In Wordsworth's "Ode on Imitations of Immortality", he expatiates on the closeness children retain with nature and hence with God. Moreover, he uses imagery to emphasize his philosophical ideologies of the nature of human beings. In the beginning of the poem, the first stanza, Wordsworth explains that as a child he believed nature to be 'Apparelled in celestial light' (I.l.4). This indicates that he was able to see nature's glory through innocent eyes. 'Celestial light' is in reference to holy truths; however through the process of maturation, he could no longer see the 'celestial light' due to his abandonment of innocence.
Wordsworth seems angry that as we assume adulthood we lose our connection with nature because we are engaged with the events of everyday life. He explains that 'our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting' (V.l.59) He refers to our soul as 'our life's star'(V.l.60) He explains that as a child he 'beholds [beheld] the light' because 'From God, who is our home./ Heaven lies about us in our infancy' (V.l.67-70). that before we are born we are aware of the 'light' within us, but we 'forget' after we are born. However, we are not completely oblivious to the 'light' because as children we still possess vague memories of Heaven, thus can see the glory of nature. Like Blake's 'Songs of Innocence', the 'light' symbolizes God's glory which can also represent holy truth.
Provided that the child is able to comprehend the 'light', this implies that children retain a superior wisdom that is available solely through God's glory. Wordsworth describes the process of maturity as 'shades of the prison-house begin[ning] to close upon the growing boy' (V.l.68-69). By such description, maturation is being compared to incarceration. The 'prison-house' is in reference to life and the 'shade' refers to experience. The 'light' we once saw in the earth is replaced with the 'shades' of worldly influence such as: school, work, etc. As we mature we overcome by experience which alters our view on life. At the end of stanza five, he explains that as the child matures the 'light' he once knew 'fade[s] into the light of common day.' This indicates that the holy truth 'fades' and is replaced with the light of day. The insight that was held as a child is no longer available, instead we reason with what we have gained through worldly influence.
In stanza seven, Wordsworth describes an eight-year-old boy who is 'among his newborn blisses' (VII.l.86). This is in reference to the boy's innocence and purity. He explains that the boy pretends to be an adult by mocking everyday life; he refers to life as an 'endless imitation'(VII.l.108). 'Endless imitation' refers to the continuous life phases. In stanza eight, Wordsworth refers to the boy as the 'best Philosopher' and a 'Mighty Prophet' (VIII.l. 111-115). He asks the boy, rhetorically, if he retains such 'heaven-born freedoms' why would he want to replace it with 'earthly freight' (VIII.l.127-131) Here, 'earthly freight' is in reference to worldly influence. Wordsworth believes that children should be grateful of their life of innocence, because they still maintain their 'holy wisdom'. When adulthood sets in, their 'holy wisdom' will fade and experience will settle in.
In stanzas nine through eleven, Wordsworth insinuates that although we abandon our 'holy wisdom' as we mature, we are still able to reminiscence about it. This indicates that the memories of our past are simply instances in eternity. In stanza ten, Wordsworth appears to accept that he is not able to see through innocent eyes anymore. Here, he refers to the 'holy wisdom' as the 'radiance which was once so bright' (X.l.180). He goes on to say that 'nothing can bring back the hour of splendour in the grass, or glory in the flower' (X.l.182-183). This indicates his sadness for his loss of innocence, however his appreciation for the ability to recall such a time. Wordsworth explicates that the 'philosophic mind' is brought by years of 'human suffering' (X.l.189-191) The 'philosophic mind' is in reference to his ability to ponder human nature. His metaphysical belief of the progression of human life has allowed him to comprehend the significance of childhood. At the end of the poem in stanza eleven, he explains that although he has 'relinquished one delight', which is undoubtedly his 'holy wisdom,' he is still able to recall the glory from his memories. In that respect, he is able to appreciate the nature in its true form.
During the process of maturity, it is inevitable that we will develop a new perspective of the world. Maturation is a part of life that cannot be avoided. However if we allow ourselves to mature at our own pace, we will be able to advance to each phase of our lives without regret. Blake and Wordsworth's depiction of children indicates their admiration for innocence as well as their comprehension of experience. Innocence is the lack of worldly influence and experience is worldly influence we gain through the process of maturity. In that respect, the experience we gain is viewed in a negative way because we our replacing our innocence. However, through experience we are able to comprehend the world thoroughly. According to Wordsworth, although we cannot see the world in the same 'light' as we did as children, we are able to 'find strength in what remains behind', or in other words, we can appreciate the earth as it is through experienced eyes (X.l.185). After all, we still have the power to recall our childhood and the ways in which life seemed at that time.
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Source: http://articles.submityourarticle.com/a-childs-innocence-308309
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