The narrators intense emotional state is made abundantly clear with the application of highlighting the magnificence of nature which played a prominent role in the romantic era. The narrator in this poem employs juxtaposition of intentions as well as sounds to help contrast his somber feelings with that of the nightingales freedom. The narrator makes use of iambic pentameter as a poetic device to describe how weary and burdensome he is feeling. My heart aches and a drowsy numbness pains,(. ) Before the narrator hears the nightingale sing he describes himself as heartbroken and anguished but when he hears the nightingale he permeates a state of intoxication. My sense, as though of hemlock I had drunk.(. 2) In the book of Hosea in the Bible hemlock is described as a poisonous weed. Notwithstanding the fact that serious safety concerns exist regarding the use of hemlock, it is widely practiced for medicinal purposes. Hemlock is commonly associated with mania. As drugs are in many instances used as a form of escapism the narrator feels as if he has drunk hemlock as the sound of the nightingale moves him to a state of elation. The narrator envisions himself flying alongside the nightingale which temporarily allows him to forget his own problems. It has been proved that the effects of drugs last only for a while and then reality once again establishes itself and all ones previous issues resurface, likewise, the effect of the nightingales song would only last for a limited period of time.
While there are instances in the poem where the nightingale and images of nature lift the mood of the narrator, it is clearly evident that as the narrator contrasts his own heavy mood with the beauty o
f nature it does elevate his sadness. O for a beaker full of the warm South. (2. 5) It is a widely recognized fact that warm weather is associated with sunshine which in turn is a major source of vitamin D. According to research vitamin D plays a vital role in regulating ones mood and warding off depression. The narrator longs for a favorable mindset and believes that embracing warmer weather will assist him in attaining it. That I might drink, and leave the world unseen, And with thee fade away into the forest dim: (2. 9-20)As far as I am concerned the sadness the narrator feels leaves him preoccupied with death. While the narrator sees the beauty nature has to offer he also sees it as a form of escape. Nature has a twofold effect on him, he relishes and adores nature and yet envies it. He wants to flee with the nightingale far away where he believes he will find peace. Fade far away, dissolve, and quite forget.(3. 2) Coincidentally the beauty and tranquillity of nature constitute a sanctuary for many, including myself. It keeps me grounded and reminds me that there is a God and always gives me a renewed strength to continue with whatever life throws at me. However, the narrator in my opinion at stages uses nature as a form of escape and then reverts back to wanting to leave this world which just seems to be too much for him contrary to others like myself where nature provides that renewed energy and vigor. Away, away for I will fly with thee.(3. 2) The narrator embraces the literary genre of fantasy which includes talking to animals, nothing at all like the real world, by alluding to flying away from this world on the wings of the nightingale whilst remaining in a dreamlike state.