'The old woman' poem written by Joseph Campbell

The old woman by Joseph Campbell

The poem 'The Old Woman' is written by Joseph Campbell. Joseph John Campbell (March 26, 1904 – October 30, 1987) was an American mythologist, writer, and lecturer, best known for his work in comparative mythology and comparative religion. His work covers many aspects of the human experience. Campbell's magnum opus is his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949), in which he discusses his theory of the journey of the archetypal hero found in world mythologies. Since the book's publication, Campbell's theory has been consciously applied by a wide variety of modern writers and artists. His philosophy has been summarized by his own often repeated phrase: "Follow your bliss."

The poem is divided into 3 stanzas each have four line. The meaning of the poem is deeper than any romantic poem. The poem is very simple, realistic poem. The poet has given the description of old lady by different comparisons. It s very natural to see beauty in young women, but t is very understanding to describe the beauty of old woman.  It requires great imaginative power to see beauty in old age. Poe has beautifully described the beauty of old woman.

As a white candle
    In a holy place,
So is the beauty
    Of an aged face.

                In the first stanza, the poet compares the old lady with the white candle. As the white candle in the holy place gives light and guided the person who comes there. It is the symbol of holy figure. Basically old persons are just like candle, because the always become path shower to the new generation. If we are in any trouble we get inspiration or ideas to come out from the trouble, we contact old person. New generation learn from the experience of the old people. Same think in this poem that old lady compare with candle near to holy place. Likewise the old lady's face compared with the white candle. The old lady guides others by the using experience. She enlightens the life of others. Moreover, white candle is a symbol of beauty and light or giver of light. The poet finds beauty in her face. The word ‘place’ rhymed with ‘face’.

As the spent radiance
    Of the winter sun,
So is a woman
    With her travail done.

                In the second stanza, the poet compares the old lady with the spent radiance of the winter's sun. Old woman have more experience of life like sun. It means passing of time, and as the sun travels more and more in the sky it spends its radiance more and more. And in winter sun gives us protection from the cold atmosphere. Same the lady also protect new generation from the problems of life, because she have experience of life. Through the time passes, she has gathered a wide experience of life. Moreover, at the sunshine the sunset looks beautiful due to radiance. Here, the same thing for the old lady. Here wide range of experience is an extra ornament in the life of old lady.  It adds charms in her beauty. Sun and woman rhymed with each other.

Her brood gone from her,
    And her thoughts as still
As the waters
    Under a ruined mill.

                In the last stanza, the poet compares the old woman with the ruined water of the mill. They neither vanished nor run away. So here the same position for the old lady. Her broods have gone away from her in old age and, her thoughts are still as ruined waters of the mills. It means it suggests steadiness and maturity in the life of old lady. The word ‘still’ rhymed with mill.