"Spleen and Ideal" is a poem by the French poet Charles Baudelaire, featured in his collection Les Fleurs du mal. The poem explores the tension between the idealized beauty of life and the darker, more melancholic aspects of existence. It reflects Baudelaire's struggle with feelings of ennui and the search for meaning in a world filled with suffering. In the poem, the term "spleen" symbolizes a sense of deep sadness and disillusionment, while "ideal" represents the pursuit of beauty and transcendence. This duality captures the complexities of human emotions, illustrating how one can simultaneously yearn for perfection while grappling with despair.