Themes in Thought the Paraclete
Thought the Paraclete by Sri Aurobindo employs several devices like symbolism, imagery and personification to enhance its mystic tone. It also explores various themes such as Quest for Divine Knowledge, Unity with the Divine, Spiritual Journey etc. Here are some of the themes explored in the poem.
• Spiritual Journey
In “Thought the Paraclete”, the thought undertakes a spiritual journey and travels through various (ethereal realms) stages of life, gradually leaving behind earthly limitations, to ultimately attain spiritual transcendence and unify with the divine essence.
In short, the idea of the poem is to dissolve the individual identity and identify the self with the divine essence, and ultimately disappear into infinity. The thought is in search of divine wisdom and it relentlessly travels through various mysterious realms determined to reach its goal.
• Quest for Divine Knowledge
The main idea of the work “Thought the Paraclete” is the search for divine wisdom. The thought relentlessly travels in search of divine knowledge with an aim to merge with divinity, at some point.
It sets out with a motive of searching the final Beyond in pursuit of the ultimate forms of spirituality. It also aims at seeking unexplored new pathways to reach out divinity and uncover hidden secrets.
• Unity of Self and the Divine
Another main theme of the poem is to attain the divine state/ merge with the divine essence. The thought aims to narrow down the gap between two states: the individual (the self) and the divine.
A spiritual transformation (journey) is necessary to accomplish this task, so the thought transforms into the Paraclete, the great-winged wanderer to make it easier for travelling through various mysterious realms. Its steadfast journey is with a goal to ultimately unify with the Divine.
• Timelessness and Eternity
Timelessness and Eternity — a sense of life after the physical world — is expressed in “Thought the Paraclete”. To escape beyond what can be contained by Space and Time, the thought travels in an endeavor towards the sphere beyond Space and Time.
Altogether, in “Thought the Paraclete”, the author tries to convey the sense of the temporal nature of the soul on one hand, and the eternal and timeless, on the other. The thought goes beyond mind-boggling heights, to find an existence outside the physical reality of Time and space.
Poetic Devices
“Thought the Paraclete” employs various poetic devices that enhance the quality of the poem. Here are some of the poetic devices used in the poem:
• Simile & Metaphor
The poem makes use of simile and metaphor. Simile is a figure of speech that compares two things of different kind whereas Metaphor compares two unrelated things emphasising that one thing is another.
There’s an example of simile in Thought the Paraclete:
- The comparison of the thought’s journey to a “bright archangel in vision” (“As some bright archangel in vision flies”).
Examples of metaphor include:
- The face of the thought described as “lustred, pale-blue-lined of the hippogriff” and the thought itself transforming into the “great-winged wanderer Paraclete.”
• Symbolism
In fact, the poet employs Symbolism throughout ‘Thought the Paraclete’. Symbolism is a figure of speech that employs symbols to represent ideas. Examples in the poem include:
- The “hippogriff” symbolises the brilliance and magnificence of imaginative thought.
- The “gold-red seeking of feet” symbolise the thought’s relentless pursuit of knowledge and transcendence.
- The “deep twilights of the world-abyss” symbolise the unfathomable mysteries and vastness of the divine.
• Imagery
“Thought the Paraclete” creates several visual imagery. Examples include:
- The portrayal of “long green crests of the seas of life” and “orange skies of the mystic mind,” to invoke a sense of vastness and celestial realms.
- The image of “fluttering wings of wind” (“sleepless wide great glimmering wings of wind”) conveys the restlessness and constant striving of thought.
- The “crimson-white mooned oceans” and “sun-realms of supernal seeing” paint a picture of ethereal beauty and transcendence.
• Personification
Personification is utilised in ‘Thought the Paraclete’ to give human attributes to abstract concepts. For example
- ‘Space and Time’ are personified as having “mute vanishing ends.” (“Bore the gold-red seeking of feet that trod Space and Time’s mute vanishing ends”).
- In the line “Sleepless wide great glimmering wings of wind”, the wind is personified as having wings and sleeplessness.
