The Noble Nature by Ben Jonson

 The Noble Nature by Ben Jonson

It is not growing like a tree

 In bulk, doth make Man better be;

 Or standing long an oak, three hundred year,

 To fall a log at last, dry, bald, and sere:

 A lily of a day

 Is fairer far in May,

 Although it fall and die that night -

 It was the plant and flower of Light

 In small proportions we just beauties see;

 And in short measures life may perfect be.

INTRODUCTION – 

The Noble Nature is a famous poem by the English poet, Ben Jonson. It is a short poem of 10 lines. It contains a blank verse and follows the rhyme scheme AABBCCDDAA. The poet uses the poem to advise humans to be noble. Being noble makes us appreciate and enjoy our life. The poem further gives us examples of how to become nobler. If a man is noble and pleasant in his ways, his life would surely be more enthusiastic.

POET –

Ben Jonson (11 June 1572 – 6 August 1637) was an English playwright, poet, and literary critic of the seventeenth century. He is known most for popularizing the 'comedy of humours'. He was the contemporary of William Shakespeare and is considered the second-best playwright after him. His most famous works include Every Man in His Humour, Volpone, or The Fox, The Alchemist, and Bartholomew Fair: A Comedy.

SUMMARY – 

In the poem ‘The Noble Nature’, the poet, Ben Jonson, talks about the different ways that make a man noble. He makes his point by comparing a man to a sturdy oak and a delicate lily. Growing physically strong and rough like a bulky tree or living long like a sturdy oak does not make a man a noble being. The huge, strong and aged oak will soon become a lifeless, ‘dry’ and withered piece of log. So too will be the fate of a man who is only blessed with long life and physical and material well being.

The poet tells us to notice the life of the lilies.  The lily plant has a short life. It blooms in May and is very beautiful. Although the flower has a life span of a day and falls and dies by nightfall, it spreads beauty and delight in that short period. The poet feels that a meaningful life like the lily flower, though short, is what makes a man noble. Even though a man’s life is short it can be a perfect life. He just needs to be noble i.e. he needs to help others and appreciate everything he has in his life. Such a life is the one worth living.

THEMES –

• Decent life and behavior – According to the poet, spending your life to collect personal material items or being rich is not what makes your life noble or worth living. It’s not even the long period of being alive that makes it special. The only thing that makes it special is the simplicity and pleasant way of living by being noble and respectful towards others.

END – 

So we can say that the poem is a beautiful description of the poet’s idea of a noble life. A life becomes memorable not by its length or the collection of possessions but by the way it is lead. If you help others and are respectful towards them, then this life of yours is better than any other. It is a life worth living.