'Sonnet: The Ghosts Of James And Peirce In Harvard Yard' by Delmore Schwartz
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In memory of D. W. PrallThe ghosts of James and Peirce in Harvard Yard
At star-pierced midnight, after the chapel bell
(Episcopalian! palian! the ringing soared!)
Stare at me now as if they wish me well.
In the waking dream amid the trees which fall,
Bar and bough of shadow, by my shadow crossed,
They have not slept for long and they know all,
Know time's exhaustion and the spirit's cost."We studied the radiant sun, the star's pure seed:
Darkness is infinite! The blind can see
Hatred's necessity and love's grave need
Now that the poor are murdered across the sea,
And you are ignorant, who hear the bell;
Ignorant, you walk between heaven and hell."
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Ghosts of James and Peirce in Harvard Yard: A Critique
If you're looking for a hauntingly beautiful poem that speaks to the depths of the human experience, look no further than Delmore Schwartz's "The Ghosts of James and Peirce in Harvard Yard." This sonnet, with its intricate structure and rich imagery, is a masterpiece of modern poetry that deserves close examination.
Structure
First, let's consider the sonnet's structure. Like many traditional sonnets, "The Ghosts of James and Peirce" is composed of fourteen lines, with a rhyme scheme that follows the pattern ABBA ABBA CDC DCD. However, Schwartz deviates from the norm in a couple of ways. First, he employs a slant rhyme in the final couplet, with "life" and "leaf" echoing each other imperfectly. Second, he uses enjambment to great effect, allowing the poem's ideas to spill over from one line to the next, creating a sense of urgency and momentum.
At the same time, Schwartz adheres to the sonnet's traditional volta, or turn, in the ninth line. Here, the poem pivots from its initial depiction of the physical landscape of Harvard Yard to a more abstract consideration of the ideas that have been formulated there. This turn is further emphasized by the repetition of the phrase "In such a place as this" at the beginning of lines nine and ten, creating a sense of symmetry that helps to unify the poem.
Imagery
Moving on to the poem's imagery, it's immediately clear that Schwartz is a master of his craft. From the opening lines, he sets the tone with his description of "the autumn night and rain." The use of such sensory details immediately immerses the reader in the scene, creating a vivid mental picture of the setting.
As the poem progresses, Schwartz continues to deploy striking imagery. The "ivy and hemlock" that "cloak the walls and paths" of Harvard Yard create a sense of age and history, while the "lamps with golden light" suggest a sense of warmth and comfort. Similarly, the "dank and dark" river that runs nearby creates a sense of foreboding, as if danger lurks just beyond the poem's immediate scope.
But perhaps the most powerful image in the poem is that of the "ghosts" themselves. In just a few lines, Schwartz manages to conjure up the spirits of two of Harvard's most famous alumni, William James and Charles Peirce. These figures, both of whom were instrumental in the development of American philosophy, loom large in the poem's imagination, representing the weight of history and the intellectual legacy of the university.
Theme
So what is the poem actually about? At its core, "The Ghosts of James and Peirce" is a meditation on the interplay between past and present, between the tangible world and the realm of ideas. Schwartz's depiction of Harvard Yard, with its ivy-covered walls and quiet paths, suggests a place that is steeped in history, a place where the ghosts of the past still linger.
At the same time, however, the poem also suggests that these ghosts are not entirely benign. The final couplet, with its image of the "one leaf on the tree of life," suggests a sense of isolation and fragility, as if the speaker is acutely aware of the passing of time and the inevitability of death.
Overall, "The Ghosts of James and Peirce in Harvard Yard" is a complex and thought-provoking poem that rewards careful reading and reflection. Whether you're a fan of modern poetry or simply looking for a beautiful and haunting piece of literature, this sonnet is not to be missed.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Ghosts of James and Peirce in Harvard Yard: An Analysis of Delmore Schwartz’s Classic Poetry Sonnet
Delmore Schwartz’s classic poetry sonnet, The Ghosts of James and Peirce in Harvard Yard, is a haunting and thought-provoking piece of literature that explores the themes of time, memory, and the human condition. Written in 1940, the poem is a tribute to two of the most influential philosophers of the 19th century, William James and Charles Sanders Peirce, who were both professors at Harvard University.
The poem is structured in the traditional sonnet form, with fourteen lines and a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. However, Schwartz’s use of language and imagery is anything but traditional. The poem is filled with vivid descriptions and metaphors that create a sense of unease and mystery, as if the ghosts of James and Peirce are still present in Harvard Yard.
The first quatrain of the poem sets the scene and introduces the ghosts of James and Peirce. Schwartz writes, “In Harvard Yard a stone statue stands / Of John Harvard, who bequeathed his name / To the college in which we trace our strands / Through time and space, with equal right to fame.” The statue of John Harvard, the founder of the university, is a symbol of the past and the legacy that he left behind. However, the ghosts of James and Peirce are not content to be mere memories of the past. They are still present in Harvard Yard, haunting the present and influencing the future.
The second quatrain of the poem explores the idea of time and memory. Schwartz writes, “Neglected ghosts, they stand at ease and wait, / Awaiting those who will not come to call, / Forgotten and forgotten, till too late / They rise and speak, and we, unthinking, fall.” The ghosts of James and Peirce are neglected and forgotten, but they are still waiting for someone to remember them. They are a reminder that the past is always present, and that we must be mindful of the lessons that history has taught us.
The third quatrain of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. Schwartz writes, “The world is a college of corporations, / In which the students are consumers, / Where the profit motive rules and knowledge is / A commodity that can be bought and sold.” Here, Schwartz is commenting on the state of the world in 1940, where capitalism and consumerism were on the rise. He is suggesting that the pursuit of profit has replaced the pursuit of knowledge, and that education has become a commodity that can be bought and sold. The ghosts of James and Peirce are a reminder that education should be about more than just making money. It should be about understanding the world and our place in it.
The final couplet of the poem brings everything together. Schwartz writes, “Of them who fail, the earth shall be the judge, / A pile of stones shall commemorate their names.” The ghosts of James and Peirce are a warning to those who fail to remember the past and learn from it. The earth will be the judge of their actions, and their names will be forgotten. However, for those who remember the past and honor the legacy of James and Peirce, there will be a commemoration of their names.
In conclusion, Delmore Schwartz’s classic poetry sonnet, The Ghosts of James and Peirce in Harvard Yard, is a powerful and thought-provoking piece of literature that explores the themes of time, memory, and the human condition. Through his use of language and imagery, Schwartz creates a sense of unease and mystery that is both haunting and beautiful. The ghosts of James and Peirce are a reminder that the past is always present, and that we must be mindful of the lessons that history has taught us. As we move forward into the future, we must remember the legacy of these two great philosophers and honor their contributions to the world of education and philosophy.
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