Student Question
How does George Herbert portray the image of the pulley in "The Pulley"?
Quick answer:
George Herbert uses the image of a pulley in "The Pulley" as a metaphor for God's relationship with humanity. God uses the pulley to bestow gifts upon man, withholding rest to ensure man seeks God. This suggests that man's weariness will ultimately draw him back to God, emphasizing a spiritual connection. The poem illustrates God's desire for a relationship with man, portraying God as a loving figure who uses the pulley to maintain this bond.
What a beautiful poem! Written in 1633, "The Pulley" by George Hebert uses an extended metaphor or conceit to elucidate his purpose in the poem. Herbert, a religious poet, develops his metaphor in a more complex manner leading the reader to a better understanding of God's purpose in designing mankind. The poem has four stanzas each with five lines. The stanzas follow a set rhyme scheme of ababa.
The key to understanding the poem's title is two-fold: the denotation and connotation of the word, pulley. A pulley is a mechanical device used for lifting weights with a downward application of force. The poet places this contraption then in the hands of God to ascribe certain qualities to man: loveliness, astuteness, reverence, enjoyment. God pulls each sacred gift from a glass brimming over until he comes to the last one.
God pauses and sees that there is only blessing left. If God were to withhold this...
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gift, then man might not forget him. Claiming man as his own, God knows that man would love the world but overlook God. Without the fellowship between man and God, both would lose. No, God would keeprest, and man with all his other treasures would feel the pulley or tie to God and return to him for respite. If love of God does not return man to him, his weariness of the world will. God wants an emotional relationship with man.
He would adore my gifts in stead of me,
And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature:
So both should losers be.
The image of the pulley going into the glass and bringing up each jewel that God gives man is a powerful metaphor. Herbert cleverly uses another metaphor portraying the man standing barren of traits and God with all of his might, bestowing each gift with loving hands. That is a delightful portrayal of Genesis 1:27:
God created man in his own image.
The hand of God becomes the pulley to hold the man to him. Like a loving father who always watches over his children, God will never surrender his hold on man.
If goodnesse leade him not, yet wearinesse
May tosse him to my breast.