Abstract
Charles Baudelaire was a 19th-century French poet known for his collection of poems, “Les Fleurs du mal” (The Flowers of Evil). One of his famous poems, ” Be Drunk,” reflects his unconventional and rebellious spirit. In this poem, Baudelaire advises the reader to escape the harsh realities of life by being in a constant state of drunkenness, whether through alcohol, poetry, or virtue. He suggests that in a world full of suffering, being drunk is a way to numb the pain and find temporary relief. However, beneath the seemingly pleasure-seeking message, the poem also conveys a deeper philosophical insight into the human condition and the pursuit of transcendence. Baudelaire’s work often explores the duality of human nature, the beauty of the grotesque, and the allure of the forbidden. “Be Drunk” is a poignant example of his provocative and introspective style, which continues to captivate
readers and inspire discussions about the complexities of existence.
Discussion
Charles Baudelaire’s poem “Always Be Drunk” is a thought-provoking piece that has sparked various interpretations and discussions. The poem conveys the idea of seeking drunkenness as a means to escape the burdens of time and the harsh realities of life. Baudelaire presents the concept of being “drunk” not only in the literal sense of alcohol but also through other means such as poetry or virtue. This has led to interpretations suggesting that the poem is a metaphor for finding passion, purpose, or excess in life, and not just about alcohol. The poem’s enigmatic nature and philosophical undertones have made it a subject of consideration and debate, with readers delving into its deeper implications regarding the human condition and the pursuit of fulfillment. The poem’s enduring relevance and the diverse range of perspectives it has elicited make it a compelling topic for literary discussion and analysis.
Get Drunk
Always be drunk.
That’s it!
The great imperative!
The opening lines of the poem set the tone for the rest of the piece. Baudelaire suggests that being drunk is the only thing that matters and the only imperative need. This can be interpreted as a call to escape the mundane and the oppressive nature of reality.
In order not to feel
Time’s horrible burden
bruise your shoulders,
grinding you into the earth,
Get drunk and stay that way.
Baudelaire continues to emphasize the idea of escaping the burden of time. He suggests that being drunk is a way to avoid feeling the weight of time that can break one’s spirit. The phrase “get drunk without ceasing” implies that the state of intoxication should be constant.
On what?
On wine, poetry, virtue, whatever.
But get drunk.
Baudelaire suggests that being drunk can be achieved through various means, including wine, poetry, or virtue. This line can be interpreted as a call to find one’s passion or purpose in life and to pursue it with fervor.
And if you sometimes happen to wake up
on the porches of a palace,
in the green grass of a ditch,
mournful solitude of your room,
drunkenness already diminishing or gone,
ask the wind,
the wave,
the star,
the bird,
the clock,
ask everything that flees,
everything that groans
or rolls
or sings,
everything that speaks,
ask what time it is;
and the wind,
the wave,
the star,
the bird,
the clock
will answer you:
“Time to get drunk!
Don’t be martyred slaves of Time,
Get drunk!
Stay drunk!
On wine, virtue, poetry, whatever!”
Baudelaire concludes the poem by suggesting that the world itself is calling for one to be drunk. The use of nature and the clock as examples implies that time is still a factor, but one can find solace in the beauty of the world. The repetition of the phrase “get drunk” emphasizes the importance of this message.
Original French version:
Enivrez-Vous
Il faut être toujours ivre.
Tout est là:
c’est l’unique question.
Pour ne pas sentir
l’horrible fardeau du Temps
qui brise vos épaules
et vous penche vers la terre,
il faut vous enivrer sans trêve.
Mais de quoi?
De vin, de poésie, ou de vertu, à votre guise.
Mais enivrez-vous.
Et si quelquefois,
sur les marches d’un palais,
sur l’herbe verte d’un fossé,
dans la solitude morne de votre chambre,
vous vous réveillez,
l’ivresse déjà diminuée ou disparue,
demandez au vent,
à la vague,
à l’étoile,
à l’oiseau,
à l’horloge,
à tout ce qui fuit,
à tout ce qui gémit,
à tout ce qui roule,
à tout ce qui chante,
à tout ce qui parle,
demandez quelle heure il est;
et le vent,
la vague,
l’étoile,
l’oiseau,
l’horloge,
vous répondront:
“Il est l’heure de s’enivrer!
Pour n’être pas les esclaves martyrisés du Temps,
Literary devices
‘Be Drunk’ mainly revolves around the symbolism behind being “drunk,” which the speaker likens to any activity that gives your life joy. There are also examples of metaphors which is used to describe the effects of time: “the horrible burden of time that breaks your back and bends you to the earth”; “the martyred slaves of time.” Baudelaire also uses visual imagery: “on the steps of a palace or the green grass of a ditch, in the mournful solitude of your room”; “ask the wind, the wave, the star, the bird, the clock.” And kinesthetic/auditory imagery: “everything that is flying, everything that is groaning, everything that is rolling, everything that is singing, everything that is speaking.” As well as personification: “ask what time it is and wind, wave, star, bird, clock will answer you.” Ward, S., (2023, April 5). Be Drunk by Charles Baudelaire. Poem Analysis. Retrieved from https://poemanalysis.com/charlesbaudelaire/be-drunk/
Structure and form
Charles Baudelaire’s poem “Be Drunk” is a short prose poem that consists of three paragraphs. The poem does not follow a specific rhyme scheme or meter, as it is written in prose form. The poem’s structure is simple and straightforward, with each paragraph building upon the previous one. The first paragraph introduces the idea of being drunk as a means to escape the burden of time. The second paragraph suggests that being drunk can be achieved through various means, including wine, poetry, or virtue. The final paragraph concludes the poem by suggesting that the world itself is calling for one to be drunk. The use of nature and the clock as examples implies that time is still a factor, but one can find solace in the beauty of the world. Overall, the poem’s structure is reflective of its message, which is to find passion and joy in life through whatever means possible.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Charles Baudelaire’s “Be Drunk” is a thought-provoking prose poem that encourages readers to find passion and joy in life through various means. The poem’s structure, which consists of three paragraphs, is simple and straightforward, reflecting its message. The absence of a conventional rhyme scheme or meter contributes to the poem’s unique and impactful style. The use of metaphor, surreal imagery, and a call to find passion in life through whatever means possible makes “Be Drunk” a compelling and enduring piece of literature. The poem’s perplexing nature and philosophical traces have made it a subject of contemplation and debate, with readers searching its deeper implications regarding the human condition and the pursuit of fulfillment.
Saeed Ouni
