Lines on Mrs. Kemble
By Robert Burns
Kemble, thou cur’st my unbelief
Of Moses and his rod;
At Yarico’s sweet notes of grief
The rock with tears had flow’d.
Poem Analysis:
In Lines on Mrs. Kemble, Robert Burns reflects on the emotional and intellectual impact of Mrs. Sarah Kemble, an accomplished English actress of the late 18th century, on his understanding of art, belief, and human emotion. The poem captures Burns' admiration for Mrs. Kemble’s acting abilities, particularly in evoking profound emotions in her audience. Through the use of vivid imagery and allusion, Burns links her powerful performances with themes of belief, human vulnerability, and the transformative power of art.
Context and Background
Sarah Kemble, later known as Mrs. Siddons, was a renowned British actress famous for her performances in tragedies, particularly those of Shakespeare and other classical playwrights. She was celebrated for her ability to portray deep emotional suffering and nobility, often playing the roles of queens and tragic heroines. Burns, who was deeply involved in the cultural movements of his time, likely encountered her performances during his time in Edinburgh. Her artistry in capturing human emotion resonated with Burns, who was fascinated by the psychological and emotional depth of characters.
In Lines on Mrs. Kemble, Burns uses Mrs. Kemble as a metaphor for the power of dramatic art to challenge rational beliefs and stir emotions that were once thought to be beyond human reach.
Structure and Tone
The poem consists of a single stanza, and its brevity gives it an impactful, concentrated quality. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, which is typical of many of Burns’ poems, providing a sense of structure and rhythm that mirrors the balance between reason and emotion that the poem explores. The tone of the poem is both admiring and reflective, with Burns addressing Mrs. Kemble directly as he contemplates the effect her acting has had on his belief system and understanding of human nature.
"Kemble, thou cur’st my unbelief"
In this opening line, Burns directly addresses Mrs. Kemble, giving her the credit for altering or "curing" his "unbelief." This reference to "unbelief" can be interpreted as Burns’ skepticism about the emotional and spiritual power of art before witnessing her performance. By invoking the term "unbelief," Burns suggests that he may have initially doubted the capacity of art—particularly theatrical art—to evoke true emotion or to change one’s worldview. Mrs. Kemble’s acting, however, seems to have had the power to shift his perspective, almost as though she performed a miraculous act of transformation.
"Of Moses and his rod;"
This line alludes to the biblical story of Moses, who, according to the Bible, used his rod to perform miracles, such as parting the Red Sea. The reference here is twofold: first, it connects Mrs. Kemble’s acting with a power comparable to that of Moses, suggesting that her performance has the ability to perform feats of awe and transformation. Secondly, it hints at the idea that Mrs. Kemble’s art has the power to challenge even established beliefs, just as Moses’ rod defied natural laws. In the context of Burns' poem, her art appears to have “cured” or challenged his intellectual skepticism, much as miracles challenge the boundaries of rational belief.
"At Yarico’s sweet notes of grief"
This line references the character Yarico, a tragic figure from the 18th-century play Yarico, often performed by actresses like Mrs. Kemble. Yarico was a woman who experiences deep emotional suffering and sacrifice, and the "sweet notes of grief" evoke the sorrowful and powerful emotions that the character would have expressed in the play. By highlighting this specific role, Burns draws attention to the emotional intensity of Mrs. Kemble’s performances. The "sweet notes" are both melodious and sorrowful, suggesting that art, especially in the hands of a gifted actress, has the power to turn grief into something beautiful and moving.
"The rock with tears had flow’d."
The final line of the poem takes the metaphor of emotion to its extreme, invoking an image of a rock—typically an inanimate, unmoved object—"flowing" with tears. This vivid image signifies the overwhelming emotional impact of Mrs. Kemble’s performance. In the context of the poem, it suggests that the art of acting, specifically the portrayal of grief and suffering, can break down even the most rigid emotional barriers. The rock, usually impervious to human emotions, is softened by the power of her performance. This line encapsulates the transformative effect that Mrs. Kemble’s acting has on Burns, rendering him more susceptible to emotional experiences that transcend logic or reason.
Themes and Interpretation
- The Power of Art to Challenge Belief: A central theme of the poem is the power of art—specifically acting—to transcend rational belief and awaken deeper emotional and spiritual responses. Burns contrasts the intellectual skepticism that he initially holds ("unbelief") with the transformative effect of Mrs. Kemble’s acting. Her portrayal of sorrow in the character of Yarico, and her ability to evoke such a profound response, leads Burns to question the limitations of his rational worldview. In doing so, the poem explores the tension between intellectualism and emotion, suggesting that art can bridge this divide.
- Emotion and the Human Condition: The references to grief, sorrow, and the softening of the rock through tears evoke a strong focus on human emotion, particularly the deeper, more universal feelings of suffering and empathy. Burns suggests that through her art, Mrs. Kemble taps into fundamental aspects of the human condition, allowing her audience to feel emotions that they might otherwise suppress or overlook. The idea that a rock can flow with tears is a metaphor for the way art has the ability to soften the human heart and make it receptive to emotional experiences.
- The Transformative Power of Performance: Burns highlights the ability of performance, especially when done with exceptional skill, to alter a person’s perception of reality. He begins the poem expressing his intellectual skepticism and ends with an image of tears flowing from a rock, symbolizing how thoroughly art can alter the emotional landscape of the audience. The transformation is not just intellectual, but deeply emotional and personal. The poem thus suggests that the role of the artist is not merely to entertain or inform, but to evoke deep, transformative emotional responses that challenge and enrich the human experience.
- The Interplay of Music and Grief: By referencing "sweet notes of grief," Burns evokes the intimate connection between music, emotion, and acting. Music has long been associated with deep emotional responses, and in this poem, the "notes" represent the way Mrs. Kemble’s performance is like a form of musical expression, where the grief is expressed beautifully and powerfully. This connection emphasizes the role of the actor in creating art that, like music, resonates with the audience on a level that transcends the spoken word alone.
In Lines on Mrs. Kemble, Robert Burns explores the profound emotional and intellectual impact that art can have on an individual. By referencing Moses, grief, and the image of a rock flowing with tears, Burns underscores the transformative power of Mrs. Kemble's acting, especially her portrayal of deep emotions such as grief. The poem reflects on how performance can alter belief, challenge skepticism, and evoke emotional responses that bring the audience closer to the human experience. Through vivid imagery and thoughtful allusion, Burns elevates acting from mere entertainment to a powerful force capable of reshaping the way people think and feel, making this a meditation on the enduring power of art to transform human lives.