"Delight in Disorder" Question 2 pg. 980

                Examples of oxymoron are prevalent throughout Robert Herrick’s “Delight in Disorder” and greatly contribute to the work’s overall meaning of discovering beauty in disorder and delight in imperfection. The first oxymoron seen in the poem appears in line 1, where the reader describes a “sweet disorder” in a dress (Herrick, 979). Normally, the word “disorder” carries a somewhat negative connotation, indicating that sloppiness has led to a displeasing unkemptness. However, by adding the word “sweet” in front of “disorder,” Herrick implies that the chaotic nature of disorder is actually desirable or pleasing. Another example of oxymoron can be seen in line 4, in which the author refers to a scarf messily thrown around the shoulders as a “fine distraction” (Herrick, 979). Similar to disorder, distraction in and of itself often carries an unsatisfactory connotation; after all, distractions are often seen as annoying deterrents or nuisances. However, when the word “fine” precedes the word “distraction,” the speaker conveys the idea that this distraction is actually pleasing to the eye. Perhaps the speaker even intends to suggest that such a distraction is a pleasant relief from the monotony of life that lacks any distraction whatsoever. Lastly, Herrick employs another oxymoron in line 12, in which he remarks that a carelessly tied shoestring represents to him a “wild civility” (Herrick, 979). Civility typically conveys the sense of calm, reserved, and refined demeanor; however, the word “wild” stands in stark contrast to civility by implying a sense of rebelliousness or free spirit. While these examples of oxymoron are interesting to analyze, they actually serve a functional purpose in the poem by conveying the author’s central theme. The entire essence of Herrick’s “Delight in Disorder” is to discuss the ways in which beauty can be even more apparent and evident in disorder and imperfection that in things that lack uniqueness or strive to be flawless. The speaker admires a woman with an untied shoelace or tangled ribbons on her dress more than a woman who is always in pristine condition because he believes that this disorganization radiates a sense of life and humanity that perfection tries to mask. He sees much more beauty in something which does not attempt to hide its imperfections. The examples of oxymoron in this poem which bring a pleasant nature to words which typically convey negative connotations reinforces this idea that delight can actually be found in disorder.