Our Mothers - "How looking back to earth..."

• In 'Our Mothers', the quote "How looking back to earth from Paradise, Do tears not gather in those loving eyes? Ah, happy eyes! whose tears are wiped away", the use of Personification of the eyes suggests that they possess the capacity for deep emotional connection and empathy - In this interpretation, the eyes are not just organs but metaphors for the way in which the departed might care for the living, gazing upon them with sorrow and love - This personification evokes a sense of compassion from those who have passed, emphasizing their continuing love and concern for the living, even from Paradise
• In 'Our Mothers', the quote "How looking back to earth from Paradise, Do tears not gather in those loving eyes? Ah, happy eyes! whose tears are wiped away", the use of Personification of the eyes as "loving" and capable of gathering tears challenges the typical portrayal of Paradise as a place of eternal peace - It suggests that even in the afterlife, there may be traces of sorrow, especially when looking back on the suffering of those left behind - This creates a paradox where happiness (Paradise) and sorrow (grieving for the living) coexist, presenting the afterlife not as a complete escape from emotion but as a realm of compassionate watchfulness
• In 'Our Mothers', the quote "How looking back to earth from Paradise, Do tears not gather in those loving eyes? Ah, happy eyes! whose tears are wiped away", the use of Personification of the eyes, described as "happy eyes" whose "tears are wiped away," symbolize the ultimate transformation of grief in the afterlife - The tears wiped away represent the cessation of earthly sorrow, as if the eyes have been cleansed by the divine - The transformation of sorrow into happiness through the wiping away of tears hints at the idea of redemption and peace, where the pain of life is ultimately resolved in the eternal peace of Paradise
• In 'Our Mothers', the quote "How looking back to earth from Paradise, Do tears not gather in those loving eyes? Ah, happy eyes! whose tears are wiped away", the use of Personification of the eyes can be linked to the notion of divine vision as seen in Revelation 21:4, which states, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes" - The eyes here are a representation of spiritual awareness and divine compassion, suggesting that even in the afterlife, the departed have a heightened sensitivity to the suffering of the living - Just as Revelation promises the wiping away of tears and no death/mourning in the final, heavenly restoration, the personified eyes in the poem embody that divine act of healing, watching over the living with love and understanding
• In 'Our Mothers', the quote "How looking back to earth from Paradise, Do tears not gather in those loving eyes? Ah, happy eyes! whose tears are wiped away", the use of Personification of the eyes, which “look back to earth from Paradise,” personify the bond between the living and the departed - The act of looking down with tears suggests that those who have passed are still emotionally connected to those left behind - By giving the eyes human-like qualities, Rossetti emphasizes the emotional continuity between life and death, portraying the departed as actively engaged with the struggles of the living, watching over them with love and sorrow
• In 'Our Mothers', the quote "How looking back to earth from Paradise, Do tears not gather in those loving eyes? Ah, happy eyes! whose tears are wiped away", the use of Rhetorical Question highlights the speaker's awe at the idea of those in Paradise being able to look upon the suffering of the living without being overcome with sorrow - By asking how tears do not gather in the eyes of the departed, the speaker marvels at the divine ability to remain compassionate yet unscathed by earthly pain - This question emphasizes the depth of divine love and mercy, implying that even as the departed gaze upon human suffering, they retain peace in their eternal state
• In 'Our Mothers', the quote "How looking back to earth from Paradise, Do tears not gather in those loving eyes? Ah, happy eyes! whose tears are wiped away", the use of Rhetorical Question sets up a tension between the grief and sorrow of those left behind on Earth and the supposed tranquillity of Paradise - The speaker wonders how the departed can look back on the world without being moved to tears, suggesting a philosophical reflection on the emotional cost of living and the nature of peace in the afterlife - This question conveys the contrast between the persistent suffering on Earth and the peaceful resolution in Paradise, questioning whether such a separation from sorrow is even possible
