Exploring Tennyson’s “Ulysses”: A Journey of the Human Spirit
The line ‘to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield’ stands as one of Alfred Lord Tennyson’s most poignant and memorable quotations. This powerful statement concludes one of his most celebrated dramatic monologues, aptly titled ‘Ulysses.’
Origins of “Ulysses”
Ulysses is the Latin designation for the Greek hero Odysseus, renowned for his long and arduous journey home following the Trojan War, which took him a decade. During his absence, his faithful wife, Penelope, waited patiently on the island of Ithaca for his return.
In Tennyson’s evocative poem, Ulysses has finally returned home after years of wandering, but he finds himself growing weary and restless amid the comforts of family life. The thrill of adventure, the call of the sea, and the spirit of exploration tug at his heart, prompting him to yearn for the days of his past, where he donned armor, set sail, and faced the unknown. In the stirring conclusion of his monologue, Ulysses rallies his comrades with a passionate declaration:
- Tho’ much is taken, much abides; and tho’
- We are not now that strength which in old days
- Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;
He sees his fellow sailors not just as companions but as fellow adventurers, all sharing in the same longing for the excitement of battles and voyages:
- One equal temper of heroic hearts,
- Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
- To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
Rooted in Personal Tragedy
Tennyson once shared that ‘Ulysses’ was ‘written under the sense of loss, a recognition that all has gone by, yet life must continue to be fought for to the very end.’ The profound sense of loss he felt was largely influenced by the untimely death of his close friend, Arthur Henry Hallam, who passed away suddenly at the tender age of 22 in 1833.
Understanding Tennyson’s personal grief adds layers of depth to the closing line, ‘To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.’ A commentary on ‘Ulysses’ that overlooks Hallam’s death and its impact on Tennyson’s exploration of courage, endurance, and the human spirit may miss the poem’s core message. This message is clear: even as we may feel ‘made weak by time and fate,’ we must remain ‘strong in will’ and continue our journey.
Notice the progression of verbs in the line: to strive compels us to rise and venture into the world, to seek what we desire, and through seeking, we will find our purpose. However, this triumvirate of positive infinitives is balanced by the imperative not to yield—a reminder to never surrender, never to abandon the quest, even in the face of despair. Yielding to what? One might assume death, particularly in light of Hallam’s premature passing, casting a long shadow over Tennyson’s work.
Resounding Strength or Hollow Words?
Yet, we might question the authenticity of Ulysses’ call to courage. A skeptic could argue that Ulysses is merely vocalizing grand notions that he may not fully embody. After all, he is an older man contemplating another voyage as he faces the inevitable sunset of his life—a rich symbol reflecting his advanced years.
Herein lies a different kind of tragedy: the struggle of a once-great warrior and strategist who cannot accept that his days of adventure are behind him, that it is time to embrace the tranquility of old age, surrounded by loved ones. However, Ulysses seems more disconnected from his family than they are to him. He perceives himself as an ‘idle king’ amidst ‘barren crags,’ with an ‘aged wife’ beside him, ruling over a people who have forgotten him. Perhaps if he had not absconded to explore the Mediterranean, he might have forged deeper connections with his subjects.
As one Victorian commentator, Goldwin Smith, noted in 1855, Ulysses seeks the seas again ‘merely to relieve his ennui,’ wandering aimlessly as he intends to roam yet remains a melancholic figure anchored to the shore. Ultimately, there’s the possibility that after delivering his stirring speech, Ulysses will realize that he can no longer strive, seek, and find—and must, at last, come to terms with yielding to the relentless passage of time and the inevitable changes that accompany aging.