Pearl
Attributed to the poet of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, "Pearl" is a dream vision composed of alliterative verse, an allegory teaching its audience the virtues patience and obedience.
The narrator begins by telling of his most precious Pearl, lost for eternity to death. He falls asleep mourning over her grave, and a dream carries him to another world. He looks about this foreign place, noting its rare beauty, then sees his Pearl, dressed in white and covered in priceless pearls, across the river. When he speaks to her, asking if she is the Pearl he lost, she reminds him that she was only a flower, which in its time must wither. The narrator asks to cross the river and be united with Pearl, but she says such an action is against God's will. They continue their dialogue for a time, the narrator asking questions of the afterlife and heaven. Pearl instructs him in church doctrine, the wrathful justice of God, and the mercy of Christ. She bears a large pearl upon her chest, and refers to it as "the pearl of price." It represents salvation, and can only be won by turning from the world and accepting Christ. Their talk then turns to the city of New Jerusalem, the heavenly city where souls reside. The narrator wishes to see the city, and looks across the river to behold a paradise of gems and precious gold, the flawless home of God. The narrator is so moved by the beauty of the scene that when he sees Pearl join the parade of maidens moving serenly through the city, he yearns to be among them. He tries to plunge into the river, but at that moment, he wakes from the dream. He was again grieved at the loss of his Pearl, but the experience has given him the desire to serve God fully.
The pearl as a symbol is pure and spotless, priceless. In the beginning of the poem, it exists for the narrator as a precious worldly possession.
The above image is an oil painting which depicts the narrator speaking with Pearl. It can be found here.
posted by Ashley @ 11:08 AM
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