Hallaig: Change and Permanence

“Hallaig: Change and Permanence”: Overview

Grasping the Poem

  • MacLean’s ‘Hallaig’ is a poignant reflection on the deserted village of the same name in the Isle of Raasay, where the poet was born.
  • The poem explores the theme of change and permanence, primarily through the depiction of the haunting presence of villagers who once inhabited the village but are no longer alive.
  • A central aspect of the poem is its vivid depiction of contrasts between the past full of life and the present state of desolation.

Style and Form

  • The poem does not follow a distinct rhyme scheme, mirroring the ebb and flow of time and natural change.
  • MacLean employs a combination of haunting and descriptive language to bring alive the lost world of Hallaig.
  • A significant component of the poem is the use of Gaelic culture references, highlighting the richness of hallmarks of tradition that tragically faded away with time.

Theme of Time and Change

  • One of the major themes of the poem is the constant progression of time and the inevitable changes it brings.
  • The persistent depiction of past inhabitants of the village in present times indicates how time affects changes yet retains remnants of the past.
  • The theme of change and permanence is further emphasised by the portrayal of once vibrant village life in stark contrast to its current deserted state.

Symbolism and Imagery

  • The village of Hallaig itself acts as a potent symbol of cultural extinction and the passing of time.
  • MacLean’s use of natural elements, such as the forest, the trees, and the mist, serve as symbolic allusions to both the transience and permanence of life.
  • The trees, for instance, symbolically stand for the villagers - with roots in the past but reaching into the present.

Figurative Language

  • The metaphor of the forest full of fallen trees which “are always birch, their leaves never rustling” conveys the idea of the past impinging on the present.
  • The personification of the houses being ‘empty’ and ‘silent’ adds emotional depth to the depiction of the deserted village.
  • MacLean’s imagery masterfully recreates the lively past of the village within the reader’s mind, reinforcing the contrast between what once was and what now is.