Reading Response of San Juan De La Cruz - Bonus for quality - Essay Example

First Introduction San Juan La Cruz, also John of the Cross, was a Spanish Mystic, a leading figure in the catholic reformation during the 16th and 17th centuries. His birth name is Juan de Yepes y Álvarez, and he became a priest in 1567; he later changed his name to John of the Cross in 1568. Some of his works include poetry in the Spanish language, a field that people applaud him for, even to this day.Thesis This paper will seek to respond to San Juan La Cruz’s work of poetry majoring in the poems the dark night, and flames of living life.

I will try to both analyze, and establish the relevance the poems have in the modern world. In addition, I will express my thoughts and ideas with respect to the two poems.The Dark Night The Dark Night describes his journey from his house to meet with the love of his life, in this case Jesus Christ. He talks of how the darkness guided him, the beloved, to his lover, Jesus Christ. In my opinion, San Juan La Cruz in his poem The Dark Night is describing the ascension process of the human soul from the body to meet with the creator.

The first stanza refers to San Juan La Cruz leaving his sleeping house while the house is silent and still. I feel that San Juan La Cruz is referring to his body when he uses the phrase “sleeping house.” He goes on to describe how his love for Jesus leads San Juan La Cruz to the Lord. My understanding of the poem is that San Juan La Cruz is describing the transition from life into the spirit world. While it may be painful and dark as the night, the prospect of uniting with Jesus is far much better than birth into the physical world.

Therefore, my understanding of the poem is in relation to St. Paul’s word that to live is Christ, but to die is a gain (Grossman, 23). San Juan La Cruz is expressing the joy of meeting his lover, and thanks the night, suffering, for uniting the lover with the beloved. However, the question that arises is how does this poem apply to the modern world? The answer may vary depending on ones allegiance in terms of faith. To some people, suffering and death is seen as a transition, a dark night to meet with Jesus.

The body, on the other hand, is a temporary dwelling place for the soul; just the same way San Juan La Cruz describes is body as a sleeping house in the first stanza.Flame of Living Love This poem speaks about the Passion of the Christ, and the good fortune that His death presents to human beings, the beloved. In the poem, San Juan La Cruz describes the suffering of Christ, but from Jesus point of view expressed through a human soul. It is my opinion that San Juan La Cruz seeks to put into focus the love God had for people by dying on the cross.

He goes on to talk about the killing of Christ as changing death to life. This is symbolic to mean that the death of Jesus gave life to those who believe in Him. In present time, the people who believe in the Passion of the Christ find relevance in that through his death they have everlasting life. San Juan La Cruz did an outstanding job in expressing Christ’s suffering and His love for humanity in a flowery and poetic fashion.Works CitedGrossman, Edith. The Golden Age: poems of the Spanish Renaissance.

New York: W.W. Norton, 2006.