The Gates of Midnight

Cecília Meireles

‘The Gates of Midnight’ is about death. It explores images of the afterlife and suggests that humanity has nothing to fear from leaving this life behind.

Cecília Meireles

Nationality: Brazilian

Cecilia Meireles was a poet who is regarded as one of the best writers in the Portuguese language.

She is considered to be one of the best poets in Brazil.

Key Poem Information

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Central Message: Death is not the end, but rather the beginning of a new journey.

Themes: Death, New Life

Speaker: Unknown

Emotions Evoked: Contentment, Courage

Poetic Form: Free Verse

Time Period: 20th Century

The Gates of Midnight is about death. Death is a subject that is often covered by poets. This is probably because of its mysterious nature. Nobody really knows what happens when you die and so it is really left to the poet’s imagination, some poets such as Emily Dickinson choose to look death in quite a bleak way, however, in The Gates of Midnight, Meireles really paints a beautiful image of what passing away might feel like whist being realistic about the fact that when you die you leave the mortal world behind. However, she approaches the subject without being at all morbid.

Form and Tone

The Gates of Midnight is written in the free verse there are eight stanzas of varying length with the longest stanza being five lines, this is the fourth stanza. There is no rhyming pattern. The tone of the poem could be construed as melancholy as it is ostensibly about death, but in actuality it more a celebration of life and extols the virtues of passing away. Describing it as a sweet and beautiful experience.

The Gates of Midnight Analysis

First Stanza

In the first line of The Gates of Midnight, the poet mentions angels, which straight away drops a big hint as to the content of the poem. Opening the gates is a thinly veiled bible reference as it is said in the bible that when you come to die that there are gates into heaven, traditionally, these gates are guarded by St. Peter. It is interesting that the time midnight is used. Midnight is often known as “the witching hour” and is traditionally associated with the paranormal and the fantastic.

Second Stanza

Though this is a very short stanza, there are a couple of striking things about it that are both notable. Firstly, the gates are described as being wheeled open. This imagery evokes an image of a more contemporary gate than the ones traditionally associated with the gates of heaven. Secondly, the use of the pronoun “we” the suggestion is that more than one person is taking this journey, and the other person is you (the reader).

Third Stanza

This stanza describes the angels arriving. Their description gives them a very majestic feel. They are certainly made to feel very grandiose. The reference to their incomprehensible tongue is an interesting one. In the bible, not all the choirs of angels could speak to humans, not unlike god himself. Only certain choirs of angels possessed the power to speak to human beings, and these were the ones that carried God’s messages.

Fourth Stanza

Here we see Meireles invoke nature to describe the beautiful scene. The imagery is rich in this stanza. If you examine the content, she mentions trees, blossoms, fruit, the moon, the sun, the rainbow, animals, and the stars. It would appear then that the entirety of the natural world is present for this event. Using images from the natural world in this way was a hallmark of great romantic poets such as Wordsworth. All of these wonderful items from the natural world appear to blend together. They mingle with the stars. Is this the light at the end of the tunnel so often used by people to denote the last few moments before passing away?

Fifth Stanza

Here Mereiles uses a simple refrain, echoing her previous statement. Following the fullness of the previous statement, the sparseness of this stanza makes it feel empty. Giving a sense of peace and finality.

Sixth Stanza

If the previous stanza of The Gates of Midnight did not give proceedings an aura of finality then this one certainly does. It says there is no more time. This is a really interesting concept Most of our lives are dictated by the passing of time. The end of time really is an end. If time didn’t exist, nor would aging. In many ways, time is synonymous with life and so the ending of one would coincide with the ending of the other. The final line of this stanza says this is the last vision So seeing all of nature’s splendid beauty is the last thing a person sees before their life ends

Seventh Stanza

In this stanza, the narrator talks about hands being lifted for goodbye. The choice of words is very deliberate here. Being lifted denotes ascending, as in moving towards the heavens and one would lift their hands if they were to wave goodbye.

The next line talks of feet being freed from the ground. This line in particular is quite interesting. The idea of being freed from the ground suggests that this life is a draining experience, a hardship. This is a theme of many regions to some extent but none more so then eastern religions that believe that this life is a cruel test. The reason this is interesting is that up until this point the end of life has been described using tropes associated with Christianity. It further praises death by saying that it is something that has been dreamed of since birth. Describing it as a flight, almost like saying heave is like a holiday from the stresses of real life.

Eighth Stanza

Once again the angels are mentioned. They are a constant presence throughout the poem and offer a sort of reassurance. As if to say there’s no need to worry as the angels are here to oversee the entire process. We would generally associate angels with protection from harm.

