She Walks In Beauty

The poem ‘She Walks in Beauty’ explicitly put to the reader Lord Byron’s view of this lady who was very beautiful and this beauty was so conspicuous that it could even be seen by night. Nighttime is the time and hour that there is great darkness and most of the things are blurred for the eyes to see. However, in this context, the night is that of starry skies implying that the night was bright. In fact Lord Byron writes, “…of cloudless climes and starry skies” (Byron 2). Beauty in this context is so deep that it is compared to a special night. It is the beauty that goes beyond what light can help one see to what is hidden underneath. The lady described in the poem walks like the night, the night that was brilliant. This means that the manner in which she moved invisibly portrayed beauty that was compared to a bright night. There is always beauty when the moon is shinning by night. A careful view of the skies at night will reveal the marvelous beauty at this time as the moon’s rays are projected to the earth. The beauty of nature at this bright night is compared to the beauty that this lady walks with. It is true that no one can assume the beauty of the night when the moon is shinning, and its rays settle on the ground. The author advances that beauty that speaks inside does not need the eye’s view but it needs a heart that is moved by the eyes view.

Therefore comparing this lady to this experience clearly emphasizes the beauty that was seen as she walks. The phrase, “and all that’s best of dark and bright…” puts emphasis on her beauty (Byron 3). Life experience will show that we see beauty can be seen and at times not seen. One may look at a beautiful lady and see beautiful features that she has. In the same manner, one may look at her and see the beauty from her eyes. It is therefore notable that the phrase goes on to assert that all that was best in dark and bright was seen by the author through looking at her physical figure. For instance, the author uses the term ‘aspect’ to refer to her physical outlook. This beauty again goes beyond just what Lord Byron sees to what the message that is being sent by her eyes represents. Looking at the eyes of this lady brought about an aspect of beauty. He finishes the first stanza by the engaging phrase that goes, “…which Heaven to gaudy day denies” implying the beauty was incredible to an extent that even the colorful day in heaven would simply not match the standards (Byron 6).

The second stanza begins gracefully as the author explains that as the shadow was increasing, the rays were fading off; meaning morning was on its way as the experience continued. However, this did not blur him from this unwarranted favor to see the beauty in her. The author was overwhelmed by her beauty that he defines the opportunity as “grace”, in the phrase, “…had half impaired the nameless grace” (Byron 8). He further goes on to address the opportunity to see this beauty, comparing it with seeing the waves in the braids of the raven or the light that shines in her face that exposes this beauty. As the author looks at the beauty in the lady as the light shines on her face, he gets to be washed over by the expression of serenity and sweetness that comes with this beauty. Finally, in the paragraph he summarizes the thoughts he had over this lady, by referring them as pure, dear and being inside the right person.

The final paragraph begins with further description of the physical outlook of this beautiful lady. The author looks at her and imagines her outlook. He talks of her cheek and her forehead, and he notes the tenderness that is evident. In his words, “…and on that cheek, and o’ver that brow, so soft, so calm, yet eloquent” (Byron 13). This feeling can be considered romantic. The author is slowly being carried away by the beauty that is seen when he looks at her cheek which is described as being so soft as well as her brow that is “So soft, so calm yet eloquent” (Byron 14). Eloquence meant the lady really expressed herself in the right manner, she was not pretentious of her beauty but she was indeed beautiful and was at the same time conscious and confident of it. This made the beauty expressive. He comments on her smile, which is described as that one that moves; in his words “…smiles that win, the tints that glow” (Byron 15). These are touching words indeed, for the smile is powerful that by itself it wins. He finishes with a brief description of his own experience in this. He asserts that his heart was innocent even while these events went on.

Reference

Byron, G. (1832). The works of Lord Byron (Volume 10). London: J. Murray Publishers.