The Last Invocation explained

What happens

Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.

Themes in this chapter

• Death and Immortality

  The poem centers on the soul's release from the body, embracing death as a tender, inevitable transition.

• Unity of Soul and Body

  The tension between the soul's desire for freedom and the strong hold of mortal flesh and love highlights their intertwined nature.

Characters to notice

• Narrator

  The speaker who implores the soul to be wafted forth from the fortress of the body.

• Death

  Implied as the gentle release from mortal flesh and love.

Key passages

• “At the last, tenderly, From the walls of the powerful fortress’d house, From the clasp of the knitted locks, from the keep of the well-closed doors, Let me be wafted.”

  In the end, gently, from the strong walls of the fortified house, from the grip of intertwined hair, from the secure closed doors, let me be carried away.

  The speaker asks to be released from the body and its attachments.

• “With the key of softness unlock the locks⁠—with a whisper, Set ope the doors O soul.”

  Use gentleness as a key to open the locks, and with a whisper, open the doors, O soul.

  The soul is urged to use softness to achieve liberation.

• “Tenderly⁠—be not impatient, (Strong is your hold O mortal flesh, Strong is your hold O love.)”

  Gently, do not be impatient; your grip is strong, mortal body, and your grip is strong, love.

  A reminder that the attachments of the body and love are powerful, but patience is needed.