In Hopkins' "Spring and Fall" what does the "blight man was born for" mean in the context of the poem?

Answer 1

In the poem "Spring and Fall" by Gerard Manley Hopkins, the phrase "blight man was born for" refers to the inevitability of change and decay in human life. The speaker is talking to a young girl who is mourning the falling leaves in autumn. The speaker tells her that it is part of the natural cycle for things to wither and die, just as it is part of human existence to experience loss and sadness. The phrase suggests that decay and death are inherent in the human condition, and that people must learn to accept and embrace these aspects of life.