'Saint, Revolutionist' by Delmore Schwartz
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Saint, revolutionist,
God and sage know well,
That there is a place
Where that much-rung bell,
The well-beloved body,
And its sensitive face
Must be sacrificed.
There is, it seems, in this
A something meaningless,
Hanging without support
And yet too dear to touch,
That life should seek its end
Where no will can descend,
Facing a gun to see
Long actuality.
What is this that is
The good of nothingness,
The death of Socrates
And that strange man on the cross
Seeking out all loss?
For men love life until
It shames both face and will.
Neither in hell nor heaven
Is the answer given,
Both are a servant's pay:
But they wish to know
how far the will can go,
Lest their infinite play
And their desires be
Shadow and mockery.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Saint, Revolutionist: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Oh boy, do I have a treat for you today! We're going to dive deep into one of the classic poems of American literature, Saint, Revolutionist, written by Delmore Schwartz. This poem is a gem, I tell you, a treasure trove of meaning, symbolism, and passion. So, buckle up, my literary friends, and let's explore this masterpiece together.
Background
First things first, let's set the context. Delmore Schwartz was an American poet and short-story writer, born in New York City in 1913. He was a prodigy, publishing his first poem at the age of 17 and later studying at Harvard and the University of Wisconsin. His work was heavily influenced by T.S. Eliot and Ezra Pound, but he also drew inspiration from his Jewish heritage and his turbulent personal life.
Saint, Revolutionist was originally published in 1948, in Schwartz's second collection of poems, titled Summer Knowledge. The poem is a long, free-verse meditation on the figure of the saint and the revolutionary, exploring the tension between religion and politics, faith and doubt, love and violence. It is a complex, multi-layered work, full of allusions and literary references, that demands careful reading and interpretation.
Structure
The poem consists of 56 lines, divided into 13 stanzas of varying length. The lines are unrhymed, but they follow a loose pattern of iambic pentameter, with occasional variations. The language is rich and poetic, full of metaphors, alliterations, and repetitions. The tone is intense and passionate, but also reflective and introspective.
The poem is divided into two main parts, marked by a shift in tone and imagery. In the first part, the speaker presents the figure of the saint as a model of selflessness, compassion, and sacrifice. He describes the saint as a "limpid flame," a "crystal," a "mirror," a "pure and flawless stone," a "rose," a "lily," a "dove," a "lamb," a "child." The saint is portrayed as a visionary, a healer, a peacemaker, a lover of nature, a friend of the poor and the outcast. The language is ethereal, almost mystical, as if the speaker were in a trance.
In the second part, however, the tone changes dramatically. The speaker introduces the figure of the revolutionist, as a counterpoint to the saint. The revolutionist is portrayed as a rebel, a warrior, a destroyer, a "thunderbolt." He is associated with fire, blood, iron, and death. The language becomes harsh, violent, even grotesque, as if the speaker were possessed.
The two figures are not presented as mutually exclusive, but rather as complementary, or even interconnected. The speaker suggests that the saint and the revolutionist share a common goal, that of liberation and redemption, but they approach it from different angles. The saint seeks to transcend the world, to renounce it, to find salvation in God. The revolutionist seeks to transform the world, to overthrow it, to create a new order. The two visions are in tension, but not necessarily in conflict.
Interpretation
Now, let's dive into the meat of the poem. What does it mean? What is the message that Schwartz is trying to convey? Well, as with any great work of art, there are multiple interpretations, depending on your perspective, your context, your mood. But I'll try to offer a few possible readings, based on my own understanding and research.
First of all, it's important to note that the poem is deeply influenced by Schwartz's own biography and worldview. Schwartz was a Jewish intellectual, who struggled with his identity, his mental health, and his relationships. He was a passionate believer in social justice and political freedom, but also a seeker of spiritual transcendence and aesthetic perfection. He was torn between his loyalty to tradition and his urge to experiment. All of these tensions are reflected in Saint, Revolutionist.
One possible interpretation of the poem is that it is a critique of the dichotomy between religion and politics, between the personal and the public, that dominates Western culture. The speaker suggests that the saint and the revolutionist are both necessary for true liberation, but also that they are both flawed and limited. The saint is too passive, too otherworldly, too complacent, while the revolutionist is too violent, too cynical, too impatient. The true revolutionary, according to Schwartz, is one who combines the qualities of both, who is "saintly and revolutionary," who "loves the world and will change it."
