Felix Randal - GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS
Summary
Felix Randal is an Italian sonnet.
Felix Randal reflects on long illness and death of a thirty-one-year-old blacksmith (farrier)
called Felix Randal. Father Gerard Manley Hopkins, while a curate in a slum parish in Liverpool,
visited him often, administered the last sacraments, and officiated at his funeral.
In the first quatrain Hopkins sketches the course of the farrier's illness as the large man faded
away until his thoughts became confused and four different disorders combined to kill him.
In the second quatrain, the poet examines Felix's spiritual state. Initially, the farrier cursed the
loss of his former strength, but he became more patient as his religious faith increased. He
received "the sweet reprieve and ransom" in the sacrament of the Holy Commission, which
carries with it the promise of forgiveness and new life. Hopkins later anointed him with holy
oil. The poet implores God to forgive any sin the farrier must have committed.
In the sestet, the poet states that looking after the sick can endear a priest in two ways - he
may receive affectionate gratitude from those he tends; and, secondly, knowing that he is
doing something worthwhile, might make him less discontented with himself.
The poem conveys two types of strength - the farrier using his physical strength at the forge,
and the priest using his spiritual strength as he did his work among the sick and the dying.
Stanza 1
Line 1
Felix Randal the farrier, O is he dead then? my duty all ended,
Hopkins’ reaction to the news that Felix is dead is neither sorrow nor joy but a comment that
Hopkins own duty toward Felix is “all-ended”.
O is he dead then – the tone is casual, as if he was talking to somebody who has just informed
him of the death of Felix. He appears unmoved at hearing of Felix’s death.
my duty all ended – his first thoughts are about himself. His duty as a priest has ended. Duty
suggests that he had attended to the last rites simply because that is what a priest was
supposed to do. This creates a sense of detachment.
Page 1 of 4
Summary
Felix Randal is an Italian sonnet.
Felix Randal reflects on long illness and death of a thirty-one-year-old blacksmith (farrier)
called Felix Randal. Father Gerard Manley Hopkins, while a curate in a slum parish in Liverpool,
visited him often, administered the last sacraments, and officiated at his funeral.
In the first quatrain Hopkins sketches the course of the farrier's illness as the large man faded
away until his thoughts became confused and four different disorders combined to kill him.
In the second quatrain, the poet examines Felix's spiritual state. Initially, the farrier cursed the
loss of his former strength, but he became more patient as his religious faith increased. He
received "the sweet reprieve and ransom" in the sacrament of the Holy Commission, which
carries with it the promise of forgiveness and new life. Hopkins later anointed him with holy
oil. The poet implores God to forgive any sin the farrier must have committed.
In the sestet, the poet states that looking after the sick can endear a priest in two ways - he
may receive affectionate gratitude from those he tends; and, secondly, knowing that he is
doing something worthwhile, might make him less discontented with himself.
The poem conveys two types of strength - the farrier using his physical strength at the forge,
and the priest using his spiritual strength as he did his work among the sick and the dying.
Stanza 1
Line 1
Felix Randal the farrier, O is he dead then? my duty all ended,
Hopkins’ reaction to the news that Felix is dead is neither sorrow nor joy but a comment that
Hopkins own duty toward Felix is “all-ended”.
O is he dead then – the tone is casual, as if he was talking to somebody who has just informed
him of the death of Felix. He appears unmoved at hearing of Felix’s death.
my duty all ended – his first thoughts are about himself. His duty as a priest has ended. Duty
suggests that he had attended to the last rites simply because that is what a priest was
supposed to do. This creates a sense of detachment.
Page 1 of 4
