priest is overwhelmed with the pressures of society and his job. The conceit of the poem is the author’s comparison of the priest’s situation to a collar. The limitations of a priest would not usually be compared to the constrictions faced when wearing a collar. At the end of the poem, the priest’s faith is reaffirmed when he “hears” god.
ReplyDeleteTo Christian:
ReplyDeleteI understand your point of view when you say that the speaker should have never become a priest in the first place, however, I completely disagree. I believe this whole experience was a test and the main character did past the test. In the end of the poem, when the priest though he heard god say “Child,” he responded immediately without hesitation “My Lord.” His quick response shows his devotion and his faith. The “test” did not destroy his faith in god, but reaffirmed it and made it stronger.
To Shevana:
ReplyDeleteI agree that his experience was a test. Even though the priest questioned his occupation in life in the end he realizes the importance of his submission to God.
There are many constraints holding the speaker. As one can tell by reading the poem he is bound by the pain of a disease or heartbreak and he is facing death. He feels immense pain. He believes he wasted an entire year of his life and he is bound to suffer until death comes and takes him. All the good things that occurred in his life is not worth what it once was because he cannot enjoy any fruits of his labor. In the sense that he was once healthy and now being sick he has lost all hope and sense of living. He states that his age bounds him to suffer and miss on all the pleasures of the world. His attitude is gloomy and depressing and does not allow the reader to see any hope in his life but also to see the near death of him.
ReplyDeleteIn Response to Ellysa,
ReplyDeleteMy eyes are opened to the viewpoint you had. I would not think of the collar as a pun and even then I did not see or relate to it in the reference to a priest. I realize in all the poems there are some religious reference mainly leaning towards Christianity or Catholicism. I believe I need to be exposed to more religious references and literature in order to fully acknowledge these references.
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ReplyDeleteThe poem is a complaint voiced by a soul chafing against the constraints that bind it. Impatient with the human condition, the speaker boldly resolves to break free. This poem appears to reflect Herbert's consideration of how one should lead their life in order to become closer to God. Herbert reflects upon the bargain struck to move forward and thus possibly away from sin. The first part of the stanza notes the need to recognize the need to agree and bargain or haggle the price one should pay to stop grieving at misfortunes found in life and states the intention to move away and/or onward from his previous way of life. Along with this, like my colleague Sherifa stated, the "collar" served as an inhibition suppressing his rights as an individual. Once we reach the end of the passage we see his attitude shift to the standards of society, in fear of being defiant towards it.
ReplyDeleteTo Shinece:
ReplyDeleteI agree that the narrator is feeling immense pain. This makes the meaning of the passage extremely clear. The writer of the poem starts out extremely angry, striking the table fiercely. He has had enough and is going to leave the country. He has had enough sighing and pining for his religion and feels that he is missing out on pleasure. By the poem's end he seems to be getting more and more determined, his language more and more resolute. And just at the peak of his anger is the moment in which he finally devotes himself to a life of pleasure when he thinks he hears God's voice talking to him.
Original:"The Collar" may be seen as a pefect title for this poem. As a collar represents both the priesthood, and also represents the bound life-style the narrator feels they are living. Although throughout the poem, the narrator complains about the restraints of his chosen lifestyle, and seems to work up to actually take action, by the end of the poem the narrator says he hears the Lord calling his name. In hearing his name, the narrator loses all motive to rebel and is reminded why he joined the priesthood to begin with.
ReplyDeleteI too concur with Ellysa. I also feel that the narrator was trying to "throw away their religion."I feel as though through comparison the narrator felt his life did not equal that of someones who was not in the congregation. It is in my opinion he felt he had less oppurtunites in life do yo many constaints posed by his priesthood. Thus he grew frustrated and almost took drastic action. However, after hearing "the calling" again his faith is rekindled restoring his attitude.
ReplyDeleteOriginal:
ReplyDeleteThe collar appropriately represents the relationship depicted in the poem because the collar represents both faith in Christianity and a restriction on the speaker. The speaker feels that his faith had been holding him down, and he tries to rebel against it. However, by the end of the poem he shows that he is still devoted to his faith, despite his seemingly hostile feelings toward it. In short, he wears this restrictive "collar" even though he says he doesn't want to.
