Violence and Love in "I Would for Your Sake Be Gentle" by Irving Layton

I Would For Your Sake Be Gentle is a poem by Irving Layton that deals with violence and love, a common subject he likes to deal with. "Like most men he is attracted to the subject of large-scale expenditures of energy, especially violence. He believes that men are basically aggressive and that battles and wars are a means of psychic cleansing." (15 Canadian Poets x 3) The speaker in I Would For Your SakeBe Gentle knows that he has anger as well as the onset of approaching madness. He is attempting to rid himself of this madness in order to save his relationship with a woman. Furthermore, as the biography in 15 Canadian Poets x 3 informs us he is trying to cleanse himself of this anger. Therefore the poem is centered on the idea of ridding one's self of madness in order to love in freedom. The main concern of the poem is the protagonist fighting against a deeply rooted violence, and it is the woman who causes this passion, it illustrates the goodness in one person that aids in bringing out the goodness in another, no matter how deeply hidden.

This poem indicates that one cannot change a person but that person must want to change him or herself. The protagonist realizes that he cannot have a healthy relationship with this woman until he helps himself. As the speaker points this out, I as the reader realized the wonder of love. It is love that encourages the man to change into a better human being. Therefore, it also seems that the poet is illustrating an underlying theme of the miracle of love and the endless opportunities it can create.

The first stanza opens with the speaker expressing that he does indeed want to bring out his gentle side, and he wants to do this for the woman. The determination of the speaker is felt here, but also the uncertainty of whether or not he can accomplish this task; "I would for your sake be gentle/ Be, believe me, other than I am." It is here that the speaker does indeed want to change his behavior and become the kind of 'gentle' man that he believes she deserves, "I would for your sake be gentle." He understands that he can't have this deep anger if he is to be with her, but he also knows that this anger is a part of who he is; "Be, believe me, other than I am." He doesn't understand how she is able to possess this calmness against his; "madness is it that hurls me/ Sundays, against your Sunday calm?" The first stanza lets the reader feel the frustration of the speaker, but also his determination and hope that he will succeed.

In the second stanza the speaker is feeling sorry for himself as well as for his love. As bitter as he is; "True, there's enough gall in my ducts," he does not understand why, she, so innocent and kind stays with him. The protagonist expresses his self-pity and his confusion of the ways of love. He doesn't think he is worthy of this woman. He regards her highly as not only his savior and heart, but his soul and reason for living. He sees her as the kindest, most innocent woman, and doesn't believe that he is worthy of her; "But why you-free from evil, poor bird? / Why you-my heart and savior?" He cannot understand why she, who he regards as a gentle bird, is with him, as he regards himself as evil in his madness. It is because he regards her as his saviour that he is attempting to prevent this madness from consuming him and is trying to push it away. Furthermore, this stanza allows the reader to feel sorrow for the man, as sorry as he is because he doesn't believe himself to be worthy of the woman he loves. It is an awful feeling to not believe that you are worthy of someone else and this is portrayed through the protagonist's emotions of self-pity.

It is in the third stanza that speaker's frustration is felt. It is obvious that he is frustrated with himself, and his instincts regarding anger; "I swear I'm damned to so hate and rage." This one specific line is where the speaker has reached a point where he doesn't believe that he will ever be able to rid himself of this anger, and ironically enough he is angry with himself because of this. The second line in this stanza tries to turn it though; "But your fair innocence is my guilt." He knows he holds this anger one second, though the next second he feels guilt because of her and her innocence. Thus, it is her innocence that makes him regret his anger. This allows the reader to feel her purity. We see this pureness in the third line, "And the stream that you make clear." It is here that we feel the depths of her innocence and pureness for she is as pure and clear as the stream. This particular stanza compares his rage and her innocence. He doesn't know if he will ever be able to fully rid himself of this anger; "I must, to for my image, fill with silt." He looks down on himself and doesn't consider himself worthy. The way that he views himself is a key element because it focuses on the reason for his anger.

The fourth stanza lists his faults and her qualities. He is asking her to overlook his faults and to put up with him a while longer, "Bear with me, bear with me." He begins to realize the full extent of her kindness and goodness, but he also realizes the goodness within him that no one else is able to see, "Your goodness, gift so little understood." He feels that the good in him is there but not seen or understood because it comes out differently. We, as readers, are permitted to feel this good by realizing how often this quality is overlooked in people. He knows that the goodness within her and himself is undervalued by all of society; "Even by the angels I suppose/ And by us here somewhat undervalued." The emphasis here is on how easily a person can be misunderstood.

The fifth and final stanza is where the speaker realizes how good this woman is for him. This is where the reader feels the hope. The man knows that it is the woman's goodness, which brings him out of the madness, "Is what I hold to when madness comes." It is here that he speaks of the goodness and love that she holds within herself. He knows that it is her goodness that repels his madness. "It is the soft night against which I flare/ Rocketwise, and when I fall/ See my way back by my own embers." It is here that the narrator relates the strength of her goodness. He knows that when he does start to fall back from the height of madness, her goodness will bring him down to earth again. It is her purity that fights his evilness; "It is the soft night against which I flare." She is what keeps him grounded to life and is his constant source in making him realize the good in life, and in him; "Rocketwise, and when I fall/ See my way back by my own embers. Therefore, although he is being rocketed off into the depths of madness, her pureness is what keeps him grounded to earth.

Consequently, I Would For Your Sake Be Gentle is a poem that does indeed focus on the strength that a relationship can take, as well as the strength to overcome an obstacle. It is a poem that focuses on a contrast between two sensibilities. It compares the opposition of her goodness and his madness and the strength it takes to battle such a difference. Therefore, the most important element within I Would For Your Sake BeGentle is the emphasis on the goodness in one person bringing out the goodness in another.

Works Cited

Geddes, Gary. 15 Canadian Poets x 3. Ontario: Oxford University Press, 2001.

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