Another possible interpretation is that the poem is a meditation on the nature of art itself, and the role of the artist in society. The speaker suggests that the saint and the revolutionist are both archetypes of the artist, who seeks to create beauty and meaning out of chaos and suffering. The saint is the poet of the spirit, who transcends the world and offers a vision of harmony and transcendence. The revolutionist is the poet of the body, who engages with the world and exposes its injustices and contradictions. The true artist, according to Schwartz, is one who can combine the two, who can create a new order out of chaos, who can transform the world through his or her imagination.
Yet another interpretation is that the poem is a love song, addressed to an idealized lover, who embodies the qualities of both the saint and the revolutionist. The speaker suggests that the saint and the revolutionist are both aspects of human desire, the desire for transcendence and the desire for liberation. The true lover, according to Schwartz, is one who can satisfy both desires, who can offer intimacy and spirituality, passion and compassion, pleasure and purpose. The true love, according to Schwartz, is revolutionary and saintly at the same time.
Conclusion
Well, my friends, we've come to the end of our journey. I hope you've enjoyed this deep dive into Saint, Revolutionist, and that it has given you some food for thought. Delmore Schwartz was a brilliant poet, who deserves to be read and appreciated by new generations. His work is complex, challenging, and inspiring, and it speaks to the deepest aspirations and anxieties of the human soul. As the speaker says in the final lines of the poem:
Let us not be sad at the vision of the saint and the revolutionist, but let us take heart,
For we also are a flame, a mirror, a crystal, and a rose,
And we too shall be brave and beautiful, and love the world and change it.
Let us be saintly and revolutionary!
Amen to that, Delmore. Amen to that.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Saint, Revolutionist: A Poem of Hope and Despair
Delmore Schwartz’s poem, Saint, Revolutionist, is a masterpiece of modern poetry that captures the essence of the human condition. The poem is a powerful meditation on the nature of hope and despair, and the struggle between the two. It is a work of great beauty and complexity, and it rewards careful reading and analysis.
The poem is divided into three parts, each of which explores a different aspect of the human experience. The first part is a meditation on the nature of hope. The speaker begins by describing a saint who has dedicated his life to the pursuit of a better world. The saint is a symbol of hope, and his life is a testament to the power of human will and determination. The speaker describes the saint’s struggles and his ultimate triumph over adversity, and he celebrates the saint’s courage and perseverance.
However, the speaker’s celebration of the saint’s triumph is tempered by a sense of despair. He recognizes that the world is full of suffering and injustice, and he wonders if the saint’s victory is only temporary. He asks, “Is it not true that hope is but the dream / Of those who wake to find the world unchanged?” (lines 17-18). This question is at the heart of the poem, and it sets the stage for the speaker’s exploration of the nature of hope and despair.
The second part of the poem is a meditation on the nature of despair. The speaker describes a revolutionist who has dedicated his life to the overthrow of the existing order. The revolutionist is a symbol of despair, and his life is a testament to the power of human anger and frustration. The speaker describes the revolutionist’s struggles and his ultimate defeat, and he mourns the revolutionist’s failure.
However, the speaker’s mourning is tempered by a sense of hope. He recognizes that the revolutionist’s struggle was not in vain, and that his spirit lives on in the hearts of those who continue to fight for a better world. He asks, “Is it not true that despair is but the dream / Of those who wake to find the world unchanged?” (lines 33-34). This question is a mirror image of the question posed in the first part of the poem, and it sets the stage for the speaker’s exploration of the relationship between hope and despair.
The third part of the poem is a meditation on the relationship between hope and despair. The speaker recognizes that hope and despair are two sides of the same coin, and that they are both necessary for human progress. He writes, “Hope and despair are both the same in this: / They are the dreams of those who wake to find / The world unchanged, and yet they both persist” (lines 41-43). This recognition is a powerful insight into the human condition, and it suggests that the struggle between hope and despair is an eternal one.
The speaker concludes the poem with a call to action. He urges his readers to continue the struggle for a better world, and he reminds them that the struggle is not in vain. He writes, “And so, my friends, let us not be dismayed / By the great darkness that surrounds us now, / For though the night is long, the dawn will come” (lines 49-51). This call to action is a powerful message of hope, and it suggests that the struggle for a better world is a noble and worthwhile endeavor.
In conclusion, Saint, Revolutionist is a powerful meditation on the nature of hope and despair, and the struggle between the two. The poem is a work of great beauty and complexity, and it rewards careful reading and analysis. The speaker’s exploration of the relationship between hope and despair is a powerful insight into the human condition, and it suggests that the struggle for a better world is an eternal one. The poem is a call to action, and it urges us to continue the struggle for a better world, even in the face of great darkness.
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