To Justin:
ReplyDeleteI too agree that there may be this aspect of fear to the narrator's motives. He rants and raves about how he has been held down by the priesthood, but once he hears even an echo of his Lord, he is put back in his place. This is especially important considering the time period in which the poem was written, the seventeenth century, a time in which religion played a major role in everyday life.
The things that place constraint on the speaker are the rules, restrictions, and decorum expected of him. He feels trapped. Towards the end he is accepting of the restrictions beacuse he "forebears" and "foresakes" them.
ReplyDeleteTo: Justin
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. The narrator is in immense pain. "The poem is a complaint voiced by a soul chafing against the constraints that bind it." I really like that sentence that you wrote. The narrator ultimately accepts this state towards the end of the poem.
The speaker feels constrained by not only his position but his position as a priest, and the collar helps represent that in a way similar to that of a dog collar. He is owned by his religion and his master, God, can pulled him any way he chooses. The speaker feels as though he is suffering far too much for his religion and not receiving enough material reward. At the end he does a complete turnaround and goes back to God as soon as he believe he hears him call his name, not actually resolving the paradox and tension.
ReplyDeleteOriginal:
ReplyDeleteThe speaker feels constrained and restricted by the 'Collar' because he feels that after putting on the collar, he gave up many things in his life and he has yet to recieve something that balances those sacrifices on the level of the sacrifice made. For example, he does state that he receives wine and corn as the priest but that is practically a pittance against the sacrifice of his freedom. Thus, he is lameting the fact that priesthood didn't turn out to be exactly what he wanted it to be. However, he does acknowledge the fact that it was a choice that he mafe and despite his misgivings about his choice, he will remain with his faith and continue practicing his religion.
To Yan:
ReplyDeleteI agree with your analysis and I especially like the way you sum it up in this sentence, "The speaker feels as though he is suffering far too much for his religion and not receiving enough material reward." I feel as if this sentence is able to sum up his feelings that are apparent in the majority of the poem. However, he does do a complete switch at the end that does not particularly solve his dellemma so the poem is really a way to vent his feelings but not choosing to change his situations.
"The Collar" is an exceptional title for this poem. A collar can represent two things. It can represent both faith in the Christian religion in the position of a priest, but it can also represent something such as a collar that you put on an animal to restrain it. I feel like the speaker feels constrained and restricted by his position. He is angry, and he no longer can manage his duties as a servant of a God. He has externally enforced and internally reinforced restrictions on freedom. I do not exactly understand why he would feel this way about this because he chose his position for himself. And we all know that in order to be a priest you have to be devoted in what you do. At the end of the poem the tone of the author changes from venting to that of loyalty. He somehow feels accomplished but it seems like he is still not satisfied with his life and his future.
ReplyDeleteTo Shahnaj:
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the priest feels trapped. Although he put himself into that position. I also agree that he accepts the restrictions, but i feel like he is not happy with his life. I feel like he sees no future for himself and sees no point in living.
Original:
ReplyDeleteThe collar is symbolized as the main characters main occupation, a priest, basically he is restricted by his religious responsibilities. The conflict in the reading is the collar doesn't allow him to fully be happy, he can't do the same thing he could have done before the collar. the conflict is not resolved, he has to stay loyal to his duties as a priest and although he may not be satifised that is where he belongs. the main character attitude towards the constraints is that of regret and sorrow, he wishes things were different then they were now. the main character tone was not consistent throughout the poem, it went from anger, to sorrow to loyalty. he shifts various times from each few lines.
To Paulina:
ReplyDeleteI didnt notice that the collar has two different meanings, i thought it just meant the title of the priest. but i do agree with your statement on the broad topic of the reading, he does feel trapped and basically unhappy with his decision. I think i can answer why you may be confused, although he did choose the profession, i dont think he really noticed the caged up feeling until he held the title. he didnt know how much responsibility and trapped feeling before hand.
To the priest the collar is a piece of clothing that limits his freedoms. He cannot voice his opinions and certain times, in a way it draws a line for him between the things he can and cannot do.
