Song meaning of Vittoria Colonna by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The song "Vittoria Colonna" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow conveys a message of enduring love and the power of memory. The lyrics describe Inarime, a place with purple hills and white pebble shores. The castle in Inarime serves as a symbol of the past, standing like a wrecked galleon amidst the sea-surge and sands.

The song centers around the historical figure Vittoria Colonna, Pescara's wife. She is depicted as the epitome of perfect womanhood, whose life was defined by love and withstood the tests of time, change, and death. While others' marriages are broken by death, it only brought Pescara and Vittoria closer, with her wedding ring and breast becoming even more sacred and occupied.

Vittoria's life becomes a martyrdom, filled with endless pain and weariness, as she waits for someone who will never return. The natural surroundings magnify her despair, with the shadows of chestnut trees, the scent of orange blooms, the songs of birds, and the silence of deserted rooms all serving as reminders of her loss. These elements become the ministers of her despair.

However, Vittoria finds solace in expressing her sorrow through song, giving voice to her inconsolable lament. Like the hidden sun that transforms leaden mist into gold, her life becomes infused with light from unseen realms. Despite the eventual decay and crumble of Inarime's castle, the memories of Vittoria's love will never fade.

Overall, the lyrics of "Vittoria Colonna" convey a sense of enduring love, the pain of loss, and the transcendent power of memory and remembrance. It is a tribute to the lasting impact that love can have, even in the face of inevitable change and decay.