My Napoleon
By Victor Hugo
Above all others, everywhere I see
His image cold or burning!
My brain it thrills, and oftentime sets free
The thoughts within me yearning.
My quivering lips pour forth the words
That cluster in his name of glory —
The star gigantic with its rays of swords
Whose gleams irradiate all modern story.
I see his finger pointing where the shell
Should fall to slay most rabble,
And save foul regicides; or strike the knell
Of weaklings 'mid the tribunes' babble.
A Consul then, o'er young but proud,
With midnight poring thinned, and sallow,
But dreams of Empire pierce the transient cloud,
And round pale face and lank locks form the halo.
And soon the Caesar, with an eye a-flame
Whole nations' contact urging
To gain his soldiers gold and fame
Oh, Sun on high emerging,
Whose dazzling lustre fired the hells
Embosomed in grim bronze, which, free, arose
To change five hundred thousand base-born Tells,
Into his host of half-a-million heroes!
What! next a captive? Yea, and caged apart.
No weight of arms enfolded
Can crush the turmoil in that seething heart
Which Nature — not her journeymen — self-moulded.
Let sordid jailers vex their prize;
But only bends that brow to lightning,
As gazing from the seaward rock, his sighs
Cleave through the storm and haste where France looms bright'ning.
Alone, but greater! Broke the sceptre, true!
Yet lingers still some power —
In tears of woe man's metal may renew
The temper of high hour;
For, bating breath, e'er list the kings
The pinions clipped may grow! the Eagle
May burst, in frantic thirst for home, the rings
And rend the Bulldog, Fox, and Bear, and Beagle!
And, lastly, grandest! 'tween dark sea and here
Eternal brightness coming!
The eye so weary's freshened with a tear
As rises distant drumming,
And wailing cheer — they pass the pale
His army mourns though still's the end hid;
And from his war-stained cloak, he answers "Hail!"
And spurns the bed of gloom for throne aye-splendid!
His image cold or burning!
My brain it thrills, and oftentime sets free
The thoughts within me yearning.
My quivering lips pour forth the words
That cluster in his name of glory —
The star gigantic with its rays of swords
Whose gleams irradiate all modern story.
I see his finger pointing where the shell
Should fall to slay most rabble,
And save foul regicides; or strike the knell
Of weaklings 'mid the tribunes' babble.
A Consul then, o'er young but proud,
With midnight poring thinned, and sallow,
But dreams of Empire pierce the transient cloud,
And round pale face and lank locks form the halo.
And soon the Caesar, with an eye a-flame
Whole nations' contact urging
To gain his soldiers gold and fame
Oh, Sun on high emerging,
Whose dazzling lustre fired the hells
Embosomed in grim bronze, which, free, arose
To change five hundred thousand base-born Tells,
Into his host of half-a-million heroes!
What! next a captive? Yea, and caged apart.
No weight of arms enfolded
Can crush the turmoil in that seething heart
Which Nature — not her journeymen — self-moulded.
Let sordid jailers vex their prize;
But only bends that brow to lightning,
As gazing from the seaward rock, his sighs
Cleave through the storm and haste where France looms bright'ning.
Alone, but greater! Broke the sceptre, true!
Yet lingers still some power —
In tears of woe man's metal may renew
The temper of high hour;
For, bating breath, e'er list the kings
The pinions clipped may grow! the Eagle
May burst, in frantic thirst for home, the rings
And rend the Bulldog, Fox, and Bear, and Beagle!
And, lastly, grandest! 'tween dark sea and here
Eternal brightness coming!
The eye so weary's freshened with a tear
As rises distant drumming,
And wailing cheer — they pass the pale
His army mourns though still's the end hid;
And from his war-stained cloak, he answers "Hail!"
And spurns the bed of gloom for throne aye-splendid!
