Introduction
“The World Is Too Much With Us” by William Wordsworth is a sonnet that reflects his deep concern about humanity’s growing detachment from nature. Written in the early 19th century, during the Industrial Revolution, the poem critiques materialism and the loss of spiritual connection with the natural world. Wordsworth, a prominent figure of Romanticism, calls for a return to nature and invokes mythological imagery to underscore the gravity of humanity’s alienation.
Summary
The poem opens with Wordsworth lamenting humanity’s obsession with materialism, which has led to a disconnection from nature. He criticizes society for “laying waste” its powers on “getting and spending” and expresses regret that people no longer recognize their bond with the natural world. He describes the sea, winds, and other elements of nature as vibrant and alive, yet humanity remains indifferent to their beauty and significance. Wordsworth wishes he were a pagan who could find meaning and solace in mythological beliefs, imagining visions of Proteus and Triton as symbols of a deeper spiritual connection to the world.
Literary Devices
- Form and Structure:
- The poem is a Petrarchan sonnet consisting of 14 lines with an ABBAABBA rhyme scheme in the octave and a variable rhyme scheme in the sestet (CDCDCD).
- Personification:
- Nature is personified throughout, such as the sea “bares her bosom to the moon” and the winds are described as “howling at all hours.”
- Allusion:
- References to Proteus and Triton, figures from Greek mythology, emphasize the poet’s longing for a spiritual connection with nature.
- Imagery:
- Rich visual and auditory imagery, like the “howling winds” and “sleeping flowers,” evokes the beauty and vitality of the natural world.
- Contrast:
- The contrast between materialism (“getting and spending”) and the spiritual connection to nature highlights the central conflict.
- Exclamation and Apostrophe:
- Wordsworth uses passionate expressions like “Great God!” to convey his intense emotions.
- Metaphor:
- “We lay waste our powers” metaphorically describes humanity’s squandering of its potential.
Themes
- Materialism vs. Nature:
- Wordsworth critiques the industrial and materialistic culture of his time, which has severed humanity’s bond with nature.
- Spiritual Alienation:
- The poem reflects a sense of loss and yearning for a deeper connection to the spiritual and natural world.
- Romanticism:
- Celebrates nature as a source of inspiration, beauty, and spiritual fulfillment, emphasizing the Romantic ideal of returning to nature.
- Mythology and Imagination:
- The invocation of ancient myths represents a longing for a worldview where nature and spirituality were intertwined.
- Critique of Modernity:
- Wordsworth expresses dissatisfaction with the industrial age, which prioritizes economic progress over emotional and spiritual well-being.
Analysis
Wordsworth critiques the societal shift during the Industrial Revolution, which prioritized wealth and progress at the expense of nature. The sonnet’s contemplative tone underscores the poet’s despair about humanity’s spiritual barrenness. By invoking Greek mythology, he suggests that older belief systems, though “outworn,” held a reverence for nature that modern society lacks. The poem aligns with Romantic ideals, advocating for simplicity, introspection, and a reconnection with the natural world.
About the Author
William Wordsworth (1770–1850) was a leading figure in the Romantic movement, known for his deep appreciation of nature and belief in its transformative power. His works often explore themes of nature, spirituality, and human emotion, emphasizing the importance of individual experience and the beauty of the natural world. Wordsworth’s poetry, including the famous Lyrical Ballads (written with Samuel Taylor Coleridge), helped establish Romanticism as a major literary movement.
The World Is Too Much With Us
The world is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;—
Little we see in Nature that is ours;
We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!
This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon;
The winds that will be howling at all hours,
And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers;
For this, for everything, we are out of tune;
It moves us not. Great God! I’d rather be
A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn;
So might I, standing on this pleasant lea,
Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn;
Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea;
Or hear old Triton blow his wreathèd horn.
Line 1
“The world is too much with us; late and soon,”
- Word Meanings:
- The world: Material concerns and worldly pursuits.
- Too much with us: Overwhelms or consumes us.
- Late and soon: At all times—both in the past and present.
- Explanation:
Wordsworth laments humanity’s obsession with materialism and worldly matters, which dominate our lives at all times, leaving little room for nature or spiritual connection.
