Bring out the moral aspect of the poem Tithonus by Tennyson.

Answer

Bring out the moral aspect of the poem “Tithonus” by Tennyson.

Alfred Tennyson’s (1809-1892) poem “Tithonus,” first appeared in 1860, tells the story of a Greek mythological man who is granted eternal life but forgets to ask for eternal youth. Over time, he grows old and weak. He is trapped in a body that never dies. Through this tragic tale, Tennyson teaches us important lessons about life, desire, and nature. Here we will focus on the moral aspect of the poem.

Be Careful What You Wish For: Tithonus’s biggest mistake was wanting to live forever. In the poem, Aurora (the goddess of Dawn) fulfills his wish for immortality. However, he forgot to ask for eternal youth. Now, he suffers endlessly as he grows very old, yet cannot die. Tithonus is described as a “white-hair’d shadow” with wrinkled skin—who is trapped in a body that will not die. Tithonus laments:

I wither slowly in thine arms.

This teaches us that desiring something without understanding its consequences can lead to misery. Tithonus’s wish for eternal life turned into a curse. Tennyson warns us: Don’t let greed or pride blind you.

Death Is Part of Life’s Natural Cycle: In the poem, Tithonus watches trees grow, wither, and die. Swans grow old and pass away. Even the grass dies in winter and comes back in spring. But Tithonus cannot die—he is stuck outside this cycle. Tithonus recognizes his immortality as cruel—

Me only cruel immortality

Tennyson uses this to show that death is not something to fear. It is a natural end that gives life meaning. The poet suggests humans need to accept death as part of the beauty of existence.

Love Has Limits: Tithonus’s lover, Aurora, gave him immortality because she loved him. But her love could not stop him from aging. This shows that even the strongest love cannot control nature or fate. Love is powerful, but it cannot fix everything. Tennyson reminds us that love should respect boundaries, not try to change what is impossible.

Eternal Life Is Not a Blessing—A Prison: Tithonus describes himself as a “white-haired shadow” who feels like a crumbled leaf clinging to a tree. He is tired, weak, and lonely. He describes himself as—

A white-hair’d shadow roaming like a dream

Tennyson uses these images to argue that living forever is not a gift—it is a trap. Without death, life loses its joy. Death gives life rhythm and rest.

Happiness Comes from Accepting Limits: Tithonus spends the poem begging Aurora to take back his immortality—

Let me go: take back thy gift:

However, gods/goddesses cannot take back their gifts. Tithonus realizes too late that true peace comes from accepting life’s limits. Tennyson wants us to see that chasing endless youth or power won’t make us happy. Instead, we should cherish the time we have. We should accept life’s natural cycle. We should not disrespect life’s natural cycle.

To wrap up, “Tithonus” is a sad but important poem. It teaches us to think carefully about our desires and respect nature’s rules, including death. Here, Tennyson is not just telling a myth—he is asking us to reflect on our own lives. Are we wasting time wishing for things that might harm us?