George Herbert The Sacrifice Analysis

A devout and short-lived priest of the Church of England, George Herbert and his works are not remembered alongside Shakespeare’s or John Milton’s works during the early sixteenth century. The Sacrifice describes the path of and voicing for the thoughts of Jesus the Prophet and Son to the Maker. I firmly believe The Sacrifice to be applicable to all who sacrifice for the benefit of the many or all, not just the supposed sacrifice of the Maker’s son. George Herbert’s The Sacrifice’s rhythmic utilization of rhyme, repetition, and allusion demonstrates the endurance of a man’s willpower when he faced with overwhelming opposition and resistance to his goals.

Alluded throughout The Sacrifice is a key subject of Christian importance, that of Jesus the Prophet and Son to the Maker. Although his name is never mentioned, I can infer that he is the voiced speaker through the lines:

“Thus trimmed forth they bring me to the rout,

Who 'Crucify him, ' cry with one strong

The pattern demonstrated through end rhyme in an AAAB pattern throughout the entirety of the poem. Enjambment and near rhyme is even used by Herbert to ensure the end rhyme’s solidity and consistency:

”A king my title is, prefixt on high;

Yet by my subjects am condemn’d to die A servile death in servile companie:

Was ever grief like mine?” A second section of importance finds Jesus making observations on his willingness to comply with the commands of his Maker and the Roman leadership. He is conflicted and makes the choice to continue his preaching regardless of the land’s law; Jesus branded himself a criminal and effectively turned his back on his own country for the chance to ‘save’ and ‘redeem’ the lives of those around him:

“Herod in judgement sits while I do stand;

Examines me with a censorious hand:

I him obey, who all things else command:

Was ever grief like