Poem Analysis:
Victor Hugo’s poem My Napoleon is a powerful tribute to Napoleon Bonaparte, capturing his rise, dominance, downfall, and enduring legacy. The poem is deeply personal, reflecting Hugo’s admiration for Napoleon as both a military genius and a tragic figure. With vivid imagery and dramatic language, Hugo paints a picture of Napoleon as a larger-than-life presence whose influence transcends time.
Napoleon as an Omnipresent Force
The poem opens with an almost obsessive vision of Napoleon:
Above all others, everywhere I seeHis image cold or burning!
Hugo suggests that Napoleon’s presence is inescapable—he appears in both moments of glory ("burning") and moments of downfall ("cold"). His image "thrills" the poet’s mind, igniting thoughts of ambition, conquest, and destiny. This introduction establishes Napoleon as more than a historical figure; he becomes a force that lingers in the poet’s consciousness and in history itself.
The Tactical Genius and the Rise to Power
Hugo portrays Napoleon as a master strategist, whose very gestures command war and shape history:
I see his finger pointing where the shellShould fall to slay most rabble,
Here, Napoleon is depicted as the ultimate tactician, directing battles with precision. Hugo acknowledges his ruthless efficiency, referring to how he eliminates "weaklings" and revolutionaries. However, the poem also highlights his intellectual depth:
A Consul then, o’er young but proud,With midnight poring thinned, and sallow,
Napoleon is shown as a thinker as well as a warrior—his physical appearance reflects sleepless nights dedicated to strategy and governance. This transformation from an ambitious leader to an emperor is presented as inevitable, driven by dreams of empire and destiny.
The Peak of Power: Napoleon as Caesar
Napoleon is elevated to the status of a modern Caesar, a ruler whose ambition knows no bounds:
And soon the Caesar, with an eye a-flameWhole nations’ contact urging
Hugo presents him as a fiery figure, pushing nations into war, driven by the promise of glory and riches. The sun, a common symbol of power in both mythology and historical narratives, is invoked:
Oh, Sun on high emerging,Whose dazzling lustre fired the hells
The imagery of fire, hell, and light suggests both the destructive and illuminating aspects of Napoleon’s reign. His military campaigns transformed ordinary men into "half-a-million heroes," reinforcing his ability to inspire and command.
The Fall: From Emperor to Captive
Despite his grand victories, Napoleon’s downfall is inevitable. The poem shifts its tone as he becomes a prisoner, isolated and powerless:
What! next a captive? Yea, and caged apart.No weight of arms enfoldedCan crush the turmoil in that seething heart
Even in captivity, Napoleon remains defiant. Hugo emphasizes that his mind—his greatest weapon—remains untamed. The image of him standing on a "seaward rock," gazing toward France, conveys his undying connection to his homeland and his refusal to be broken.
The Legacy: A Myth That Lives On
Hugo does not end Napoleon’s story with his imprisonment. Instead, he suggests that his legacy continues to haunt the world:
For, bating breath, e’er list the kingsThe pinions clipped may grow!
Here, Hugo warns that even though Napoleon has been caged, his influence may rise again. The eagle—Napoleon’s emblem—may still break free, symbolizing his enduring myth. Even in death, Napoleon is depicted as triumphant, his name echoing through time.
And from his war-stained cloak, he answers “Hail!”
This final moment suggests that Napoleon refuses to be confined to history. Instead, he transcends mortality, exchanging the "bed of gloom" (death) for an eternal throne of glory.
In My Napoleon, Victor Hugo crafts a poetic vision of Napoleon Bonaparte as a man of unparalleled ambition, intellect, and military prowess. The poem moves through his rise to power, his peak as emperor, his fall into captivity, and his transformation into an immortal legend. Hugo’s language is grand and evocative, reinforcing the idea that Napoleon’s presence is eternal—his image "everywhere," his legacy unshaken by time.
Ultimately, Hugo does not simply depict Napoleon as a historical figure, but as a force of destiny—one whose spirit cannot be erased, even by death.