The Pulley: George Herbert

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The Pulley: George Herbert

About the Poet – George Herbert

·         George Herbert was a major Metaphysical poet of the 17th century.

·         Born in 1593 into an aristocratic family in England.

·         Educated at Cambridge University, where he became a public orator.

·         Later gave up a worldly career and became an Anglican priest.

·         His poetry reflects deep religious faith, humility, and devotion to God.

·         Strongly influenced by Christian theology and spirituality.

·         His poems are simple in language but profound in meaning.

·         Famous for using everyday objects (like a pulley, altar, collar) to explain spiritual truths.

·         His major work The Temple (1633) was published after his death.

·         “The Pulley” is one of his most popular devotional poems.

Prescribed Poem – Publication Details

·         Poem Title: The Pulley

·         Poet: George Herbert

·         First Published: 1633

·         Collection: The Temple

·         Genre: Metaphysical / Religious / Devotional poem

·         Form: Lyric poem

·         Theme: God’s wisdom in denying rest to bring man closer to Him

·         Style: Simple narrative with a metaphysical conceit

·         Central Image: Pulley (symbolic)

Poem Text

When God at first made man,
Having a glass of blessings standing by,
“Let us,” said he, “pour on him all we can.
Let the world’s riches, which dispersèd lie,
Contract into a span.”

So strength first made a way;
Then beauty flowed, then wisdom, honour, pleasure.
When almost all was out, God made a stay,
Perceiving that, alone of all his treasure,
Rest in the bottom lay.

“For if I should,” said he,
“Bestow this jewel also on my creature,
He would adore my gifts instead of me,
And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature;
So both should losers be.

“Yet let him keep the rest,
But keep them with repining restlessness;
Let him be rich and weary, that at least,
If goodness lead him not, yet weariness
May toss him to my breast.”

Detailed Summary 

The poem has four stanzas, each contributing clearly to the central idea.

Stanza 1: God’s Gift of Worldly Blessings

The poem begins with God creating man. God has a glass full of blessings and decides to give man everything He can.
All the scattered riches of the world—strength, beauty, wisdom, honour, pleasure—are poured into human life.

👉 Meaning:
God generously blesses man with all worldly qualities.

Stanza 2: God Withholds Rest

After giving almost everything, God suddenly stops.
He notices that “Rest” still lies at the bottom of the glass.
Unlike other blessings, God does not pour rest into man’s life.

👉 Meaning:
Rest is a special blessing, and God deliberately withholds it.

Stanza 3: Reason for Withholding Rest

God explains His decision. If man received rest, he would start loving God’s gifts more than God Himself.
Man would become satisfied with nature and forget the Creator.
This would harm both God and man spiritually.

👉 Meaning:
Rest could make man spiritually lazy and distant from God.

Stanza 4: Restlessness as a Divine Tool

God allows man to enjoy wealth and success, but with constant dissatisfaction.
Man remains rich yet tired, successful yet uneasy.
This restlessness works like a pulley, pulling man upward toward God when worldly pleasures fail to satisfy him.

👉 Meaning:
Human restlessness pushes the soul back toward God.

Themes of the Poem

1. Theme of Divine Wisdom

One of the central themes of The Pulley is God’s wisdom in creation. God gives man all worldly blessings such as strength, beauty, wisdom, honour, and pleasure. However, He wisely withholds rest. This is not cruelty but divine intelligence. God knows that if man receives complete satisfaction, he will forget his Creator. Therefore, restlessness becomes a deliberate part of human life, designed by God for a higher purpose.

 2. Theme of Restlessness as a Spiritual Force

The most important theme of the poem is restlessness. Herbert presents restlessness as a blessing in disguise. Man is never fully satisfied in life; he always feels a sense of emptiness or dissatisfaction. This inner uneasiness pushes him away from worldly pleasures and turns his mind towards God. Thus, restlessness acts as a spiritual pulley that lifts the human soul upward.

 3. Theme of Man’s Dependence on God

The poem highlights that human beings are dependent on God not only for material blessings but also for spiritual fulfillment. Even when man possesses wealth, beauty, and wisdom, he feels incomplete without God. Herbert suggests that true peace can be found only in divine love, not in worldly success.

