The moral lesson in “Tithonus” and “Oenone”

Tennyson was perhaps the most famous poet of the Victorian age. His poems often contain some moral lessons. The two poems “Oenone” and “Tithonus” both are directly and indirectly related to the death of his close friend Arthur Hallam. So, it is natural to have some moral lessons and some reflections on life and death and suffering of people. Another two poems based on Greek mythology called “Ulysses” and “Lotus Eaters” should also be taken into consideration when talking about poems like “Tithonus” and “Oenone”.

First I like to talk about the moral lesson in “Oenone”. The moral lesson in “Oenone” is somewhat clear and it is a very beautiful but simple poem. Paris was a prince, but he was not a good husband. He was fond of some gods and goddesses, but as a human being, he was terrible.

There is a strong moral lesson that if you get too much carried away with your emotion then you are bound to suffer. Oenone did not think anything but became crazy for Paris. She did not bother to think whether Paris was a good man or a bad man. The same can be said about Paris who got a very kind and devoted wife in Oenone, but yet he became crazy when he got the offer from Aphrodite that he would be able to get married to the most beautiful woman in entire Greece. Tennyson is suggesting here that emotion is not enough in life and we must apply knowledge and our brain. We must use our senses and think about life. When it comes to marriage you must not easily take any decision. Otherwise, you will suffer badly in life just as Oenone suffered.

“Tithonus” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson is a dramatic monologue. In the poem, Tithonus tells the reader his story and his suffering from immortality. Aurora, the goddess of dawn, falls in love with Tithonus and brings him to live with her. Tithonus asks Aurora to make him immortal but forgets to ask for eternal youth. As a result, he grows old and weak but does not die. The poem opens up with Tithonus lamenting his immortality. In this poem, we can find two moral messages- accepting death and shun greed.

In the original Greek version, it was not Tithonus but Aurora, who asked Zeus to make Tithonus immortal but forgets to ask for eternal youth. The moral message Tennyson tried to give his readers is, “Death is a normal part of life. Trying to overcome death means break of that cycle which would not bring any good to human beings.”

Life is dear to all of us. We are afraid of death and it is inevitable. However, life without death is immortal life and it is not so attractive. Tithonus is immortal, but he is not enjoying his immortality but lamenting it. He tells Aurora to take back her gift of immortality, but that would not be possible because once the god grants something, he cannot take it back. Tithonus says, 

Why should a man desire in any way

To vary from the kindly race of men,

Or pass beyond the goal of ordinance

In the end, Tithonus refers to ordinary people as “happy men” because have the power to die. 

Another moral lesson of this poem is the effect of greed. Tithonus was greedy for immortality. He finally got it, but it did not do him any good. Tithonus said,

I ask’d thee, “Give me immortality.”

Then didst thou grant mine asking with a smile,

Like wealthy men who care not how they give.

He prayed to Aurora for immortality and Aurora grant him his wish. It was like a charity by a wealthy man, who had too much wealth and did not bother what he gave. Now, he is suffering from immortality. He is old but he cannot die. He thinks that an old man like him cannot live with a goddess who is immortal and young.