Baudelaire's "The Albatross": Poetic Symbolism and Social Critique

Understanding Baudelaire's "The Albatross"

Charles Baudelaire's poem "The Albatross" offers a profound symbolic exploration of the Romantic poet's place in society. This analysis delves into the poem's structure, its key metaphors, and the poignant comparison between the majestic albatross and the alienated artist.

First Stanza: Introduction of Elements

Two key elements are introduced: the seafaring people and the albatross. The sailors, after spending long periods at sea, become bored and capture albatrosses for amusement. The birds do not threaten or provoke the sailors into capturing them; they simply accompany the ships. The albatross symbolizes the Romantic poet, while the seafaring people symbolize society. Baudelaire uses the bird to symbolize the Romantic poet because, like the albatross, the poet enjoys speaking freely, living in a world apart, and observing society from a unique perspective. The Romantic poet, too, shares this detached viewpoint.

Second Stanza: The Albatross's Transformation

The birds, which in the air were big, strong, and beautiful, become shy and awkward when taken out of their world. These large white wings, which served to keep them in flight, on land serve no purpose; on the contrary, they hinder. The bird feels, despite its size, small and clumsy, not knowing what to do. The sailors inflict harm, for fun, to kill time.

Third Stanza: Metaphor and Social Critique

The poem uses a metaphor to refer to the albatross, the "winged traveler." This image of the miserable bird contrasts with the one that was king. The bird and the poet feel awkward and weak when confronting society. Exposed to criticism and scorn, they become ugly, amusing, and ridiculous in the eyes of society. In their wickedness, the sailors burn the bird's beak with a pipe, symbolizing society's attempt to prevent the poet from feeding or expressing themselves. Society tries to silence the poet, to prevent them from freely expressing their feelings.

Fourth Stanza: Poetic Symbolism Explained

The poet explains all the symbolism, revealing his intentions. He employs both comparison and metaphor: he compares himself to the bird, the "king of the clouds," and uses the bird as a metaphor for himself, identifying with its sovereignty and feeling superior in his own world. The conflict is not solely between society and the poet; the poet also criticizes society, which neglects and discriminates against him.

Poem Structure and Form

The poem is structured in four quatrains, with 14-syllable Alexandrine verses, characteristic of 'art major' poetry, where rhyme predominates.

The Dual Essence of Humanity

Humanity consists of two essences: the spiritual and the material. Through his world of fantasies and imagination, the Romantic poet represents humanity's spiritual essence.