Line 2
“Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;”
- Word Meanings:
- Getting and spending: The acts of acquiring and consuming wealth.
- Lay waste our powers: Squander our potential and energy.
- Explanation:
The poet criticizes society for exhausting its capabilities in the pursuit of wealth and material possessions, neglecting deeper, more meaningful experiences.
Line 3
“Little we see in Nature that is ours;”
- Word Meanings:
- Little we see: We hardly recognize.
- Nature that is ours: The beauty and connection with the natural world.
- Explanation:
Humanity has become so detached from nature that we no longer appreciate or feel a sense of belonging to it.
Line 4
“We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!”
- Word Meanings:
- Given our hearts away: Lost our emotional and spiritual connection.
- Sordid boon: A shameful or tainted gift.
- Explanation:
By focusing on materialism, we have sacrificed our connection with nature—a tragic and disgraceful exchange.
Line 5
“This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon;”
- Word Meanings:
- Bares her bosom: Exposes herself; personification of the sea as a nurturing, feminine figure.
- To the moon: Illuminated by the moonlight.
- Explanation:
Wordsworth evokes the image of the sea as a beautiful, living entity open to the moon’s gaze—a symbol of nature’s intimacy and vitality that we fail to appreciate.
Line 6
“The winds that will be howling at all hours,”
- Word Meanings:
- Howling: Producing a loud, mournful sound.
- At all hours: Constantly, symbolizing nature’s restless energy.
- Explanation:
The poet describes the winds’ untamed force, emphasizing the vibrant and dynamic aspects of nature that humans overlook.
Line 7
“And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers;”
- Word Meanings:
- Up-gathered: Collected or stilled.
- Sleeping flowers: A simile likening calm winds to flowers at rest.
- Explanation:
When the winds are calm, they seem to rest like folded or “sleeping” flowers, highlighting the serenity of nature when it’s not in motion.
Line 8
“For this, for everything, we are out of tune;”
- Word Meanings:
- For this, for everything: Regarding all aspects of nature.
- Out of tune: Disconnected or not in harmony.
- Explanation:
Wordsworth laments humanity’s alienation from nature and the inability to resonate with its beauty and rhythms.
Line 9
“It moves us not. Great God! I’d rather be”
- Word Meanings:
- It moves us not: Nature fails to inspire or stir us.
- Great God!: An exclamation of despair or prayer.
- Explanation:
Frustrated by humanity’s apathy toward nature, the poet wishes to escape this indifference and seek a more meaningful existence.
Line 10
“A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn;”
- Word Meanings:
- Pagan: A follower of ancient, polytheistic religions.
- Suckled: Nurtured or raised.
- Creed outworn: An outdated belief system.
- Explanation:
Wordsworth would prefer to live as a pagan, guided by old, nature-centered beliefs, rather than conforming to the materialistic worldview of his time.
Line 11
“So might I, standing on this pleasant lea,”
- Word Meanings:
- So might I: Thus, I might be able to.
- Lea: Meadow or open grassland.
- Explanation:
The poet imagines himself in a natural setting where he could reconnect with ancient myths and find solace in nature’s wonders.
Line 12
“Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn;”
- Word Meanings:
- Glimpses: Brief visions or insights.
- Less forlorn: Less desolate or hopeless.
- Explanation:
By immersing himself in nature, Wordsworth hopes to gain moments of spiritual enlightenment that could alleviate his sense of despair.
Line 13
“Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea;”
- Word Meanings:
- Proteus: A sea god in Greek mythology who could change shape.
- Rising from the sea: Emerging from the ocean, symbolizing transformation.
- Explanation:
Wordsworth longs for mythological visions, such as Proteus, which would inspire awe and rekindle his connection with nature.
Line 14
“Or hear old Triton blow his wreathèd horn.”
- Word Meanings:
- Triton: A Greek sea god, often depicted blowing a conch shell.
- Wreathèd horn: A twisted or spiral-shaped conch shell.
- Explanation:
The poet imagines hearing Triton’s conch, a mythical sound that symbolizes the harmony and grandeur of nature, contrasting with humanity’s disconnection.
