The reader-response theory focuses on the reader’s understanding, interpretation, and experience relating to the literary text’s impact and entirety. Significance of the reader’s personal experiences is addressed as parallel to that of the author as both are humans and experiences are universal - with society, influences such as culture and environment play a role in this factor and everything else in between.
An Affective Reading of “To Helen” by Edgar Allan Poe
This critical reading postulates that Edgar Allan Poe’s poem, “To Helen,” strongly induces in the reader the mental images of a human being in love/captivated with another human being’s beauty.
Helen, the beauty is to me 1
Like those Nicean barks of yore, 2
That gently, o’er a perfumed sea, 3
The weary, wayworn wanderer bore 4
To his own native shore. 5
On desperate seas long wont to roam, 6
Thy hyacinth hair, thy classic face, 7
Thy Naiad airs have brought me home 8
To the glory that was Greece 9
And the grandeur that was Rome. 10
Lo! In yon brilliant window-niche 11
How statue-like O see thee stand, 12
The agate lamp within thy hand! 13
Ah, Psyche, from the regions which 14
Are Holy Land! 15
This critical assumption is supported by the Reader-Response theory, also known as “Affective theory”, which Adams (3) asserts as the critical theory where the poem or literary text is seen in its relation to the reader. It reveals the varied ideas of what the result of the poem should be to the reader: moral betterment, scientific or other learning, hedonistic pleasure, psychic therapy, catharsis of unpleasant emotions, sublime transport, and creation of the aesthetic emotion of detached contemplation as Rozakis (180), Standford (92), and Lee (1280) stress in agreement.
The poem gives the reader the impression of reading a love letter containing a confession intended for a beautiful woman through the depiction of “Helen” – or Helen of Troy, the most beautiful woman in the world according to Greek legend – who is the subject of the poem.
The language used in each verse, and the symbolism and setting of the Greek era suggests a classical or ancient theme of romantic affiliation. The poetic choice of words evokes images to the reader’s mind that associates with voyage and Greek mythology, giving the impressions of a traveler adoring a woman’s eccentric and ethereal appearance (as supported in line 1) and how this woman affects the traveler (as supported in lines 2, 3, 4, and 5.)
The “traveler” portrays the speaker who is longing and has unrequited love for “Helen”, and compares his feelings towards her beauty to a smooth sail of a gentle sea, and being surrounded by its scent (lines 2 and 3), suggesting to the reader that the sight of the woman makes the traveler feel calm, at ease, and engulfed with sweetness. The contrary of lines 4 and 5 gives the reader an impression of the traveler retreating instead of pursuing or confessing due to weariness, fear, and insecurity.
Line 6 portrays the traveler’s sadness through the depiction of long days of stillness if not for the woman’s existence (as supported in line 7). The use of “Naiad airs” (line 8) as a portrayal/symbol of fate gives the reader the impression that the traveler perceives it as magical and that these mythological sea creatures (symbolize fate) serve as the guide that brings the traveler home – to “Helen” further eliminating the weariness, fear, and insecurity (as expressed in lines 4 and 5) and replacing it with confidence.
Lines 9 and 10 gives the reader a recollection of the Greek era being replaced by the Roman era, contrarily however, in relation to the poem, it gives the impression of the traveler’s depiction of “Helen’s” beauty as irreplaceable and everlasting.
The woman is then identified as elegant, bright (as the name literally means sunlight; bright as dawn), and strong giving the idea that the traveler is not only attracted to her appearance but also because of her character/personality. Line 11 depicts “Helen” staying inside the comfort of her home appearing through the window and the traveler being awe-struck with her graceful stance (as supported in line 12). Line 13 depicts the woman holding a light providing brightness to her surroundings and being the epitome of light, giving the reader the impression that the traveler perceives her beauty as illuminating and warm.
Lines 14 and 15 reflect the traveler’s strong emotions with the mention of “Psyche” giving the reader the impression that the traveler used it as a symbol to represent himself through the depiction of love and adoration for the woman as if hit by Cupid’s arrow, and that “Holy Land” indicates a representation of “Helen’s” purity as perceived by the traveler, to the reader.
Therefore, “To Helen” by Edgar Allan Poe is a poem that induces the reader the mental images of a human being in love/captivated with another human being’s beauty.
