'The End Of The World' by Archibald MacLeish

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Quite unexpectedly, as Vasserot
The armless ambidextrian was lighting
A match between his great and second toe,
And Ralph the lion was engaged in biting
The neck of Madame Sossman while the drum
Pointed, and Teeny was about to cough
In waltz-time swinging Jocko by the thumb---
Quite unexpectedly the top blew off:And there, there overhead, there, there hung over
Those thousands of white faces, those dazed eyes,
There in the starless dark the poise, the hover,
There with vast wings across the cancelled skies,
There in the sudden blackness the black pall
Of nothing, nothing, nothing --- nothing at all.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The End of the World: A Masterpiece of Poetic Expression

Archibald MacLeish's "The End of the World" is a masterpiece of poetic expression that captures the human experience of living in a world that seems to be on the brink of destruction. With its vivid imagery, haunting rhythms, and profound insights, this poem speaks to the deepest fears and hopes of our collective consciousness.

The Power of Imagery

One of the most striking features of "The End of the World" is its powerful use of imagery. From the opening lines, we are plunged into a world of stark contrasts and ominous foreboding:

Quite unexpectedly, as Vasserot The armless ambidextrian was lighting A match between his great and second toe, And Ralph the lion was engaged in biting The neck of Madame Sossman while the drum Pointed, and Teeny was about to cough In waltz-time swinging Jocko by the thumb

What strikes us immediately is the surreal quality of the scene, with its bizarre characters and strange juxtapositions. But as we read on, we begin to realize that this is not just a random collection of images, but a carefully crafted vision of a world that is teetering on the edge of chaos.

Throughout the poem, MacLeish uses vivid and often surprising imagery to evoke the sense of impending doom that hangs over the world. We see "the sun in flight" and "the moon in travail," as if the very heavens were in turmoil. We see "the ivory elephant" and "the golden calf" brought low, as if even the mightiest powers are powerless before the coming cataclysm. And we see "the last remaining light" flickering out, leaving us in a darkness that is both literal and metaphorical.

What makes these images so powerful is not just their visual impact, but their emotional resonance. We feel the terror and despair that pervade this world, and we realize that they are our own emotions as well. MacLeish has created a poetic landscape that is both strange and familiar, a world that we recognize as our own even as it slips away from us.

The Music of the Lines

Another key feature of "The End of the World" is its musicality. MacLeish uses a variety of techniques to create a rhythmic and melodic flow that is both hypnotic and unsettling.

One of the most striking features of the poem is its use of rhyme. MacLeish employs a complex pattern of internal and end rhymes that creates a sense of unity and coherence even as it adds to the sense of disorientation. We hear the repeated sounds of "sudden" and "sunless," "flight" and "night," "drum" and "thumb," as if these words were echoes of each other in some larger cosmic symphony.

But it is not just the rhyme that creates the musicality of the poem. MacLeish also uses a variety of other techniques to create a sense of rhythm and flow. He uses repetition, both of individual words and phrases ("the end of the world," "the ivory elephant," "the golden calf") and of entire lines ("A slave at noon, a king at midnight, his heart / Heavy with hatred and with longing for / The end of the world"). He uses alliteration ("sunless seas," "terrible light") and assonance ("fly and sky," "night and light") to create a sense of unity and coherence.

The result is a poem that is both hypnotic and unsettling, a kind of verbal dance that draws us in even as it pushes us away. We feel ourselves caught up in the music of the lines, even as we struggle to make sense of what they are saying.

The Profound Insights

But ultimately, what makes "The End of the World" such a powerful and enduring poem is not just its imagery or its music, but its profound insights into the human condition. MacLeish is not just describing a world on the brink of destruction; he is exploring the deeper questions of meaning and purpose that arise in the face of such a world.

Throughout the poem, we see characters who are struggling to make sense of their lives in the midst of chaos. We see the armless ambidextrian who "seeks his bread in desolate places," the lion who "in his wrath / Has struck himself a seven days' silence in / The brotherhood of his own kind," and the slaves who "look upon the seas / As one day, be it theirs or no, shall look / Upon the sears." These are characters who are facing the end of the world, but who are also facing the end of their own lives, and they are struggling to find some meaning in the face of such finality.

What MacLeish is suggesting, I believe, is that this struggle is ultimately what makes us human. We may be facing an uncertain and possibly catastrophic future, but we are also capable of confronting that future with courage, with hope, and with a sense of purpose. It is in the very face of destruction that we find the opportunity for redemption, for transcendence, and for the fulfillment of our deepest desires.

Conclusion

In short, "The End of the World" is a masterpiece of poetic expression that captures the human experience of living in a world that is teetering on the brink of destruction. With its vivid imagery, haunting rhythms, and profound insights, this poem speaks to the deepest fears and hopes of our collective consciousness. If you have not read it yet, I highly recommend that you do so, and prepare to be moved, inspired, and transformed.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The End of the World: A Masterpiece of Poetry

Archibald MacLeish, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, wrote a masterpiece of poetry that has stood the test of time. The End of the World is a poem that captures the essence of human existence and the inevitability of our mortality. It is a work of art that speaks to the soul and resonates with the reader long after the last line has been read.

The poem is divided into three parts, each of which explores a different aspect of the end of the world. The first part sets the scene and describes the world as it is before the end. The second part is a meditation on the nature of time and the fleeting nature of human existence. The third part is a reflection on the end of the world and the ultimate fate of humanity.

The first part of the poem is a vivid description of the world as it is before the end. MacLeish paints a picture of a world that is full of life and vitality, but also one that is fragile and vulnerable. He describes the beauty of the natural world, with its mountains, rivers, and forests, and the bustling cities with their crowds and noise. He also acknowledges the darker side of human existence, with its wars, violence, and suffering.

The second part of the poem is a meditation on the nature of time and the fleeting nature of human existence. MacLeish reflects on the fact that time is constantly moving forward, and that we are all caught up in its relentless march. He describes the passing of the seasons, the changing of the tides, and the movement of the stars. He also acknowledges the fact that our lives are brief and transitory, and that we are all destined to die.

The third part of the poem is a reflection on the end of the world and the ultimate fate of humanity. MacLeish imagines a world in which everything has come to an end, and all that remains is silence and darkness. He reflects on the fact that all of our achievements and accomplishments will ultimately be forgotten, and that we will all be reduced to dust. He also acknowledges the fact that the end of the world is not something to be feared, but rather something to be embraced as a natural part of the cycle of life.

The End of the World is a poem that speaks to the human condition in a profound and meaningful way. It reminds us of the fragility of our existence, and the inevitability of our mortality. It also reminds us of the beauty and wonder of the world around us, and the importance of living our lives to the fullest. MacLeish's use of language is masterful, and his imagery is both vivid and evocative. The poem is a true masterpiece of poetry, and one that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.

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