Topic > The theme of loneliness in the song "Eleanor Rigby" by The Beatles

IndexIntroductionThe theme of loneliness in "Eleanor Rigby"ConclusionWorks CitedIntroductionThe theme of loneliness permeates this poem with undeniable clarity. "Ah, look at all the lonely people! Ah, look at all the lonely people!" (1-2) are the first lines of a song that reached the top of the Beatles charts in 1966. The songwriters and band leaders, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, left no room for ambiguity, immediately transmitting the central theme to the reader and to the listener. In this essay on the song "Eleanor Rigby" by The Beatles, we will analyze how the poem represents the theme of loneliness through the portrayal of the main characters and through the use of literary devices. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The Theme of Loneliness in "Eleanor Rigby" The poem introduces two characters, Eleanor Rigby and Father McKenzie, who are interconnected through their association with the Church. Father McKenzie gives sermons at the church, where Eleanor Rigby serves as caretaker or in some church-related role. This connection, however, is not immediately apparent unless carefully examined. The poem mentions “Eleanor Rigby/ Picks rice in the church where a wedding took place” (3-4), indicating her role in taking care of the church in some way. But beyond her role as a church worker, who is Eleonora Rigby? To find out, you have to dig deeper than the churchyard. She appears to be a deeply lonely woman living in a dream world, longing for marriage and a happy life thereafter. This desire is further exemplified by the somewhat disconcerting line: “He wears a face that he keeps in a jar by the door/Who is it for?” (7). The "face" likely represents the facade she puts on to appear beautiful, and the "jar" may symbolize the makeup container from which she retrieves this beautiful face. It seems plausible that he waits at her door every night, anticipating a visit from a gentleman who never arrives. Night after night, she adorns herself in vain, as no one ever comes to visit her. At the same time, we meet another pitiful character: Father McKenzie. Despite holding a higher position within the church than Eleanor Rigby, he is no more successful or more virtuous. No one listens to his sermons in church: Father McKenzie/ He writes the words of a sermon that no one will hear/ No one approaches" (13-15). He is essentially doing exactly what a good priest should not: repelling churchgoers, walking away them in need of spiritual guidance and comfort that he cannot provide. Ironically, he seems to need spiritual guidance and comfort more than anyone else. Repetition serves as a powerful tool throughout this poem I believe that John Lennon and Paul McCartney did not use this repetition haphazardly, rather they used it to highlight the profound sense of desperation and unhappiness experienced by the characters. However, upon closer reflection, this idea is made unattainable by the church itself, as it forbids priests from marrying. Even if the church had allowed priests to go out and marry, it seems unlikely that Father McKenzie would have persecuted Eleanor. . He seems preoccupied with self-improvement and crafting sermons that chastise believers for their perceived misdeeds. The lines “Eleanor Rigby/ She died in the church and was buried with her name” (23-24) leave room for interpretation. It is largely up to the reader to decide whether John Lennon and Paul McCartney meant this literally or figuratively. She actually died while.