The poem has an immediate critical tone, "forefathers made for man!". The Excalmation mark shows the shock of the poet, as if he can not believe that people think that locking people up can be the best option.
"Most innocent perhaps- and what if guilty?". This shows the uncertainty, people lock people up, but what if they are innocent, people do not think about this in the modern world. The Ceasura used emphasises the next point.
"Shrivelled, Parching, Stagnate". He uses harsh adjectives. He describes all the negative points which happen to a person if they are abandoned from nature. Stagnate- this describes what happens to a persons mind if they are devoid form nature, there mind gets no stimulation. This can link to Rosseaus ideas.
"Groaning and tears"...savage faces....steams and vapours of his dungeon". This depicts hell, this is what Coleridge sees being locked away from nature as-hell.
It is not good to not have nature in your life. This can be linked to The Thorn, "That she should be to public justice brought...beatuious hill of moss before there eyes began to stir". Nature is trying to stop the woman from being shut in the un-naturla sistuation of ebing locked away from nature.
"Lamps dismal twilight". This shows that there is no comparison compared to the sun and natures influence, this is a poor replacement. This can also be seen in The Female Vagrant. "The Gloomy Lantern".
"Hopelessly deformed by sights of ever more deformity".
The first stanza depicts what happens to a man in prison, the second stanza argues that there is a better way than locking people away from nature, this can not do people any good.
If man was able to connect with nature in the first place, perhaps the events of the first stanza would never have happened.
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The Thorn- Anlaysis 2 and Contextual Points
"His angry spirit healed and harmonised by the benignat touch of love and beauty". This describes that if man had nature, he will be healed, sending people to be locked away from nature, people will never be healed.
Context
Rosseaus ideas and philosophy. Man needs nature to be able to think and function properly. "stagnate". This is what happens to your mind if it is devoid from nature.
The events of the first stanza would never have happened if people had been involved with nature in the first place.
"Lamps dismal twilight" shows that there is no comaparison compared to that power nature gives.
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Key Quotes from The Dungeon
"Forefathers made for man".
"Most innocent perhaps- and what if guilty".
"Shrivelled, parching, stagnate".
"Groaning ant tears....savage faces....steams and vapours of his dungeon".
"Lamps dismal twilight".
"hopelessly deformed by sights of ever more deformity".
"His angry spirit healed and harmonised by the benignat touch of love and beauty".
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