ReplyDeleteTo Yan:
ReplyDeleteI very much concur with your opinion of the collar, especially the comparison to it being a "dog collar"
The Collar in this poem represent the priest's limitations in his life. He feels bound to his job and bound to his faith. Despite his anger towards his unfruitful life, He continues to subject him to the collar.
ReplyDeleteTo Paulina
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comparison to an animal collar and restraint. Its seems as almost that he cannot free himself from the collar despite his free will.
The symbol of the "Collar" directly corelates to the poem. A collar is something that may symbolize ownership (like a dog), formality (uniforms), or a choke collar. The tone of the priest in the poem seems restricted, as if he was in a chokehold from the life he was living. However through out the poem the author keeps his tone very proper showing his formality. But finally at the end of the poem, when he is about to fight for himself, he remembers he is owned by the "Lord".
ReplyDeleteI agree with JUSTIN. There is definatley a sense of fear at the end of the poem. Which almost compares the "lord" to a king or monarchist
ReplyDeleteOriginal:
ReplyDeleteThe Collar restrict the priest from living his life how he wants. As a priest, his duty is to serve God. He is obviously frustrated with doing so. But with the collar around his neck, he must oblige. After speaking about how he long to live his life for himself and rebelling against his profession, he hears a voice that say "Child" and he responds, "My Lord". This shows the relationship he have with God. No matter how he may feel, with the collar around his neck, he must be obedient to God.
To Paulina,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your response. The collar is definitely an exceptional title for this poem. It definitely mean both the collar priests wear, as well as a collar that restrain dogs and prisoners. However, how do you know if he chose the profession himself?
Original: The Collar was definitely a symbol of the restrictions that the priest felt he had gained being a servant of God. I believe that the priest had a moment of anger , an outburst where he expressed physically and mentally his inner conflict. He somewhat understands his task as a priest but yearns for the freedoms that others do have. Towards the end of the poem , he seems to have regained some sort of faith in his God.
ReplyDeleteTo T.J:
ReplyDeleteI am not sure if it is a sense of fear but rather a beckoning to realize or remember why he continued life as a priest
Original:
ReplyDeleteThe symbol of the collar represents physical and emotional restraints on the narrator because of his priesthood, and the fact that he has committed his life to God. Being a priest means that he can't do things "of the world" which he may want to do, or which he used to do before. He feels as if there are limits to what he can do in life, and is ultimately frustrated. Nonetheless, he knows that with this priesthood, he has to be loyal to God, and submit, regardless of the restraints he may feel. He knows that he's suffering for a higher purpose, and understands that although he may never be fully satisfied physically and emotionally on earth, he will gain his reward in Heaven if he stays faithful.
To T.J.,
ReplyDeleteI agree with the idea of his collar being like a dog collar. Dog owners are allowed to control the way in which the dogs move by attaching a leash to their collar; though the dog may want to break free, they know their place - to remain loyal to their master and follow the way set out for them.
Original:
ReplyDeleteThe symbol of the collar is more than appropriate for the relationship depicted in the poem. This is because a collar, more specifically a dog collar, is restrictive, tightly clenching the dog so that he cannot act however he may desire to act. In addition a leash is connected to a dog collar. Leashes completely control the movement of a dog as if it’s a puppet. This also expresses restriction. The narrator of the poem’s collar is representative of his priesthood/religion. He is feeling restricted by his religion; he feels as if he cannot act as freely as he would like. He finds his priesthood to restrict and limit his freedom. He feels as if it controls all his actions and his entire life. Within the poem the narrator is having a conflict of restriction versus freedom.
I believe that the paradox at the heart of the metaphor of the collar is that while the collar, or in other words his priesthood/religion, restricts him and he dislikes the restriction, he cannot help but submit to it because he also loves it. The tension of this paradox is resolved when the narrator stops expressing his dislike for the “collar” but submits to it when the Lord calls him with tenderness and he responds.
To: Ellysa
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the “collar” is also comparing the narrator to an animal showing how his behavior resembles one. When the narrator speaks of himself becoming more and more enraged it is showing that animal like behavior is being expressed. It was as if he could not even control his anger or contain himself. Just as an animal, he was behaving off of instinct, saying what was coming to mind, never considering taming himself.