 4. Theme of Worldly Pleasure vs Spiritual Fulfilment

Herbert contrasts worldly pleasures with spiritual peace. Worldly gifts give temporary happiness, but they cannot satisfy the soul permanently. God allows man to enjoy earthly pleasures, but also makes him weary of them so that he may seek eternal joy in God. This contrast between the material and the spiritual is central to the poem.

 5. Theme of God’s Love and Mercy

Although God withholds rest, He does so out of love. His intention is not to punish man but to save him from becoming proud and self-satisfied. God’s action shows divine mercy because He wants man to return to Him and achieve eternal peace. The poem thus presents God as a loving and caring Father.

STRUCTURE OF THE POEM

 1. Form and Stanza Structure

The Pulley is written in four stanzas, each containing five lines.
The poem follows a regular and balanced structure, reflecting divine order and control.

 2. Rhyme Scheme

The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABABB in each stanza.
This regular rhyme pattern gives the poem a smooth, musical quality and supports its calm, reflective tone.

 3. Use of Metaphysical Conceit

The entire poem is built on a metaphysical conceit—the comparison of restlessness to a pulley.
Just as a pulley lifts a heavy object upward, restlessness lifts man’s soul towards God.
This intellectual comparison is a key feature of metaphysical poetry.

 4. Simple Language with Deep Meaning

The language of the poem is simple, clear, and conversational.
However, beneath this simplicity lies deep philosophical and religious meaning.
Herbert uses everyday words to express profound spiritual truths.

 5. Logical Development of Thought

The poem progresses logically:

·         God gives man blessings

·         God withholds rest

·         Man becomes restless

·         Restlessness leads man back to God

This logical structure strengthens the moral message of the poem.

MCQs with Answers

1. Who wrote “The Pulley”?

a) John Donne
b) Andrew Marvell
c) George Herbert
d) Henry Vaughan
Answer: c) George Herbert

2. The poem is taken from—

a) Songs and Sonnets
b) Silex Scintillans
c) The Temple
d) Paradise Lost
Answer: c) The Temple

3. Which blessing did God withhold?

a) Wisdom
b) Beauty
c) Strength
d) Rest
Answer: d) Rest

4. Why did God withhold rest?

a) To punish man
b) To test man
c) To keep man close to Him
d) To make man suffer
Answer: c) To keep man close to Him

5. “Glass of blessings” symbolizes—

a) Cup
b) Nature
c) God’s generosity
d) Wealth
Answer: c) God’s generosity

6. The pulley in the poem represents—

a) Wealth
b) Labour
c) Restlessness pulling man to God
d) Time
Answer: c) Restlessness pulling man to God

7. Which blessing is given first?

a) Wisdom
b) Strength
c) Pleasure
d) Honour
Answer: b) Strength

8. “Rest in Nature” means—

a) Living in forests
b) Loving God
c) Being satisfied with worldly life
d) Sleeping
Answer: c) Being satisfied with worldly life

9. The poem teaches that true peace lies in—

a) Wealth
b) Pleasure
c) God
d) Knowledge
Answer: c) God

10. The tone of the poem is—

a) Angry
b) Humorous
c) Devotional and philosophical
d) Tragic
Answer: c) Devotional and philosophical

Short Answer Questions 

1. Why does God withhold rest from man in “The Pulley”?

God withholds rest because if man were fully satisfied, he would forget God and worship worldly pleasures. Restlessness keeps man spiritually alert. This dissatisfaction works as a force that pulls man toward God. Thus, restlessness becomes a divine blessing in disguise.

2. Explain the central metaphor of the pulley.

The pulley symbolizes human restlessness. Just as a pulley lifts objects upward, dissatisfaction lifts the human soul toward God. Worldly success tires man, and this weariness drives him to seek divine comfort and peace.

3. What does the “glass of blessings” symbolize?

The glass of blessings represents God’s abundance and generosity. It contains all worldly gifts such as strength, beauty, wisdom, honour, and pleasure. God pours these gifts freely upon man, showing His kindness.

4. How does Herbert present God’s relationship with man?

Herbert presents God as a loving and wise creator. God carefully plans human life to ensure spiritual growth. Even suffering and dissatisfaction are shown as expressions of divine love meant to bring man closer to God.

5. What message does the poem convey to human beings?

The poem teaches that worldly pleasures cannot give lasting peace. True rest and satisfaction come only from God. Human restlessness is not a curse but a divine tool guiding the soul toward spiritual fulfillment.

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