The central speaker of the poem is Brahma Himself who, according to the Hindu texts, is the Creator of all things in the universe, part of the trinity with Vishnu (the protector) and Shiva (the destroyer). Brahma is regarded as the essence or ‘soul’ of the universe that Emerson called the ‘Oversoul’. The theme of the poem is that human beings can exalt their spiritual realm only through the realization of the Brahman, the Oversoul.
Structure and Theme of Brahma by Emerson:
This poem consists of 4 stanzas. Each 4-line stanza constitutes a quatrain with some kind of metrical and rhyme pattern. As the rhyme scheme of each stanza is ABAB, it is called an alternate or interlaced quatrain. The poem exhibits Transcendentalism with major themes of Man’s inherent goodness, unity with the universe, and man’s central status in the world are three major thematic strands of “Brahma.” Emerson argues about man’s unity in the universe in that he is the slayer, the slain, and the one who slays. In this way, he lives in everything, whether it is a god, a natural element, or even an abstract idea such as “the doubt” or “the good.” This also shows man’s inherent goodness as well as man’s central position in the scheme of this world. Whenever a person needs direction to do good, he must turn to a man and not heaven. Even the heavenly entities represented by gods lie deep in the heart of the man who does not need any intermediary to reach these deities.
Summary of Brahma by Emerson:
Stanza 1
“If the red slayer think he slays,
Or if the slain think he is slain,
They know not well the subtle ways
I keep, and pass, and turn again.”
The poem begins in first person as the speaker, Brahma Himself, explains that people are wrong about their assumptions. The speaker is the voice of one who has reached the pinnacle of spiritual illumination. The red slayer is Shiva, the destroyer, who destroys the body, not the soul. The speaker says that all those who are afraid of death are ignorant of the ‘subtle ways ’ of the Creator, the Oversoul because all those who are living are just me, and all those who die are also just me, as I the creator continue to turn again. The ‘subtle ways’ represent the circle of birth, growth, death, and rebirth. Brahma says that there is no difference between Brahma and Shiva, as both are the manifestation of the same Oversoul.
The first stanza is inspired by the Bhagavad Gita. “Anyone who thinks the soul is the slayer and anyone who thinks the soul is the slain both of them is in ignorance; the soul never slays nor slain; The soul never takes birth and never dies at any time nor does it come into being again when the body is created. The soul is birthless, eternal, imperishable, and timeless and is never destroyed when the body is destroyed; One who knows the soul as eternal, unborn, undeteriorating, and indestructible; how does that person cause death to anyone and whom does he slay?”(19, 20, 21. Chapter 2 of Bhagavad-Gita ).
Stanza 2
“Far or forgot to me is near;
Shadow and sunlight are the same;
The vanished gods to me appear;
And one to me are shame and fame”
In the second stanza, the poet uses contrasting images and metaphors suggesting the Western idea of binary opposition, “either this or that,” which suggests empirical thinking. It is a way of discriminating between antagonistic and incomparable things, shadows to sunlight, and far to near. However, Emerson refutes this concept of binary opposition and suggests that all these differences are illusionary (Maya). On the Transcendental level, both of these opposites represent different sides of the same coin. One man’s justice is another’s injustice; one man’s beauty, another’s ugliness; one man’s wisdom, another’s folly; as one beholds the same objects from a higher point. Often men fail to realize the oneness while observing these supposed binary opposites because of their cognitive limitations. According to Emerson, if a man reaches the height of the Oversoul or God, or becomes one with the Oversoul or God, everything is essentially the same.
Stanza 3
“They reckon ill who leave me out;
When me they fly, I am the wings;
I am the doubter and the doubt,
And I the hymn the Brahmin sings.”
In the third stanza, the poet further explains the nature of Brahma. Brahma expresses his satisfaction with those who realize their mistake in ignoring the presence of Oversoul and mend their ways. Emerson expresses the idea of another shloka from Bhagavad Gita “For one who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me, I am never forgotten by them and they are never forgotten by Me”(30, chapter 6 of Bhagavad-Gita). Emerson uses metaphors to express the totality of Brahma for those who realize the Oversoul and says that those who realize the presence of Oversoul within them, they get rid of all the illusions and binary oppositions as there remains no difference between the doubter and the doubt. Brahma says that he is the totality that those who know the Oversoul, the essence of the universe, praise in their hymns.
Stanza 4
“The strong gods pine for my abode,
And pine in vain the sacred Seven;
But thou, meek lover of the good!
Find me, and turn thy back on heaven.”
In the fourth stanza, the poet uses Allusions offering references to Hindu mythology. The strong gods refer to Devtas including Indra, the god of the sky, Agni, the god of fire, Yama, the god of death and judgment and others. These strong gods are like humans with special powers and were created by Brahma himself. Just like humans, these gods pine for salvation which is possible only if they integrate themselves into the Brahma, the Oversoul. Another allusion is ‘the sacred Seven’ which is a reference to the Seven Sages of Hindu Cosmology, the SaptaRishis. Despite all their knowledge, the ‘sacred Seven’ pine for salvation which again is possible only through the realization that they and everyone else are no different from the Oversoul. Thus, Brahma says that humans, who are the meek lover of the good’ and wishes pleasant things to experience, should give up their search for heaven and heavenly beauty, instead they should concentrate and realize the Oversoul within themselves because that is the only way to attain salvation.
Literary Devices used in Brahma:
Emerson has used Allusion in this poem with reference to Hindu cosmology mentioning the Sacred Seven, Brahmin, and strong gods. Assonance has been used in the beginning line of Stanza 1 and Stanza 2 ( the sound of /a/ in “If the red slayer think he slays” and the sound of /o/ in “Far or forgot to me is near.”) Alliteration has also been used as in ‘sacred Seven’ and the use of sound /f/ in “Far or forgot to me is near.” Consonance has also been used as the sound of /t and w/ in “They know not well the subtle ways.” Strong imagery is used throughout the poem along with some extensive metaphors (“I am the wings” and “I the hymn the Brahmin sings” to show that the poet claims to be a bird as well as a hymn.) The poet used parallelism, such as “When me they fly, I am the wings.” It has an equal number of words in both clauses.
So this is it for today. We will continue to discuss the history of American English literature. Please stay connected with the Discourse. Thanks and Regards!
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