The final line offers a sense of ambiguity. Does this suggest that real life is just a dream and that death is the end of that dream? Does this line suggest that passing away just feels like a dream or tat from there on in it just feels like you are in a dream-like state or does this line simply mean that this entire event was just a dream itself? It is hard to say. But I think the ambiguity of this line mirrors our knowledge of death itself, nobody knows what happens when you die, so nobody can say with any degree of certainty.

About Cecília Meireles

Cecília Meireles was a Brazilian poet, who sadly passed away in 1964 at the age of 63. She was a Portuguese speaker and widely regarded as Brazil’s greatest ever female poet. (although personally disliked the term poetess due to its discriminatory nature)  Meireles often wrote poetry that was deeply personal. She wrote using a variety of forms, but her earlier work often favored structured poetry rather than free verse.

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The Gates of Midnight

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Poet:
Cecília Meireles (poems)
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Period:
Nationality:
Themes:
Emotions:
Form:

Cecília Meireles

98
Meireles's poetry is known for exploring themes of spirituality, nature, and the human experience. In 'The Gates of Midnight,' Meireles explores the idea of the afterlife and what happens after we die. She uses vivid imagery to create a beautiful and peaceful picture of the afterlife. Meireles's poetry often evokes a sense of wonder and mystery, and this is seen very successfully in this poem.
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20th Century

35
This poem was written during the 20th century and is an example of free verse poetry. The poem doesn't follow a strict meter or rhyme scheme, allowing Meireles to experiment with language and structure. Many 20th-century poets, like Meireles, moved away from traditional poetry structures and embraced free verse poetry, which allowed them to express themselves more freely. But, this poem is not regarded as a great example of poetry from the period, nor is it very well-known among the average reader.
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Brazilian

92
Cecília Meireles is a well-known Brazilian poet who wrote during the 20th century. 'The Gates of Midnight' is an excellent example of her writing style and a fantastic poem from Brazil. She is known for her poetry exploring spirituality, nature, and the human experience. Meireles's work is characterized by her use of vivid imagery and her ability to capture the essence of emotions through her words.
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Death

55
The main theme of this poem is death. Specifically, the poet is interested in discussing what happens when one dies (the moments leading up to death and what one experiences afterward). While the poem isn't filled with specific details, its overwhelming tone of peace and contentment suggests that the afterlife isn't something to fear but to embrace.
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New Life

50
This poem captures the idea of a new life and a journey beyond death. Meireles describes the angels opening the gates of midnight, which signifies the beginning of a new journey. The imagery in the poem suggests that the afterlife is a beautiful and peaceful place where everything comes alive.
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Contentment

53
This poem is primarily about the afterlife. But it also touches on themes of contentment and courage. The poem's central theme is the idea of being content with our lives and having the courage to let go and move on. Meireles suggests that an afterlife is where we can find contentment and peace, but we must have the courage to let go of our earthly lives and embrace the unknown.
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Courage

45
The poem explores the idea of courage in the face of death and the unknown. The imagery of the angels opening the gates of midnight suggests that death is the beginning of a new journey. The poem also implies that the angels are extending a divine invitation to us, and it takes courage to accept it and embark on this new journey.
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Afterlife

71
This poem explores the idea of the afterlife and what happens after we die. Meireles suggests that the afterlife is beautiful and peaceful, where everything comes alive. The poem captures the essence of the unknown and the sense of wonder and excitement that comes with it. The poem also suggests important life lessons be learned from death, such as letting go of our earthly lives and embracing the unknown.
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Life Lessons

55
The poem suggests that there are important life lessons to be learned from death. The poem implies that death is not the end but rather the beginning of a new journey. The poem also suggests that an afterlife is a place of beauty and peace, which can teach us the importance of finding contentment and peace in our lives.
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Mortality

63
This poem is very much about mortality. The imagery in the poem suggests that an afterlife is a beautiful place where everything is peaceful and calm. Meireles suggests that an afterlife is not a place to be feared or worried about. The poem also implies that there is a moral dimension to death and that we must have the courage to let go.
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Peace

44
The overall tone of this poem is a peaceful one. The poet addresses topics that usually spark fear in the human mind in a way that is easy to read and quite soothing. The poet skillfully addresses death and the afterlife, ensuring that readers walk away with a peaceful understanding of both.
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Free Verse

56
This is an example of free verse poetry. Meireles doesn't follow a strict meter or rhyme scheme, allowing her to experiment with language and structure. Free verse poetry is often associated with the 20th century, as many poets moved away from traditional poetry structures and embraced free verse poetry.
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Lee-James Bovey Poetry Expert
About
Lee-James, a.k.a. LJ, has been a Poem Analysis team member ever since Novemer 2015, providing critical analysis of poems from the past and present. Nowadays, he helps manage the team and the website.

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