After reading several of the poems assigned this week, I couldn't help but notice the contrasting feelings that exist among many of these poets' great works. Whitman's "I Hear America Singing" is a celebration of the human spirit and its solid ties to the foundation of this country. However, we look at Matthew Arnold's "Dover Beach" and we see the hopelessness that pervades in humanity. These contrasting feelings are brought to life by the magic of poetry and the powerful effect it has on the reader's imagination with its ability to produce a catharsis from where we emerge with a little more enlightnement about a world that is still eveloped by a shroud of mystery.
In the case of Matthew Arnold's "Dover Beach", we can see the utter hopelessness that lies beneath the seemingly calm surface of the beach. At first, the voice in the poem describes a tranquil night; a calm sea where "the cliffs of England stand, glimmering and vast, out in the tranquil bay" (4-5). However, when the we look closer at this beautiful calm night, we notice the "grating roar of pebbles which the waves suck back, and fling, at their return, up the high strand" (9-11). This is clearly a violent description of the ebb and flow of the waves. We also see the Sea of Faith retreating like the waves of the ocean with a foreboding of a coming disaster. "Dover Beach" is a representation of humanity's state in this world. Basing ourselves on the time this poem was writen, we can see a renewed world where industrialism is leading the way towards human progress. However, beneath this "progress" and optimism lies darkness and hopelessness. Everything we believe stands for prosperity and happiness is only a dream - an illusion that will quickly dissipate and ebb away like the waves of those waves in Dover Beach. There is no longer faith in humanity. The world is devoid of hope and love. Consequently, the only thing that awaits humanity is destruction. The same can be applied to our times. If there is one thing that Arnold makes clear in this poem is that this hopelessness and despondency has occured before and, we see this when "Sophocles long ago heard it on the Aegaean, and it brought into his mind the turbid ebb and flow of human misery" (15-18). Thus, we will again experience this like those waves of the ocean that come and go; "begin, and cease, and then again begin" (12).
Similarly, when we look at Yeats' "When You Are Old", we see hopelessness that emerges from youth and love gone by. Only the fading memories of youth exist in the mind as some sort of escape from the 'agray' reality decay that now hang over that old man.
Yet, Whitman gives us the uplifting side of humanity. In Whitman's "I Hear America Singing" and "A Noiseless Patient Spider", we see the human dignity and joy as well as human mystery and frailty. In "I Hear America Singing", Whitman portrays the spirit of America in the working class. What Whitman tells us in this poem is that America is founded on the hard work of many. From the mechanic to the woman taking care of her family. In addition to this, we can also say it is a celebration of work and how it can edify the human spirit. Work does not equate misery and hopelessness in this poem but, it is giving purpose to everyone in this purpose - a purpose that contributes to the whole of the nation. In a "Noiseless Patient Spider", Whitman portrays the human soul as a small spider engulfed by the immensity and mystery of its surroundings. However, as small as that spider is, it still "mark'd how to explore the vacant vast surrounding, it launch'd forth, filament, filament, filament, out of itself, ever unreeling them, ever tirelessly speeding them" (3-5). This is human frailty but, at the same time, it is also the strength and thirst of the spirit to explore its universe and build in it a place for itself just like each of us struggle to attain the same thing.
In this poems we have despondency and joy; hopelessness and hope and, we also have the frailty and strength that exists in us. These poets have demonstrated the power words have to enthrall us and make us meditate on our own exstnce. They have the power to stamp with words emotions such as sadnesss and joy.
I never had to read this poem before, and generally avoided it when it was in any anthology because of its dark, depressing nature. Your close reading is very insightful to understanding the poems meaning. Through your analyis, I am able to see more clearly the bird from the past flying in and carrying hope in his beak in the form of song.
ReplyDeleteI referenced the poem while reading your analysis, and I saw an image of a bitter,harsh winter with the bird signifying the first glimpse of the life of spring. I also thought of this when seeing the picture you posted at the beginning of this blog. I know this may be too simplistic of an interpretation. Yours goes deeper into its metaphorical meaning.