EPISODE · Jan 17, 2021 · 8 MIN
BHS e288 Chase's Cascade and Thomas Wentworth Higginson
from The Brattleboro Historical Society Podcast · host Brattleboro Historical Society
In the poem, “Chase’s Cascade”, Higginson writes about the serenity of the waterfall. He relates how the sounds, sights and smells of the cascade connect him with the spiritual side of Nature, as represented by Undine, “the green-woods loveliest daughter”. In ancient mythology Undines are female water spirits. Undines can fall in love with humans but will die if the human they fall in love with is unfaithful to her. An interpretation of the poem could be that the cascade is represented in the Undine and the author is attracted to the spirit. The author’s time spent with the waterfall is wonderful but he does not know how he can leave her for the “common” world. He is torn because returning to society means hurting the Undine.
What this episode covers
In the poem, “Chase’s Cascade”, Higginson writes about the serenity of the waterfall. He relates how the sounds, sights and smells of the cascade connect him with the spiritual side of Nature, as represented by Undine, “the green-woods loveliest daughter”. In ancient mythology Undines are female water spirits. Undines can fall in love with humans but will die if the human they fall in love with is unfaithful to her. An interpretation of the poem could be that the cascade is represented in the Undine and the author is attracted to the spirit. The author’s time spent with the waterfall is wonderful but he does not know how he can leave her for the “common” world. He is torn because returning to society means hurting the Undine.
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BHS e288 Chase's Cascade and Thomas Wentworth Higginson
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