Girl of the Red-Gold Hair: Theme; Nature

“Girl of the Red-Gold Hair: Theme; Nature”

Content and Theme

• The poem intertwines natural images with feelings of intense love and longing.
• The red-gold hair of the girl serves as a vibrant symbol for the powerful connection between beauty, nature, and love.
• The theme of nature continues throughout the poem, and MacLean uses it to frame his emotional ruminations.

Form and Structure

• The poem is composed in free verse, allowing MacLean maximum flexibility to express his sentiments.
• The lack of a structured rhyme scheme can be perceived as a mimicry of the unpredictability of nature and emotions.
• Each stanza seems to represent a different aspect of nature, encapsulating the changing moods of MacLean’s feelings.

Language and Imagery

• The poem is replete with figurative language and imagery related to nature.
• Examples include gay, shining, sea-blanched stones, fresh-smelling hay and red-throated lovebird, providing a rich visual, olfactory, and auditory experience that conveys the overwhelming passion of the poet.
• This lush, emotive language brings the landscape and emotions alive, capturing both the outer beauty of nature and the inner intensity of love.

Tone

• The tone of the poem is largely passionate and celebratory, reflecting the beauty of nature and love.
• Regression from joyous to melancholic and reflective tones hint at the poet’s complex relationship with the girl.
• Nature is revered and is viewed not only as a background feature but also as an active participant in the experience of longing and love.

Context

• Raised in the rural Isle of Raasay, MacLean’s exposure to the Scottish landscapes greatly influenced his poetry.
• He was known for his ability to evoke and intertwine the beauty of nature with human emotions.
• There are elements of traditional Gaelic poetry that place importance on the symbolic role of nature.