Delight in Disorder

Robert Herrick’s poem “Delight in Disorder” (Perrine 258) has a message that we should pay particular attention to this time of year.  He creates images to help the readers understand that they cannot always keep things under control.  By describing chaos as a “sweet disorder” and a “fine distraction,” he urges the audience to accept imperfection.  For those of us who are overwhelmed with college applications and holiday preparations, this is welcome advice.

Herrick describes disorder as a scarf tossed casually over one’s shoulders, and as a “tempestuous petticoat.”  He personifies it as a “cuff neglected” and a ribbon that “flows confusedly.”  These images eliminate the intimidating aspects of disorder by making it seem humanlike.  Herrick appreciates chaos more than any piece of clean, precise artwork, and it is notable that this opinion developed during the seventeenth century.  People back then felt the same way that we do today.  We should all take comfort in the things that seem slightly out of place.

Comments

[Lee A]

I liked this poem too. It addresses something that we all know but have trouble accepting, the fact that nothing is perfect. Everything has a flaw and I respect that this author uses the language in the way he does to communicate that we should accept the imperfections in life and embrace them. It is what makes life interesting and unique to different people.

[Polly G]

I like your analysis of Herrick’s poem. I agree that his message is important and the way Herrick portrays his point by using various personifications is creative and unique. It makes one realize that everyone has imperfections and that it is important not to become frustrated over them.

[Selena P.]

I like your analysis of this poem also, and I think it is really important to learn how to relax in confusion and chaos. The universe does tend towards chaos and maybe people spend too much time trying to make order out of it. In Euro, when we discussed the reasons for the Renaissance, one of them was "out of chaos comes creativity."

[bob]

what is the meter of this soonet???