The title of the poem "The Collar" reflects the restraint his career has on his life. The title elaborates on the fact that he has a leash like complex that limits his freedom, with no slack being released. The majority of the poem he vents about priesthood and all the aspects in his life that he has to give up. He begins to challenge the reasoning for such a strict atmosphere behind the duties of the priest. He considers rebelling against the costumes of the church, but at the end of the poem he assures that it is just anger coming out. Although the collar he wears as a priest grips to hard that it becomes suffocating, he made a commitment and will loosen it up but still wear it, and live by all the restrictions that come with it.
ReplyDeleteThe collar that the priest wears is his physical restraint in the poem, though the metaphorically the collar represents everything that holds him back. He parallels himself with an animal, such as a dog, in using animalistic terms, he "struck" the board. His verbs hold both physical and emotional weight. Between lines 8 and 11 he speaks of his troubles, explaining that he doesn't get the "fruit" of his labor. All of the work is a "thorn" that makes him bleed. What he does get is so little in comparison to the level of loss that he experiences. Herbert repetitively uses the word "all" to describe everything that he goes for and sacrifices. The imagery gets progressively worse, there is more intense restriction. He refers to "ropes of sand," even though ropes bind, they aren't solid in this case. By line 30 there is a change in tone, the poem takes on a bitter humor of mockery, almost sarcastically bidding good luck. He is unsure about everything, but he assures himself that it is all a matter of faith.
ReplyDeleteTo Ellysa, I agree with you that the poem definitely has a comparison between an animalistic side and himself. As the poem progresses he uses more language that allude to this idea, though by the end of the poem he seems to have regained continuousness and no longer associates himself with animalistic behavior.
ReplyDeleteOriginal: The very things that constrains the speaker are his desires for earthly gratification. The priest feels as though the suffering he has to endure has done nothing for him. He feels like he has sown an immense amount of fruit and has not seen the glorification of his labor. It is apparent that the priest realizes that the gifts from his creator are immeasurable to those of the world but that does not make his desires subside. His earthly endeavors do not have the power to turn him away form the priesthood, however. Even with all the heartache, he chooses to remain as he is.
ReplyDeleteTo Syd: I agree with your interpretation of the collar being a suffocating constraint for the priest. I just don't understand how he can loosen up the collar while still living under the same constraints as he always has. To me it seems as though the priest just decides to stick it out and accept his fate. I do not see how he could loosen the confinement that he endures.
ReplyDeleteThe Collar is a perfect title for this poem, as the Priest is put on a collar by not only God, but his religion. He is in distress, questioning his faith, the poem takes a faith and doubt theme. The narrator declares himself free from God, as he goes on. As the poem progresses his relationship to God becomes more and more distant. But suddenly at the end he hears Gods voice, and once again makes his way back to God. A classic reference to faith an doubt, the entire poem serves as a question to the faith the priest has in God, his doubt. But in the end he falls right back into Gods hands, his faith takes control.
ReplyDeleteSydney: I agree with what your saying but I believe he goes back to God because he feels he wants to. He feels God as his light, his guide, not his dictator. He does have a choice, he could leave but he decides not to in the end.
ReplyDeleteThe symbol of the collar represents the relationship being depicted in the poem accurately. It displays the restraint that the "Lord" has on his "Child." The narrator sees that his "lines and life are free, free as the road, Loose as the wind, as large as store." but questions, "Shall I be still in suit?" which, ultimately brings him back to his God.
ReplyDeleteThe collar symbolizes the Priests sense of restriction based both in a physical and theoretical sense. The white collar that Priests wear serves as a constant reminder of the restrictions that the Priest has. Throughout the poem we find the narrator getting more and more frustrated with such restrictions so much that he begins to question his faith. By the end of the Poem however the narrator finds himself drawn back into his religion and gains an acceptance of his restrictions and what comes with the choice of being a Priest.
ReplyDeleteXander
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your reference to Faith and Doubt based on the common theme of uncertainty and than acceptance. It is clear that although the Priest began to go astray from his religion based on his restrictions he seemed to find his way back because his faith was to strong to give up on his religion entirely.