• In 'Our Mothers', the quote "How looking back to earth from Paradise, Do tears not gather in those loving eyes? Ah, happy eyes! whose tears are wiped away", the use of Rhetorical Question may be an expression of the speaker’s inability to comprehend how one could exist in a state of eternal peace while still being aware of the sorrow of the living - By asking this question, the speaker acknowledges the mysterious nature of the afterlife and its spiritual complexities, highlighting the limits of human understanding when it comes to divine experience - It hints at the notion that the nature of divine compassion and the afterlife may transcend human emotions, which are often tied to grief and loss
• In 'Our Mothers', the quote "How looking back to earth from Paradise, Do tears not gather in those loving eyes? Ah, happy eyes! whose tears are wiped away", the use of Rhetorical Question serves to reinforce the idea that, while the departed may still have concern for the living, they are ultimately removed from the pains of earthly life - The rhetorical question implies that, although it is natural for human beings to feel sorrow for others’ suffering, this sorrow may not be possible for those in Paradise, who are beyond the reach of earthly pain - It underscores the separation between the living and the dead, where the departed may still observe but are no longer subject to the same emotional turmoil
• In 'Our Mothers', the quote "How looking back to earth from Paradise, Do tears not gather in those loving eyes? Ah, happy eyes! whose tears are wiped away", the use of Rhetorical Question could also be seen as an exploration of the spiritual resilience of those who have passed away - It asks, how can they look back with love, yet not be overwhelmed by sorrow? - This highlights the idea that the deceased, having transcended earthly suffering, are now in a state of divine peace and have a profound spiritual strength that allows them to love the living without being engulfed by the grief that still affects the living - This resilience suggests a transformative power in the afterlife, where sorrow is purified and replaced with enduring love
• In 'Our Mothers', the quote "How looking back to earth from Paradise, Do tears not gather in those loving eyes? Ah, happy eyes! whose tears are wiped away", the use of Metaphor of Paradise represents a state of divine peace, where earthly suffering and sorrow are transcended - The metaphor suggests that those in Paradise are in a place of ultimate peace and joy, untouched by the turmoil of the earthly realm - By positioning the deceased in Paradise, Rossetti emphasizes the contrast between the ideal, serene state of the afterlife and the imperfect, often painful conditions of life on Earth
• In 'Our Mothers', the quote "How looking back to earth from Paradise, Do tears not gather in those loving eyes? Ah, happy eyes! whose tears are wiped away", the use of Metaphor may symbolize spiritual fulfilment and completion - The departed, having passed through life’s trials and tribulations, now exist in a place of spiritual wholeness - This metaphor speaks to the idea that after enduring life’s struggles, the soul achieves a final state of peace and understanding in the afterlife, where it can look back at the world without suffering
• In 'Our Mothers', the quote "How looking back to earth from Paradise, Do tears not gather in those loving eyes? Ah, happy eyes! whose tears are wiped away", the use of Metaphor and Paradise can also be interpreted as a metaphor for the eternal watchfulness of those who have passed on - While the departed may no longer suffer themselves, they are still attentive to the struggles of the living - The metaphor of Paradise, therefore, suggests a position of loving observation, where the deceased continue to look after those they left behind, their gaze filled with compassion rather than sorrow
• In 'Our Mothers', the quote "How looking back to earth from Paradise, Do tears not gather in those loving eyes? Ah, happy eyes! whose tears are wiped away", the use of Metaphor of Paradise serves as a metaphor for the complete separation from earthly concerns, including grief and pain - The deceased, now in Paradise, are no longer burdened by the struggles of the living, yet their love for the living endures - The metaphor thus underscores the distance between the physical world and the spiritual one, suggesting that while the dead may look back, they are no longer affected by the emotional weight of the world they left behind
• In 'Our Mothers', the quote "How looking back to earth from Paradise, Do tears not gather in those loving eyes? Ah, happy eyes! whose tears are wiped away", the use of Metaphor of Paradise also represents the ultimate rest and resolution of life's suffering - In this metaphor, the afterlife is seen as the final destination where all struggles are laid to rest - The deceased, having endured earthly trials, now reside in a state of ultimate peace, where they can reflect on the world without being troubled by it - The metaphor of Paradise thus speaks to the Christian concept of eternal rest and the solace that comes with reaching the end of suffering