Apart from these, the poem also employs devices like alliteration (“mystic mind” & “wings of wind”), enjambment (“Sleepless wide great glimmering wings of wind/ Bore the gold-red seeking of feet that trod/ Space and Time’s mute vanishing ends.”) and hyperbole (such as “bourneless ways” and “far ethers eternal-sunned”).
The Metaphorical Title
The title of the poem, “Thought the Paraclete,” is metaphorical in nature. It employs metaphor by using the term “Paraclete” to symbolically represent the transformative journey of thought.
The word “Paraclete” derives from Greek and has various meanings, including “advocate,” “comforter,” or “helper.”
In religious contexts, it is often associated with the Holy Spirit, representing divine guidance and support.
In the poem, the term “Paraclete” metaphorically represents the thought or vision undergoing a profound spiritual transformation.
By using the metaphor of the Paraclete, the poet suggests that the thought embarks on a spiritual journey comparable to the divine helper, guiding the individual towards higher realms of understanding.
The metaphorical title “Thought the Paraclete” abbreviates the transformative nature of the thought’s journey, its quest for spiritual enlightenment, and its ultimate merging with the divine.
FAQs: People Also Ask
Q: What is the famous poem of Sri Aurobindo? (Or) What are the major works of Aurobindo?
The major works of Sri Aurobindo include “Essays on Gita”, “The Synthesis of Yoga”, “The Life Divine”, “Letters on Yoga”, “Thought the Paraclete”, and “Savitri: A Legend and Symbol”.
Q: What is the central theme of the poem “Thought the Paraclete” by Sri Aurobindo?
The central theme of “Thought the Paraclete” is the transformative power of divine inspiration and the role of the spiritual guide (“Thought”/ “Paraclete”) in guiding humanity towards higher states of consciousness.
It portrays the Paraclete as a source of wisdom and enlightenment, leading people towards spiritual awakening and liberation.
Q: What are the central themes of Sri Aurobindo’s poems?
Sri Aurobindo explores a wide range of themes in his works that reflect his profound spiritual insights and philosophical perspectives. Let’s see some of the central themes in his poetry:
• Spiritual Evolution: Aurobindo’s poems often explores the journey of the soul towards higher states of consciousness and spiritual awakening. For example, “Thought the Paraclete” revolves around the thought’s spiritual journey, the progressive transcendence of earthly limitations and the ascent into higher spiritual realms.
• The Omnipresence of the Divine: Some of Aurobindo’s works explore the theme of the omnipresence of the Divine and the importance of aligning one’s life with the divine will.
• Transcendence and Liberation: Aurobindo’s works also explore the possibility of transcending limitations and attaining liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
Q: What is the Thought of the Paraclete poem?
“Thought the Paraclete” is a poem by Sri Aurobindo that reflects on the transformative power of divine inspiration and the role of the spiritual guide, or Paraclete, in guiding humanity towards higher spiritual states. Here’s the poem:
Thought the Paraclete by Aurobindo
As some bright archangel in vision flies
Plunged in dream-caught spirit immensities,
Past the long green crests of the seas of life,
Past the orange skies of the mystic mind
Flew my thought self-lost in the vasts of God.
Sleepless wide great glimmering wings of wind
Bore the gold-red seeking of feet that trod
Space and Time’s mute vanishing ends. The face
Lustred, pale-blue-lined of the hippogriff,
Eremite, sole, daring the bourneless ways,
Over world-bare summits of timeless being
Gleamed; the deep twilights of the world-abyss
Failed below. Sun-realms of supernal seeing,
Crimson-white mooned oceans of pauseless bliss
Drew its vague heart-yearning with voices sweet.
Hungering, large-souled to surprise the unconned
Secrets white-fire-veiled of the last Beyond,
Crossing power-swept silences rapture-stunned,
Climbing high far ethers eternal-sunned,
Thought the great-winged wanderer paraclete
Disappeared slow-singing a flame-word rune.
Self was left, lone, limitless, nude, immune.